20th century Archives

John T. Graves: Black gay clergyman was founding president of nation’s first LGBTQ group in 1924 (Society for Human Rights)

by Kittredge Cherry | | Dec 1-15, Saints

John T. Graves was a black gay clergyman and first president of the Society for Human Rights, the oldest documented LGBTQ-rights organization in the United States. It was founded 100 years ago in 1924 in Chicago. Graves’ historic role proves that the LGBTQ-rights...

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. [Update: The Washington...

Gay Catholic priest reveals his journey in cartoon-style memoir “My Life” by Jan Haen

by Kittredge Cherry | | Artists, Books

A gay Roman Catholic priest reveals his adventurous life and ministry in the cartoon-style memoir “My Life: as a Boy, Priest, Gay Man, and Artist” by Jan Haen. During more than a half-century of priesthood, Jan Haen found surprising ways to unite his inclusive...

Dance of the 41 Queers: Police raid Mexican drag ball in 1901

by Kittredge Cherry | | Nov 16-30, Saints

Police arrested 41 people at a Mexico City drag ball known as the Dance of the 41 Queers in a notorious police raid on Nov. 17-18, 1901. Now the Dance of the 41 is being reclaimed by the LGBTQ community, and same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico City. Cross-dressing...

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...

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...

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

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...

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,...