Q Spirit Newsletter LGBTQ spirituality and the arts

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October 2018

God shows love for LGBTQ people in cartoons by “Naked Pastor” God’s love for LGBTQ people is revealed in the cartoons of David Hayward, also known as “Naked Pastor.” The Canadian artist uses gentle humor to open hearts, minds and church doors to everybody, including the LGBTQ community. More info and cartoons

Queer side of Saint Francis revealed Historical records reveal a queer side to Saint Francis of Assisi, one of the most beloved religious figures of all time. The 13th-century friar is celebrated for loving animals, hugging lepers, and praying for peace, but few know about his love for another man and his gender nonconformity. More info

Hildegard and Richardis: Medieval nuns who loved each other Hildegard of Bingen was a brilliant medieval German mystic, poet, artist, composer, healer and scientist who wrote with passion about the Virgin Mary. Some say she was a lesbian because of her strong attachment to women, especially her personal assistant Richardis von Stade. More info

Nouwen struggled with his homosexuality Henri Nouwen was a Catholic priest and bestselling author who wrestled with his homosexuality. Nouwen never discussed his gay sexual orientation in his 40 books, but he confided his conflict over it in private journals and conversations. Some say that this struggle added depth to his books such as "The Wounded Healer." More info

Two new LGBTQ Christian books in October Two new titles are added this month to Q Spirit's list of LGBTQ Christian books published in 2018. They are “ Surrendering My Ordination: Standing Up for Gay and Lesbian Inclusivity in The United Methodist Church” by J. Philip Wogaman and “ Undoing Theology: Life Stories from Non-normative Christians” by Chris Greenough. More info

Same-sex love inspired Sufi poet Rumi Rumi is a 13th-century Persian poet and Sufi mystic whose love for another man inspired some of the world's best poems and led to the creation of a new religious order, the Whirling Dervishes. He was born in 13th-century Afghanistan. More info

Give to Q Spirit for Kitt's birthday I invite you to donate now to Q Spirit for my birthday in October. Your gifts help provide spiritual affirmation for LGBTQ people through my Q Spirit blog and newsletter.

Thanks for helping Kittredge Cherry share LGBTQ spirituality!

Gay saint of 9/11: Mychal Judge Father 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. More info

FannyAnn Eddy: Lesbian martyr in Africa FannyAnn Eddy was a major activist for LGBTQ rights in Africa. She told the United Nations, "Silence creates vulnerability," and founded the Sierra Leone Lesbian and Gay Association. She was murdered on Sept. 29, 2004. FannyAnn, you are not forgotten! More info

John McNeill: Pioneering gay priest John McNeill was a pioneering gay priest, psychotherapist, author, theologian and Jesuit scholar who inspired countless LGBTQ people of faith and their allies. He died on Sept. 22, 2015. He wrote the 1976 book " The Church and the Homosexual," helped found LGBTQ Catholic group Dignity, and was silenced by the Vatican for his LGBTQ ministry.  More info

Good (gay?) King Wenceslas There's good reason to believe that Good King Wenceslas was gay. Yes, the king in the Christmas carol. The carol is based on real historical figures, a Bohemian duke and his loyal page Podiven. Author Dennis O'Neill researched the love between the two men.  More info

Tyler Clementi: Youth driven to suicide Bullied into killing himself, gay teen Tyler Clementi brought international attention to suicide of LGBTQ youth by jumping to his death on Sept. 22, 2010. Anti-LGBTQ religious and political leaders helped create the hostile environment that drove him to suicide. More info    Wear purple on Oct. 18, 2018 to show support for young LGBTQ victims of bullying on Spirit Day.

Dear Friend I leave you to reflect on questions posed by author-priest Henri Nouwen, who struggled privately with homosexual desires: “Did I offer peace today? Did I bring a smile to someone’s face? Did I say words of healing? Did I let go of my anger and resentment? Did I forgive? Did I love? These are the real questions.” Blessings,

Kittredge Cherry Founder, publisher and editor Q Spirit and Jesus in Love

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“ THEY: A Biblical Tale of Secret Genders ” by Janet Mason.   Gender-fluid and gender-nonconforming characters act on their passions in this Bible-based novel, narrated from the point of view of Tamar from the Scriptures. The story is lifesaving for the LGBTQ community and liberating to others. Adelaide Books (New York/Lisbon).

Vatican made Jacinta & Francisco Marto saints because they advanced their deaths in slow agonizing ways for conversion of sinners. This investigation of press, hospital, forensic, mortuary, exhumation records and Lucia Santos own testimony prove MURDER .

Finding Your Own True Myth: What I Learned from Joseph Campbell Toby Johnson’s spiritual autobiography of learning the real nature of religion and finding the spiritual qualities of gay consciousness.

Looking for a new way to highlight the interactions of Jesus with women? Trudie Barreras has written a series of dramatic monologues including 'The Woman at the Well Witnesses', 'Rescued by Jesus', 'Martha's Story' and more. For more information, contact tbarreras@bellsouth.net. Photo by Shirley Cooper

“ THEY: A Biblical Tale of Secret Genders ” by Janet Mason.   I am fascinated by Mason’s ability to weave together biblical historical stories with modern concepts of sexuality and gender. — Reader. Gender-fluid characters act on their passions. The story is lifesaving and liberating. Adelaide Books (New York/Lisbon).

CAN GAYS AND LESBIANS BE TRUE CHRISTIANS? See the " Gay and Christian" website! It shows that a person can be both a Christian and a loving, sexually-active gay man or lesbian.

Advertise in the Q Spirit Newsletter   Reach a highly targeted audience of more than 1,500 subscribers with interest in LGBTQ religious and spiritual books, art and history. $25 a month for multiple ads or $30 a month for one-time ads. Click here to buy ads or get info

Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, And More By Kittredge Cherry Packed with color art by 11 contemporary artists "An amazing, disconcerting, and sacred book"

Q Spirit / Jesus in Love promotes LGBTQ spirituality with saints, history, art and books. Created by Kittredge Cherry, the project fosters religious and artistic freedom by teaching love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

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