Last Updated on September 22, 2025 by Kittredge Cherry
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 reviewer, philosopher of divine love, incisive social commentator, wise woman of deep faith, long-time member of Metropolitan Community Churches, and now a queer saint. She enriched LGBTQ Christian life in many ways.
She is survived by her husband of 66 years, Ray Barreras, who is featured in her 2017 memoir “Trust Truth: A Spiritual and Erotic Pilgrimage with My Gay Spouse.” They were high school sweethearts and by the time he came out to her, they had five children. They joined Metropolitan Community Churches in 1979 in its early years as an LGBTQ-affirming denomination, and remained active in MCC for 46 years until her death. A memorial service was held on Sept. 21 at MCC Albuquerque and is available on video.
Gertrude Louise Schuyler was born into a family of artists on June 7, 1939 in Albuquerque. She was raised Presbyterian and converted to Catholicism when she married, but found her true church home in MCC. After earning a master of science degree in organic chemistry from Michigan State University, she worked as a high-school science teacher. More detailed biographies of Trudie Barreras are posted on the family’s art website, Schuylerart.com, and in the official obituary.
My personal memories of Trudie
Trudie was the absolute biggest fan of my “Jesus in Love” novels and one of the very first and most devoted supporters of my LGBTQ spirituality projects. We met online in 2008 when she reached out to discuss my work after reading “Jesus in Love.” She loved my fictional autobiography of an erotically alive queer Christ. Soon she became a great friend, donor and collaborator.
Trudie was always eager to support my LGBTQ spirituality projects on every level as I built the Jesus in Love blog and later moved it to Q Spirit. She freely shared her ideas, artwork and financial resources to power my work. She was a prolific book reviewer who showered my books with praise and was often the first to post a glowing review of other LGBTQ Christian books that I recommended.
One of my favorite memories of Trudie is how happy she was when I gave her a big box of my “Jesus in Love” novels. She sprang into action as soon as they arrived, eagerly giving them away to all kinds of people, using them as a springboard to discuss Christ’s all-inclusive love and convincing many people to read the book. Some must have been reluctant at first, but who could say no to Trudie?! She had that same zeal and quick response every time I suggested a book to review, a pet to sketch, or an article that needed an illustration.
“Jonathan Made a Covenant with David” by Trudie Barreras
Q Spirit features a variety of Trudie’s paintings, ranging from LGBTQ historical sites such as the Stonewall Inn to Biblical scenes of same-sex couples such as David and Jonathan’s covenant and Ruth and Naomi’s pledge.
Pet portraits by Trudie Barreras
Many will recall the wonderful pastel pet portraits that Trudie created as donation incentives for Q Spirit and other groups. A great animal lover, she sketched all our dogs and cats — and hundreds more for other families. According to the legend of the Rainbow Bridge, deceased pets wait for their humans so they can cross over the bridge to heaven together. I like to imagine Trudie being escorted to heaven by hundreds of dogs and cats that she sketched in her wonderful pet portraits.
One of Trudie’s best-loved creations was her monologue about the Samaritan woman at the well. She enthralled audiences by performing it in costume, embodying the ostracized woman who banters with Jesus and becomes the first to hear his revelation of Messiahship. She performed it for a decade at various venues. By unanimous decision, it became a regular part of every weekend retreat sponsored by the regional MCC lay group EXCEL of the Rainbow Zebra. Eventually it grew into a series of dramatic monologues of women who encountered Jesus. Now the text is in “Trust Truth” and her performance is on video too.
Artist Harriet Anaya painted portraits of Trudie as the Samaritan woman at the well.
With her red hair and Latino husband, Trudie reminded some of Lucy and Ricky, the iconic couple played by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in the television comedy “I Love Lucy.” Trudie’s memoir “Trust Truth” shows how seriously she took her marriage vows. Through faith and love, she weathered the ups and downs of marriage to a gay man. I was particularly touched by the following passage from her book “Trust Truth.” This scene happened in 1963, soon after the birth of her third child:
“My mother – a bit chagrined, I think, at the rate our family was expanding – asked what my goal or ideal was. Without pausing, I said, ‘I really want to learn to love!’ I think the motivation for this assertion was probably my feelings of inadequacy as a wife and mother. I knew I was impatient and too quick to lose my temper, both with Ray and with the kids. However, as the years have passed, I’ve realized that this is a deeper truth, and has indeed become the essence of my personal creed.”
The book describes how Trudie rejected the rigid sexual ethics of major denominations, learned the true meaning of eros and found love as taught by Jesus. She also book provides firsthand accounts of the development of MCC since the 1970s, outreach experiences in the Dominican Republic, and the interplay of spiritual retreats, meditation and other factors.
Trudie was beloved by her family and a large circle of friends, including fellow New Mexico artist Harriet Anaya, whose portraits of Trudie are featured here.
In one of our final discussions, just 11 days before she died, I let Trudie know that I was going to quote her in my forthcoming book about LGBTQ saints. I asked if it was accurate to call her an LGBTQ ally.
Trudie’s answer: “I consider myself ‘Q.’ I’m rereading [retired MCC moderator Nancy] Wilson’s ‘I Love to Tell the Story’ and Queer best describes me. 🥹.”
Trudie remained actively engaged with MCC to the end, not only reading MCC authors, but also delivering a 15-minute reflection at MCC Albuquerque in June 2025. She also attended a “No Kings” rally that month, wearing a sign with her brain scan and a sign declaring, “MAGA is scarier than brain cancer!”
Re-reading her favorite passage from my novel “Jesus in Love” helps ease my grief at the loss of my great friend Trudie:
“Once you love someone, that love lasts forever in the universe. Love never ends. Satan’s big lie was that hatred, fear, sin, and death can sometimes conquer love. No. Time makes them fade, while love endures forever. Love—love in any form whatsoever, any love that is ever loved—remains and is gradually filling the vast expanse of the universe.”
My spouse Audrey Lockwood and I often marveled at Trudie’s genius and generosity. Here’s how Audrey summed it up in her tribute to Trudie:
“She was there for Kitt from the beginning, THE MOST LOYAL on so many creative levels. 17 years as a great donor, mentor and something beyond special. I had so many fond names for her, one was ‘Trudie the Trooper’ and although Kitt and I never met her in person, she was the power and energy that fueled the Blog. She was 86 years old, what a life well lived!”
“Trudie of the Roses” by Harriet Anaya shows Trudie in the last part of Trudie’s life on earth.
In lieu of flowers, the Barreras family requests that donations be made to one of Trudie’s favored charities, including Q Spirit, Metropolitan Community Church of Albuquerque, and the Greater Good Network.
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This post is part of the LGBTQ Saints series by Kittredge Cherry. Traditional and alternative saints, historical people, martyrs, prophets, spiritual and religious leaders, mystics, humanitarians, authors, 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 on Q Spirit on Sept. 11, 2025, and most recently updated on Sept. 22, 2025.
Copyright © Kittredge Cherry. All rights reserved.
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RIP Trudie. She made lovely pastel portraits of my son as a toddler, as a thank-you for my support of Kitt’s work.