Sept 1-15 Archives

RIP: La Paula Turner: Black lesbian clergy pioneer opened doors

La Paula Turner was a pioneering Black lesbian clergy and mother of six who supported LGBTQ Christians since the 1970s. She passed away on Aug. 4, 2025, at age 88. She was one of the first African Americans ordained by the LGBTQ-affirming Metropolitan Community...

RIP: Trudie Barreras: Author, artist and thinker enriched LGBTQ Christian life

by Kittredge Cherry | | Sept 1-15

Trudie Schuyler Barreras, one of the first and most devoted supporters of Q Spirit and related LGBTQ spirituality projects, passed away on Sept. 2, 2025, at age 86 in her hometown of Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was a gifted artist, talented writer, prolific book...

Carl Bean: Black LGBTQ church founder who sang “I Was Born This Way”

by Kittredge Cherry | | Saints, Sept 1-15

Carl Bean was founding archbishop of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement in the black LGBTQ community, early AIDS activist and Motown singer of the 1977 gay-liberation anthem “I Was Born This Way.” He died Sept. 7, 2021 at age 77 after a long illness. Bean (May 26,...

Mark Bingham: Gay hero of 9/11 died resisting hijackers

by Kittredge Cherry | | Saints, Sept 1-15

Gay executive and rugby player Mark Bingham lost his life while fighting back against terrorist hijackers on Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. He and other passengers worked together to prevent the hijackers from crashing the plane into a target in Washington DC, most...

Mychal Judge, gay saint of 9/11 and chaplain to New York firefighters

by Kittredge Cherry | | May 1-15, Saints, Sept 1-15, Top saints

Mychal Judge, chaplain to New York firefighters and unofficial “gay saint,” died helping others in the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. He was the first recorded victim of 9/11. A popular Franciscan priest during his lifetime, he rose to...

Rainbow Mary affirms LGBTQ people

by Kittredge Cherry | | Saints, Sept 1-15

Rainbow icons of Mary highlight her compassionate connection to the LGBTQ community — evoking both controversy and celebration. Various rainbow Mary images by contemporary artists and activists are posted today at Q Spirit in honor of her birthday, which is...

Maurice and Theofredus: Same-sex paired saints and martyrs of Thebes

by Kittredge Cherry | | Saints, Sept 1-15

Maurice and Theofredus are third-century martyr-saints and soldiers of Thebes with a homosocial bond. They are shown as a same-sex pair in Renaissance art. Maurice’s feast day is Sept. 22 in the Catholic tradition and Dec. 27 in the Orthodox tradition. Theofredus is...