July 16-31 Archives

Patrick Leuben Mukajanga (Mleuben Maccarthy) : Ugandan pastor and LGBTQ activist

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Patrick Leuben Mukajanga, known by many as Mleuben Maccarthy, was a gay Ugandan pastor and LGBTQ activist. He died in a motorcycle accident while riding from Kampala to his home in Ibanda town on July 31, 2020 at age 43. A memorial portrait of Mukajanga was created...

Martha and Mary of Bethany: Sisters or lesbian couple?

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Mary and Martha of Bethany were two of Jesus’ closest friends. The Bible calls them “sisters” who lived together, but reading the Bible with queer eyes raises another possibility. Maybe Mary and Martha were a lesbian couple. Their feast day is July 29. Mary and Martha...

Lazarus: Jesus’ beloved disciple?

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Some believe that Lazarus of Bethany was the “beloved disciple” of Jesus — and maybe even his same-sex lover. He is celebrated on July 29 in contemporary Catholic and some Protestant churches. Scholars theorize that Lazarus was also the unnamed “one whom Jesus...

Boris and George: Russian saints united in love and death

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Saint Boris is one of the oldest and most popular Russian saints, but his same-sex love story has been buried until recently. Boris and his servant George the Hungarian loved each other deeply and were murdered together. The feast day of Saint Boris is July 24 —...

Symeon of Emesa and John: Holy fool and hermit who loved each other

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Sixth-century Syrian monks Symeon and John were joined in a same-sex union and lived together as desert-dwelling hermits for 29 years. After a tearful split-up, Symeon went on to become known as the Holy Fool of Emesa, the patron saint of all holy fools (and...

Daniel and the three young men: God rescues Biblical eunuchs, affirming LGBTQ people of faith

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Some see the prophet Daniel and the chief eunuch Ashpenaz as a same-sex couple. In a hotly contested translation, the Bible describes the “favor and tender love” that he bestowed on Daniel. LGBTQ people find role models in Bible stories about eunuchs, including the...

Saint Wilgefortis: Holy bearded woman fascinates for centuries

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Saint Wilgefortis prayed to avoid marriage to a pagan king — and her prayers were answered when she grew a beard! This “virgin martyr” virgin martyr has natural appeal for LGBTQ people. Her feast day is July 20. She was removed from the official Vatican calendar...

Nancy Ledins: First transgender Roman Catholic priest made headlines in 1979

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Nancy Ledins made national news as “America’s first female Roman Catholic priest” and first transgender Roman Catholic priest after gender confirmation surgery in 1979. She died on July 18, 2017, at age 82 in North Carolina. Newspapers nationwide covered her...

Good Samaritan: LGBTQ views of Bible story on helping strangers

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Lovingkindness from one man to another is celebrated in the Bible story of the Good Samaritan. Could one or both characters be LGBTQ? The parable of the Good Samaritan will be read at many churches worldwide as the gospel reading for July 13, 2025 in the three-year...

Kuan Yin: A queer Buddhist Christ figure?

by Kittredge Cherry | | July 16-31, Saints

Kuan Yin, the genderfluid spirit of compassion in Buddhism, is sometimes thought of as a queer Christ figure or LGBTQ role model. Buddhists celebrate the enlightenment of Kuan Yin every year in July or August. This year the date is July 25, 2024. Transcending gender...