Mormon | Queering the Church

December features a number of notable dates of significance for queer Church history. Unless otherwise stated, all links in the listing below are to my own posts, here at Queer Saints, Sinners and Martyrs, or elsewhere.

Inclusion below does not imply that those named are “gay”, “lesbian”, or “trans”, or even “saints” in any narrow, modern sense – but all deserve attention by LGBT people of faith, for illustrating how sexual and gender minorities have been a constant presence in the life of the Church, at all levels.

An (incomplete) listing for December includes, among others worth considering, the following:

Dec 1st
- Blessed Charles de Foucauld, modern martyr

Dec 8th
- Rev James Stoll, the first clergyman to come out voluntarily

Dec 14th
- St Venantius Fortunatus, Italian Bishop and Homoerotic Poet (c 530 -603 )
- St Venantius Fortunatus, (LGBT Catholic Handbook)
- St John of the Cross, Spanish mystic, Priest and Doctor (1542 -1591)
- John of the Cross: Dark night of a gay soul (Jesus in Love Blog)

Dec 17th
- The Three Young Men in the Burning Fiery Furnace
- The Three Young Men, Eunuchs & Companions of Daniel OT, c 650 BC (LGBT Catholic Handbook)
- Lazarus of Bethany: Jesus’ beloved disciple?

Dec 18th
- Brad Lauritzen (1947 – 1971), Mormon Suicide

Dec 20th
- Ruth and Naomi OT, c 1100BC
- The Queer Family in the Book of Ruth
- Ruth and Naomi: Love between women in the Bible (Jesus in Love Blog)

Dec 24th
- St Eugenia /Eugenios, Cross-dressing’ Saint?
  - St Eugenia /Eugenios of Alexandria, (LGBT Catholic Handbook)

Dec 24th
- SS Protus and Hyacinth, eunuchs & martyrs.
  - SS Protus and Hyacinth, eunuchs & martyrs. (LGBT Catholic Handbook)
- John Boswell (1947 – 1994), historian and gay Catholic activist

Dec 25th
- Christmas: Queer cheer for Christmas (Jesus in Love Blog)

Dec 27th
- John the Evangelist, the “Beloved Disciple?”
  - St John, and Jesus’ Gay Wedding at Cana (The Rainbow Scriptures)
  - John the Evangelist: The man Jesus loved? (Jesus in Love Blog)
  - St John, the Man Jesus Loved, the “Beloved Disciple”. (LGBT Catholic Handbook)

Dec 29th
- David the Prophet and Jonathan, his Lover
  - David and Jonathan, Love Between Men (Jesus in Love Blog)
  - David the Prophet (LGBT Catholic Handbook)

Dec 31 st
- St Melania “the Younger” , woman deacon (Womenpriests.org)

b. December 9, 1921

d. March 8, 1976

Carlyle Davenport Marsden was born on December 9, 1921, in Parowan, Utah. He was the son of William and Della Jane Marsden. He was survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters, 10 grandchildren, two brothers and four sisters.

He had been a music teacher at Eisenhower Junior High School in the Granite School District in Salt Lake, and also taught at Brigham Young University.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army in the Pacific Theater.

He attended the College of Southern Utah in Cedar City for two years, and received his bachelor degree from Brigham Young University and his masters degree from the University of Utah. He also did graduate work at Claremont College, Occidental and Cal State in Los Angeles, California.

He had filled an LDS Mission in the New England States and had been a member of the bishopric and high council in Pomona, Calif. He had been music regional representative, stake and ward organist, and stake choir director. He had also been Sunday School superintendent in Salt Lake City.

Carlyle was outed in March 1976. This led him to take his own life on March 8, 1976. He was 54 years old.

Carlyle is buried at the Kaysville City Cemetery in Utah.

Carlyle’s grandson Douglas Stewart was a gay Mormon and sadly committed suicide on March 8, 2006, exactly 30 years to the day his grandfather committed suicide.

– Affirmation Suicide Memorial

Queering the Church

Tag Archives: Mormon

Queer Saints and Martyrs for December

Carlyle D. Marsden (1921-1976) Mormon Suicide