Cody Wilde’s People to Know: Rees Bennett
When you start to read the background and history of this week’s PTK, you would swear you were reading the newest novel from Eric Arvin or Felice Picano. Instead, the very history and background of Rees Bennett is pure reality—no matter how amazing it seems. Bennett was the grandson of a Nazi war criminal and raised as a hate-mongering member of the Aryan Nation. He eventually did a complete 180, came out as homosexual, married a Latino man and, then, created the persona of ‘Evelyn Tensions’ in the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. It sounds a bit like a Picano novel. But, again, it is Rees’ reality. It’s my esteemed honor to introduce you all to my best friend.
Originally from Idaho and raised in Washington state, Bennett came to San Diego in 1996 in the hopes of starting a new life and finding himself. He wanted to escape the family roots he isn’t proud of these days because of their Nazi and Aryan Nation ties. Bennett’s grandfather was a member of the Nazi party in Germany in the 30’s and 40’s and worked as a medical assistant at Auschwitz during the WWII. After the Allied Forces had come into Europe, Bennett’s grandfather fled Germany with his family and, over the decades, found themselves in South Africa, Canada and, finally, settling in the US. Eventually, his grandfather was ‘discovered’ for his past and was extradited to Israel to ‘face the music.’ That never happened, as he committed suicide in his cell before sentencing was determined.
The actions and history of the his family’s patriarch would lead Bennett’s parents—and eventually himself—to become part of the Aryan Nation in Washington. His father was one of the main members of the Nation in the state he grew up, whereas Rees was a member of a sect of the AN known as the Invisible Nation. According to Rees, the Invisible Nation was comprised of the ‘best and brightest Aryan youth.’ As a member, he was encouraged to showcase the social, athletic and academic superiority of the “master race” and to recruit other members, all the while maintaining a very clean cut and mainstream appearance. He served Invisible Nation faithfully, all the while knowing that he was different but not daring to displease his family or his race.
Eventually, Bennett realized he was different from his peers and family members. What was this difference? He is gay. After realizing this within himself, he mustered up the strength to ‘come out’ to his parents. As it is for any gay man or woman, coming out can be a real challenge. So, his first step was coming out to his mother—and as many mothers do, she took it hard. She had a period of denial that transitioned into blaming herself to, eventually, coming around full-circle, standing proud of her gay son.
The real shocker was when Bennett came out to his father. He was apprehensive because of his knowledge of how violent his father could be. But Bennett swallowed his apprehensions and came out to him. In his own words: “My dad, from whom I expected the most violent reaction, simply asked me, ‘Okay, what’s for dinner?’ When I said, ‘Dad, I don’t think you heard me!’ He replied, ‘I heard you, you’re a fag. You’re still my son and I love you. Now what’s for dinner?’ Since then, my entire family has renounced the Aryan Nation and any of their hate-filled ways. In fact, my father has served as President of the local PFLAG Chapter and has a huge rainbow sticker, emblazoned with, I’m proud of my gay son on his truck’s bumper. My family has endured death threats, social ostracism, snickering and finger pointing, all because they refuse to treat a member of their family as anything less than an equal. For that I am both humbled and grateful.”
Since coming out and moving to San Diego, Bennett has been very active in the LGBTQ community. He’s on boards of GLSEN, PFLAG, the San Diego Gay Youth Alliance and is a motivational speaker at local high schools and universities. However, the biggest transition for Bennett, other than spending his life with his partner, Charlie, a man whose race (Latino) he was raised to believe was inferior to his own, is a proud member of The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Asylum of the Tortured Heart. There, he serves as Sister Evelyn Tensions, Mistress of Novices. I asked him to explain to me what this meant to him and the world—in his own terms.
“Well, the Mission of The Sisters is to Promulgate Universal Joy and Expiate Stigmatic Guilt. Basically that means to spread joy and destroy guilt placed on one from outside sources. Personally I do this by assisting the community in whatever way it needs. Whether that’s bar ministry/condom outreach, working with the county’s health department on the Sore Loser campaign, teaching safer sex practices, helping other organizations with their fundraisers and events or by just being a recognizable personality that people can speak with. I produce an annual Dia de los Muertos event, which celebrates San Diego’s Latino cultural heritage and have held several offices within the Sisters, helping make us a sustainable asset to San Diego’s GLBTQ community and its allies.”
What future goals are in store for Bennett, or at least what is he looking forward to? Perhaps a puppy may be in order for him…or a better job and building a better bridge with his personal relationship and his partner. As for his work in the GLBTQ community, look for more awesome work ahead from Sr. Evelyn Tensions and her Sisters as they Promulgate Universal Joy within San Diego.
For more information on the San Diego Sisters, you can visit their website here.
For Sister Evelyn Tensions’ Facebook page, you can go here.
For Rees Bennett’s Facebook, you can go here.
You can follow Cody Wilde on Twitter. If you have questions or comments, email Cody at cody.wilde@ymail.com
