Saints Archives - Page 2 of 16

Grant-Michael Fitzgerald: Pioneering black gay Catholic brother advocated LGBTQ rights in 1970s

by Kittredge Cherry | | Nov. 1-15, Saints

Grant-Michael Fitzgerald was an openly gay African American Roman Catholic brother who advocated for LGBTQ rights in the 1970s and ‘80s. He was diagnosed with AIDS and died in a Wisconsin hospice on Nov. 10, 1986 at age 39. Renowned black gay professor and minister...

Queer saint Matrona / Babylas of Perge founded 5th-century convent of nuns who dressed as men

by Kittredge Cherry | | Nov. 1-15, Saints

Saint Matrona of Perge, who lived as a eunuch named Babylas, founded a convent where nuns dressed as men in 5th-century Constantinople. The feast day of Matrona / Babylas is Nov. 9. Nuns under the leadership of Matrona / Babylas were granted a unique privilege by the...

Thomas(ine) Hall: Intersex in colonial America

by Kittredge Cherry | | Nov. 1-15, Saints

Thomas(ine) Hall was an intersex person in 17th-century colonial America who caused controversy by switching back and forth between genders. The Jamestown court ruled that Hall was both “a man and a woman” and ordered him/her to wear male and female clothing...

Malachy of Armagh: Same-sex soulmate to Bernard of Clairvaux

by Kittredge Cherry | | Nov. 1-15, Saints

Malachy of Armagh is an 11th-century Irish saint who died in the arms of his more famous soulmate, Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. Their monastic community honored the male couple as “two stars of such surpassing brightness” and a “twofold treasure.” Bernard showered...

Litany of Queer Saints

by Kittredge Cherry | | Featured, Nov. 1-15, 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

by Kittredge Cherry | | Calendar, Featured, Nov. 1-15, Saints

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...

All Saints Day: LGBTQIA+ Community Prayer of Thanks, Reflection and Courage

by Kittredge Cherry | | Saints

A LGBTQIA+ prayer was written for All Saints Day by Q Spirit founder Kittredge Cherry and John De Witt, a gay Episcopalian in Melbourne, Australia. Their “LGBTQIA+ Community Prayer of Thanks, Reflection and Courage” focuses on saints, but is suitable for use on All...

Allen Schindler: LGBTQ role the military highlighted by murder of gay sailor

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct. 15-31, Saints

Navy Seaman Allen Schindler brought international attention to LGBTQ people in the military when he was murdered for being gay on Oct. 27, 1992. Schindler’s murder remains relevant as U.S. lawmakers consider banning transgender people from military service, based on a...

Sally Gross: Intersex priest led legal reform after being defrocked

by Kittredge Cherry | | Oct. 15-31, Saints

Sally Gross was an intersex South African anti-apartheid activist who became a Catholic priest — but was stripped of clergy status after revealing that she identified as female in the 1990s. She became an intersex activist, winning legal recognition of intersex...

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...