Oct 1-15 Archives

What’s new? 2026 brings new LGBTQ spiritual art and updates to Q Spirit

As a new service, Q Spirit is listing the most important new additions to the website. LGBTQ spirituality articles are continually updated as new research, artwork and other resources become available. This list of highlights will be updated regularly too. The Q...

2026 brings new LGBTQ Christian books

by Kittredge Cherry | | Books, Oct 1-15

New LGBTQ Christian books are being published in 2026, including theology, Bible, history, memoir, church life and spirituality by diverse authors. Q Spirit presents summaries of LGBTQ Christian books released this year, plus lists of titles that are coming soon or...

On stage with Troy Perry at the 1993 March on Washington for LGBTQ rights

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 1-15, Oct 1-15

Gay-rights pioneer Troy Perry spoke to a crowd of a million people at the 1993 March on Washington for LGBTQ rights — and I was there on stage with him as his photographer and publicist. It was one of the peak experiences in my life. Troy thrilled the crowd by...

Historic articles document Kittredge Cherry’s LGBTQ ministry and activism

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct 1-15

Historical news articles show Kittredge Cherry’s international LGBTQ ministry and activism in Metropolitan Community Churches in the 1990s, decades before she founded Q Spirit. The seven articles are all illustrated with photos that include Kittredge Cherry. She is...

Matthew Shepard: Modern gay martyr inspired hate-crime laws

by Kittredge Cherry | | Dec 1-15, Oct 1-15, Saints

Matthew Shepard is a modern gay martyr whose unusually cruel murder in October 1998 got international attention and inspired laws against anti-LGBTQ hate crimes. He was a 21-year-old openly gay student at the University of Wyoming at the time. Shepard (1976-1998) was...

Spiritual resources honor National Coming Out Day

by Kittredge Cherry | | Calendar, Oct 1-15

Every year on Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day encourages LGBTQ people and allies to be open about who you are and your support for LGBTQ equality. Oct. 11 also happens to be the feast day of Saint Philip the Evangelist, who welcomed a queer black man into the church...

Vida Dutton Scudder: Lesbian saint, reformer and teacher

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct 1-15, Saints

Vida Dutton Scudder is an American social reformer, professor, prominent lesbian author — and an officially recognized saint in the Episcopal Church. Her feast day is Oct. 10. Her ideas on economic inequality are especially relevant amid the financial crises of...

Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Two-spirit Native Americans bridge genders

by Kittredge Cherry | | Calendar, Oct 1-15

Two-spirit Native Americans are honored at Q Spirit for Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Oct 12, 2026). It is an alternative to the U.S. national holiday Columbus Day, which commemorates the arrival of European explorer Christopher Columbus in the Americas on Oct. 12, 1492....

Gay saint John Henry Newman and his “earthly light” Ambrose St. John shared romantic friendship

by Kittredge Cherry | | Feb 16-29, Oct 1-15, Saints

John Henry Newman, a 19th-century British scholar, theologian and cardinal, was canonized by the Pope as a Roman Catholic saint in 2019 amid widespread speculation that he was gay. Newman’s feast day is Oct. 9 in the Roman Catholic church, Feb. 21 in the Episcopal...

Metropolitan Community Churches: Ministering in the LGBTQ community since 1968: Historic MCC photos from Kittredge Cherry

by Kittredge Cherry | | Calendar, Oct 1-15

Metropolitan Community Churches, the first denomination to affirm LGBTQ people, was founded on Oct. 6, 1968 by Troy Perry. Dozens of my photos from more than 35 years of MCC history are posted today in honor of the anniversary. The photos posted here show highlights...