Last Updated on January 5, 2024 by Kittredge Cherry
Discover the inspiring stories of LGBTQ people who bravely faced conflicts with church and society in the new illustrated book “Heavenly LGBTQ+: Queer Icons from LGBTQ Life, Religion and History” by Jan Haen, a Dutch artist and Roman Catholic priest.
Click here to purchase the book.
[Update: Haen reveals his own journey in the illustrated memoir “My Life: as a Boy, Priest, Gay Man, and Artist,” published in fall 2023.]
“Heavenly LGBTQ+” is the sequel to Jan Haen’s first book, “Heavenly Homos, Etc.” Reviewers praised it as “indeed a ‘heavenly’ read” (DignityUSA) and “singularly original, informative, and effective” (Midwest Book Review).
Large, colorful artwork on every page of the new book tells the stories of 17 diverse international LGBTQ figures from Alvin Ailey to Xenia of St. Petersburg, with up-to-the minute insights on Ukraine. The book covers secular and religious leaders, activists, martyrs, writers and performers from North and South America, Africa, Asia and Europe. The majority are people of color.
Forgotten historical figures emerge from the shadows alongside more prominent individuals such as U.S. civil-rights champions Bayard Rustin and Pauli Murray and British lesbian writer Anne Lister. Most of these under-told histories come from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Notable people from all over the world are presented, including U.S. civil-rights leaders Bayard Rustin and Pauli Murray and British lesbian writer Anne Lister. Short, accessible text and cartoon-like images present a fresh, unsentimental perspective on uplifting people who faced tough times in “Heavenly LGBTQ+.” Their courage inspires hope.
Lively commentary reflects on how sexuality, gender and religion impacted the war in Ukraine. The book’s deceptively simple comic-book style conveys sophisticated understandings. Intended for adults, it naturally includes the occasional nudity and violence that are part of history.
Royalties on sales of “Heavenly LGBTQ+” will go to the Qspirit.net newsletter and website, where Haen’s pictures appear frequently.
News and reviews of “Heavenly LGBTQ+”
“A sense of quirky and endearing curiosity runs joyously rampant throughout this informative and compelling book. With anti-LGBTQ+ activity on the rise in this increasingly polarized world, this well-designed and thoughtful book could not have arrived at a more urgent time…. It is more vital than ever to break down the barriers of hate in our world—rush to read this marvelous and uniquely “barrier-breaking” book!”
— Dignity USA book review by David Friscic, Aug. 28, 2023
“Informed, informative, and timely given the current rise of hostility towards the gay community “Heavenly LGBTQ+: Queer Icons from LGBTQ Life, Religion and History” deserves as wide a readership among both the gay and the straight communities. … Unreservedly recommended.”
— Midwest Book Review, July 2023
Gay Priest Releases New Book on Leaders in LGBTQ+ History
— By Robert Shine, managing editor, New Ways Ministry, Aug. 26, 2023
“The cartoon style of Jan Haen’s books belie the seriousness of the topic. And in a way that makes the boldness and presumed impossibility of their assertion seem quaintly, innocently, and obviously true—gay/queer/LGBTQ+ lives can be sometimes, even maybe often saintly and virtuous.”
— Book review by Toby Johnson, gay spirituality author, at tobyjohnson.com, November 2023
Sacerdote Gay publica un nuevo libro sobre líderes en la historia LGBTQ+
— CristianosGays.com, Sept. 9, 2023
Join Jan Haen on a rainbow journey through time
“Exploring queer history through ‘Heavenly LGBTQ+’ lights the way to a better future,” says Q Spirit publisher Kittredge Cherry. She was so impressed by Haen’s work that she served as editorial consultant for both of his books, joining forces with Apocryphile Press to make sure that his artistry reached readers.
“Artist Jan Haen builds on the success of his first book by unveiling illustrated biographies of an even more eclectic cast of inspiring LGBTQ characters. He captures history in the making with insights on Ukraine that are ripped right from the headlines. Join Jan Haen on this rainbow journey through time,” she urged.
Brother Grant-Michael Fitzgerald looks under his own priestly robes and finds a rainbow on his body in “Heavenly LGBTQ+” by Jan Haen.
Some scenes are rarely if ever portrayed by artists. Haen’s unique approach combines ripped-from-the-headlines immediacy with progressive spiritual sensibility in a modern Pop-Art style. He makes ancient history feel surprisingly contemporary. He uses hard edges, flat colors and spiritual depth to create his own unique style, inspired by his experience as a muralist and his admiration for gay artist Keith Haring. “Heavenly LGBTQ+” unfolds as a conversation between archetypal characters: wise John, inquisitive Tony, passionate Evie, and analytical Al.
