Paul the Apostle: Did his homosexuality shape Christianity?
Struggle against his own homosexual desires in an intolerant society may have inspired Paul the Apostle to write sublime Biblical teachings on unconditional love and inclusivity -- and also a few “clobber passages” used by anti-LGBTQ bigots. Both Paul’s sense of...
Holocaust Remembrance: We all wear the triangle
International Holocaust Remembrance Day (Jan. 27) honors the victims of the Nazi era, including the estimated 5,000 to 60,000 sent to concentration camps for homosexuality. The United Nations set the date as the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau,...
David Kato: Ugandan LGBTQ rights activist and martyr
David Kato, Ugandan LGBTQ rights activist, is considered a father of Uganda’s gay rights movement. He was beaten to death on Jan. 26, 2011 in a case that some blame on anti-gay religious rhetoric. The anniversary of his death has become an annual event called Kuchu...
Saint Sebastian: History’s first gay icon?
Saint Sebastian has been called history’s first gay icon and the patron saint of homosexuality. Sebastian was an early Christian martyr killed in 288 in Rome on orders from the Roman emperor Diocletian. His feast day is Jan. 20. He is the subject of countless artworks...
Mary Oliver: Lesbian poet, mystic of nature
Lesbian poet Mary Oliver, winner of the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize, is a mystic of nature who became an LGBTQ saint by popular acclaim. She died on Jan. 17, 2019, at age 83. Her poetry expresses intimacy with nature and compassion for humanity, using...
Bayard Rustin: Gay saint of racial justice and non-violence
Bayard Rustin was a black gay activist and the genius behind the civil rights movement. He became the chief organizer of the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington where where Martin Luther King gave his historic “I Have a Dream Speech.” A follower of the Quaker faith...
Aelred of Rievaulx: Gay saint of friendship
Aelred of Rievaulx is considered one of the most lovable saints, the patron saint of friendship and also, some say, a gay saint. He found divine love through friendships with other men. Aelred (1109-1167) was the abbot of the large, influential Cistercian abbey of...
Jeanne Cordova: Lesbian nun who “kicked the habit” to become an activist
Jeanne Cordova was a pioneering lesbian feminist activist and ex-nun who shook the world by revealing lesbian life in the convent. She died on Jan. 10, 2016 at age 67. Cordova told her story as contributor to the groundbreaking 1985 book “Lesbian Nuns: Breaking...
Jeanne Manford: PFLAG founder who loved her gay son
Jeanne Manford loved her gay son so much that she founded PFLAG, the first and now the largest organization for LGBTQ people and their parents, families, and allies. She died on Jan. 8, 2013 at age 92. Her son, the late Morty Manford, was beaten during a gay rights...
Queer Epiphany: Three kings or three queens?
Reimagining the three kings as queer or female gives fresh meaning to Epiphany, a holiday celebrating the visit of the Magi to the baby Jesus. It is observed on Jan. 6. Travelling from afar, the Magi symbolize that Christ was born for everyone from all parts of the...
Apollinaria / Dorotheos: Queer saint crossed gender line to become a monk in 5th-century Egypt
Saint Apollinaria or Dorotheos has been called a transgender icon or a cross-dressing saint. Assigned female at birth, Apollinaria adopted the name Dorotheos and entered a monastery as a man in fifth-century Egypt. This saint is honored by churches on Jan. 5-6 and can...
Merry Christmas 2024 from Q Spirit and Kittredge Cherry: Rainbow angel proclaims peace on earth
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth. -- John 1:14 _______ Kittredge Cherry, Q Spirit and the Jesus in Love Blog wish you and your loved ones all the joys of the season! Merry Christmas! _______ This year’s Christmas image,...
John the Evangelist: Beloved Disciple of Jesus — and maybe his lover
John the Evangelist and Apostle is commonly considered to be Jesus’ “Beloved Disciple” -- and possibly his lover. His feast day is Dec. 27 in Catholic and Protestant churches. He has two feast days, May 8 and Sept. 26, in the Orthodox tradition. [Update on Sept. 2,...
Welcome the New Year with rainbow candles! Bridge of Light honors LGBTQ culture
Welcome the new year by lighting rainbow candles for Bridge of Light, a new winter holiday honoring LGBTQ culture. People celebrate Bridge of Light by lighting six candles, one for each color of the rainbow flag, on New Year’s Eve -- or from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, one...
David and Jonathan: Same-sex love between men in the Bible
Love between men is celebrated in the Bible with the story of David and Jonathan. “Your love to me was wonderful, surpassing the love of women,” David said in his famous a lament for Jonathan. David’s feast day is Dec. 29. Their relationship inspires LGBTQ people and...
