Altar Cross of LGBTQ Martyrs from Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
All Saints Day is celebrated today by adding seven new profiles to the LGBTQ Saints page at JesusInLove.org.
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| “Saint Sebastian” by Il Sodoma |
Other newcomers on the list include traditional saints Bernard of Clairvaux and the Black Madonna of Czestochowa as well as modern figures such as the founders of PFLAG, the martyrs of the 1973 Upstairs Lounge fire and Vida Dutton Scudder, a lesbian teacher and Episcopal saint born in 1871.
Queer and LGBT saints are important because people are searching for alternative ways to lead loving lives. Churches have tried to control people by burying queer history. The LGBTQ saints show us not only their place in history, but also our own place -- because we are all saints who are meant to embody love. We can tap into the energy of our ancestors in faith. For some they become friends, helpers and miracle-workers. I created the LGBT Saints page to give people an easy way to find the spiritual resources that they seek. For more info, see my essay Why we need LGBT saints.
In addition five profiles of saints (or paired saints) received major rewrites, including some long-time favorites at the Jesus in Love Blog: martyrs Sergius and Bacchus and Biblical heroes David and Jonathan. Almost every profile on the page has been updated and expanded in minor ways this year.
Another breakthrough this year is bringing LGBT saints to Spanish readers. Profiles of traditional LGBT saints are translated into Spanish at the new Santos Queer Blog. Some even attracted more readers than the original English versions. Saint Sebastian was the most popular saint at Santos Queer.
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| LGBT Saints page |
Here is a list of new saints who are welcomed to the LGBT Saints page today.
Traditional Christian
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| “Bernard of Clairvaux” by Rowan Lewgalon |
New additions:
Saints Bernard of Clairvaux and Malachy: Honey-tongued abbot and the archbishop he loved
Saint Sebastian: History’s first gay icon
Black Madonna becomes lesbian defender: Erzuli Dantor and Our Lady of Czestochowa
Major rewrites:
David and Jonathan: Love between men in the Bible
Francis of Assisi’s queer side revealed by new historical evidence
John the Evangelist: Beloved Disciple of Jesus
Saints Sergius and Bacchus: Male couple martyred in ancient Rome
Saint Wilgefortis: Bearded woman
19th to 21st century
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| Vida Dutton Scudder |
New additions:
Jeanne Manford: PFLAG founder loved her gay son
Vida Dutton Scudder: Lesbian saint, teacher and reformer
Adele Starr and others: Patron saints for straight allies of LGBT people
UpStairs Lounge fire remembered 40 years later: 32 died in deadliest attack on LGBT people
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This article is illustrated with the Altar Cross of LGBTQ Martyrs. It was constructed by a congregant at Metropolitan Community Church of San Franscico for All Saints Day (All Hallows) worship services there. The cross features newspaper photos of Matthew Shepard and Harvey Milk. In the center of the cross is the fence where Shepard was tortured and murdered on 10/12/88 in Laramie, Wyoming.
Other LGBTQ martyr named on the cross are:
Brian Wilmes – Hate Crimes Slaying 09/08/99 in San Francisco
Lawrence King – Hate Crimes Murder 02/12/08 in Oxnard, Ca.
Roxanne Ellis and Michelle Abdill – Murdered 12-04-95 in Medford, Oregon
Harvey Milk – Assassinated - 11/27/78
Tyra Hunter – Medical Care Denied – 08/07/95 in Washington D.C.
Gwen Araujo – Hate Crimes Murder – 10/03/02 in Newark, Calif.
Thank you to Lynn Jordan for the photo and information about the Altar Cross of LGBTQ Martyrs.
Let us be inspired by the LGBT saints who surround us as a “great cloud of witnesses.” May we commit ourselves to our own queer spiritual journeys.
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Related links:
Why we need LGBT saints by Kittredge Cherry
An All Hallows' Eve Vigil to Begin Transgender Awareness Month by H. Adam Ackley (Huff Post)
A queer theology of sainthood emerges (99 Brattle blog of Episcopal Divinity School)
Feminism leads to a queer theology of sainthood (Feminism and Religion Blog)
Who are the "Queer Saints and Martyrs"? by Terence Weldon (Queering the Church)
LGBT-friendly memorial for All Saints, All Souls and Day of the Dead
Santos Queer (LGBT Saints by Kittredge Cherry in Spanish / en español)
TrinityStores.com (innovative icons, including some LGBT saints)
Sanctity And Male Desire: A Gay Reading Of Saints
by Donald BoisvertPassionate Holiness: Marginalized Christian Devotions for Distinctive People
by Dennis O’NeillCopyright © Kittredge Cherry. All rights reserved.
http://www.jesusinlove.blogspot.com/
Jesus in Love Blog on LGBT spirituality and the arts