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 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)
- St Eugenia /Eugenios, Cross-dressing’ Saint?
- 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
- SS Protus and Hyacinth, eunuchs & martyrs.
- 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)
- John the Evangelist, the “Beloved Disciple?”
- 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)
- David the Prophet and Jonathan, his Lover
- Dec 31 st
- St Melania “the Younger” , woman deacon (Womenpriests.org)