Among all the multitude of queer saints, Joan of Arc is one of the most important. In her notorious martyrdom for heresy (a charge which in historical context included reference to her cross-dressing and defiance of socially approved gender roles),…
Tag Archive for cross-dressing
Trans in Faith: Some Cross-Dressing Saints & Martyrs.
For Trans in Faith Awareness Week, I want to look again at the memory of the trans saints and martyrs in the Catholic and Orthodox traditions. By definition, those who die for their faith are known as “martyrs”, from the…
Nov 9th: St. Matrona/Babylas of Perge
St Matrona /Babylas of Perge is one of a number of female saints in the early church who dressed as men to be admitted to all-male monasteries. The stories and motives of these women are remote from our time, and…
Lessons From a Four-year Old (He is what he is).
“I am what I am” has so long been a queer slogan that it has almost become a cliche, lost its meaning. But when we really think about it, the words still have power to move – certainly for me…
Saint Uncumber / Wilgefortis, bearded lady (?)
A wonderful example of a sainted bearded lady?
More ‘Cross-Dressing Saints’
Today and tomorrow the church commemorates two more of the band of ‘transvestite saints’ – women who disguised themseves as men to live out their lives in male monasteries. Wednesday 11th February is the feast of St Euphrosyne ( later…