Haen is a Dutch visual artist and Roman Catholic priest in the Redemptorist order who has ministered in the Netherlands and South Africa. He painted murals in schools, churches and public places in Africa and across Europe. Haen is an active member of the Werkverband van Katholieke Homo-Pastores, an association of gay Catholic pastoral leaders.
Diverse “heavenly” figures come from all over the world
“Heavenly LGBTQ+” brings together a diverse mix of historical figures from many cultures around the world. Most are already profiled at Q Spirit at the following links. Here are all the names in the table of contents, with descriptions added by Q Spirit:
Tibira do Maranhão (Brazil): First indigenous gay martyr of Brazil
Xenia / Andrei of St. Petersburg (Russia): Widow adopted husband’s identity and became a queer saint
Yook Woo-Dang (South Korea): Gay Catholic poet died to protest anti-LGBTQ discrimination
Tyler Clementi (USA): Gay teen driven to suicide by bullies
Tyler Clementi plays a violin in “Heavenly LGBTQ+” by Jan Haen.
Freda Smith (USA): LGBTQ activist, first woman ordained by Metropolitan Community Churches
Bayard Rustin (USA): Gay saint of racial justice and non-violence
Anne Lister (England): Writer/businesswoman had historic lesbian church wedding in 1834
Alvin Ailey (USA): Black gay dancer and choreographer
Audre Lorde (USA): Black lesbian womanist writer and activist
Simon Tseko Nkoli (South Africa): Anti-apartheid and gay liberation activist
Kenneth Binyavanga Wainaina (Kenya): One of Africa’s best-known authors and gay-rights activists
Vida Dutton Scudder (USA): Lesbian saint, reformer and teacher
Ramon Novarro (Mexico/USA): Actor who struggled to reconcile faith and homosexuality
Pauli Murray Pauli Murray and girlfriend Adelene McBean were arrested in 1938 for defying racial segregation laws in an image from “Heavenly LGBTQ+.”
Pauli Murray (USA): Queer saint stood for racial and gender equality
Grant-Michael Fitzgerald (USA): Pioneering black gay Catholic brother advocated LGBTQ rights in 1970s
Selwyn/Sally Gross (South Africa): Sally Gross: Intersex priest led legal reform after being defrocked
Elvira Schemur (Ukraine): LGBTQ rights activist killed when Russia invaded Ukraine
Author’s international background adds realism and charm
Haen draws on his international background to infuse realism into his charming images of LGBTQ history. He was student-pastor at the University of Pretoria, South Africa and secretary of various departments of the Southern African Catholic Bishops Conference. In 1978 he was declared persona-non-grata by the apartheid regime of South Africa. He then worked as naval chaplain to the Royal Netherlands Navy for 16 years. After that he painted murals in South Africa, Ukraine, Austria, Belgium, England, France, Ireland, the Netherlands and Switzerland.
Colorful pages from “Heavenly LGBTQ+” tell the story of pioneering lesbian pastor Freda Smith.
“Heavenly LGBTQ+” (ISBN 1958061220) is published by Apocryphile Press, a publisher and purveyor of fine books on religion, spirituality, philosophy and poetry. Their stated goal is to bring to market “books that ‘normal’ religious publishers wouldn’t touch with a 10-foot pole.” John Mabry is founder and editor-in-chief. Based in Hannacroix, New York, Apocryphile has published more than 300 books since 2004 — including “Art That Dares,” “The Passion of Christ: A Gay Vision” and other books by Q Spirit founder Kittredge Cherry.
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Related links:
New illustrated book “Heavenly Homos, Etc” shows queer icons from LGBTQ religion and history
An artist who communicates to the wounded world through colours (profile of Jan Haen in Redemptorists Scala News)
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Top image credit:
“Heavenly LGBTQ+: Queer Icons from LGBTQ Life, Religion, and History” by Jan Haen book cover and printed book open to pages on Simon Tseko Nkoli.
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This post is part of the LGBTQ Saints series by Kittredge Cherry. Traditional and alternative saints, people in the Bible, LGBT and queer martyrs, authors, theologians, religious leaders, artists, deities and other figures of special interest to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people and our allies are covered.
This article was originally published, expanded with new material over time, and most recently updated on Nov. 29, 2023.
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