20th century Archives - Page 3 of 5

Marsha P. Johnson: African American transgender woman at Stonewall Uprising

by Kittredge Cherry | | Aug 15-31, June 1-15, Saints

Marsha P. Johnson was an African American transgender woman activist and one of those credited with starting the Stonewall Rebellion that launched the modern LGBTQ liberation movement. A bold black trans street activist and lifelong Christian, she was nicknamed “the...

UpStairs Lounge fire: 32 killed in deadly attack on LGBTQ people

by Kittredge Cherry | | Calendar, June 16-30

Before the Orlando Pulse massacre, the deadliest attack on LGBTQ people in U.S. history was an arson fire at the UpStairs Lounge, a gay bar in New Orleans. The fire killed 32 people on June 24, 1973. It is enlightening the re-examine the UpStairs Lounge fire in the...

James Tinney: Black gay professor who founded LGBTQ church in 1982

by Kittredge Cherry | | June 1-15, Saints

James S. Tinney was a black gay professor who founded an African American LGBTQ church in Washington DC in 1982. He died at age 46 on June 12, 1988, from complications due to AIDS. Born in Kansas City on May 12, 1942, he was ordained as a Pentecostal minister when he...

Saints of Stonewall inspire LGBTQ justice — and artists, authors and film makers

by Kittredge Cherry | | Calendar, June 16-30, Saints

LGBTQ Pride celebrations are rooted in sacred resistance — when queer people fought back against harassment at New York City’s Stonewall Inn, they launched the modern LGBTQ liberation movement on June 28, 1969. Their bold rebellion against government...

Codebreaker Alan Turing honored in queer spiritual art

by Kittredge Cherry | | June 1-15, Saints

Alan Turing is a gay icon, pioneering computer scientist and British codebreaker. He is sometimes called a gay saint because his wartime codebreaking saved millions of lives, and a gay martyr because he was probably driven to suicide by court-ordered “chemical...

Stormé DeLarverie: Butch lesbian at Stonewall Uprising

by Kittredge Cherry | | May 15-31, Saints

Stormé DeLarverie was a biracial butch lesbian “drag king” entertainer and one of those credited with starting the Stonewall Rebellion that launched the modern LGBTQ liberation movement. She died on May 24, 2014 at age 93. The LGBTQ people who resisted police at the...

Harvey Milk: LGBTQ rights pioneer stood for equality

by Kittredge Cherry | | May 15-31, Nov 16-30, Saints

Pioneering LGBTQ rights activist Harvey Milk is the first and most famous openly gay male elected official in California. His birthday (May 22) is a state holiday. He has been called a martyr for LGBTQ rights — and for all human rights. “If a bullet should...

Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Eberhard Bethge: Anti-Nazi theologians and soulmates

by Kittredge Cherry | | April 1-15, Saints

Influential German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was an anti-Nazi dissident whom a few scholars believe experienced same-sex attraction. Speculation about his likely gay orientation focuses on his love for Eberhard Bethge, who was his best friend and biographer....

Sandra Robinson: Black lesbian MCC clergywoman educated and inspired

by Kittredge Cherry | | March 16-31, Saints

I celebrate the life of my mentor and friend Rev. Dr. Sandra Robinson of Denton, Texas. She passed away March 19, 2023, from COVID at age 74. She is survived by her wife of 30 years, Janai Buentello. As a clergywoman in Metropolitan Community Churches, Robinson headed...

John Boswell: Historian of gays and lesbians in Christianity

by Kittredge Cherry | | March 16-31, Saints

John Boswell was a Yale professor who revealed centuries of LGBTQ Christian history in groundbreaking books such as “Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality” and “Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe.” John Eastburn “Jeb” Boswell was born on March 20, 1947,...