Queer Kwanzaa: Celebrating African American LGBTQ creativity, theology and books
Rare artworks of a queer black Jesus and a black gay church family are presented here along with new books and other black LGBTQ resources in honor of Kwanzaa. The week-long celebration of African American culture starts Dec. 26. Kwanzaa is rooted in African culture,...
Ruth and Naomi: Biblical women who loved each other
Love between women is honored in the lives of Biblical figures Ruth and Naomi. The two women are an inspiration for lesbians and the whole LGBTQ community. Ruth’s famous vows to Naomi are often used in weddings -- heterosexual as well as same-sex marriages. Few people...
All-time favorites at Q Spirit
Top 24 LGBTQ Christian books of 2024 named
Check out the top 24 LGBTQ Christian books of 2024 — including theology, Bible, memoir, church life and history by diverse authors. The list was announced today by lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry, founder of Qspirit.net. “Literary books were this year’s...
Trans Saints? Early cross-dressing monks and martyrs share similar lives
Early Christian cross-dressing monks are being reclaimed as possible transgender or LGBTQ saints. More than 20 saints share a similar story: They escaped their lives as women and lived as men, joining monasteries or becoming religious hermits. Often they were...
Litany of Queer Saints
LGBTQ saints and martyrs are remembered in the Litany of Queer Saints from Q Spirit. The prayer was created by Q Spirit founder Kittredge Cherry. She also wrote a major essay on why we need LGBTQ saints. Both traditional and alternative saints are featured. It is a...
Why we need LGBTQ saints: A queer theology of sainthood
It’s time to welcome the queer saints. Many believe that saints and other souls will visit for Halloween, All Saints Day, All Souls Day, and Day of the Dead (Dia de los Muertos). The LGBTQ saints are important because people are searching for alternative ways to lead...
Kittredge Cherry: Christianity inspired me to come out as a lesbian
I am celebrating my birthday on Oct. 21 by re-posting this reflection on my coming-out story and life journey as a lesbian Christian. During my birthday month, I try to appreciate my own accomplishments and reflect on my dreams for the future. My 2024 birthday wish:...
Rainbow Christ Prayer: LGBTQ flag reveals the queer Christ
Colors of the LGBTQ rainbow flag reveal the many faces of the queer Christ in the following Rainbow Christ Prayer by lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry and gay theologian Patrick S. Cheng. The Rainbow Christ Prayer honors the spiritual values of the LGBTQ...
Gay Passion of Christ blog series starts Palm Sunday at Q Spirit
A gay vision of Christ’s Passion will run during Holy Week here at Q Spirit. Reflections will be posted daily from Palm Sunday through Easter (March 24-31, 2024). All 24 paintings in the original version of Douglas Blanchard’s “The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision”...
Black Jesus, Latinx Jesus, female Christ and other liberating visions join the gay Passion of Christ
Liberating visions of Jesus as black, Latinx, Native American or female join with the gay Passion of Christ series to help people experience God more fully. “All people are made in God’s image, so it is important to envision Jesus as queer, black, brown, female and...
Queer Nativity scenes show love makes a family
I create my own queer Nativity scenes for the Christmas season. One has two Marys at the manger with the baby Jesus, and the other features two Josephs with the Christ child. I put Mary with Mary and Joseph with Joseph—just like putting two brides or two grooms on top...
Sign up: Free newsletter on LGBTQ spirituality and the arts
You are invited to sign up for a free subscription to the monthly Q Spirit newsletter on LGBTQ spirituality and the arts from Jesus in Love. The e-newsletter covers LGBTQ saints and the queer Christ, with an...
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Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision
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| The Passion of Christ:
A Gay Vision
Meet Jesus as a gay man in a modern city "Accessible but profound" |
Art That Dares
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| Art That Dares:
Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, And More
By Kittredge Cherry Packed with color art by 11 contemporary artists "An amazing, disconcerting, and sacred book" |
This month’s most popular posts
- Henri Nouwen: Priest and author who struggled with…
- John the Evangelist: Beloved Disciple of Jesus…
- Paul the Apostle: Did his homosexuality shape Christianity?
- David and Jonathan: Same-sex love between men in the Bible
- Saint Sebastian: History’s first gay icon?
Litany of Queer Saints- Gay centurion: Jesus heals a soldier’s boyfriend in…
Queer Epiphany: Three kings or three queens?
Hildegard of Bingen and Richardis: Medieval mystic…- Rumi: Poet and Sufi mystic inspired by same-sex love