About Jesus in Love
Jesus In Love supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and queer spirituality and the arts. It promotes artistic and religious freedom and teaches love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity or religious faith.
Jesus in Love is a project of lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry. It’s her gift to the world. Since she started it in 2005, Jesus in Love has grown to include a popular blog, e-newsletter, videos, image archive and an informal online community of people who share her vision.
Jesus in Love specializes in art that is too queer for religious groups and too religious for LGBT organizations. The mission is important because conservatives are misusing religion to justify hate and discrimination against LGBT people.
The Jesus in Love logo shows the face of Christ in a pink triangle, the symbol imposed on gay prisoners in Nazi concentration camps. Inside the pink triangle, Jesus joins queer people in transforming suffering into power.
Kitt was inspired by Jesus when she launched Jesus in Love, but she respects all religions. She chose the name “Jesus in Love” because Jesus, being human, must have fallen in love, and Jesus, being divine, is also madly in love with everyone. She offers her vision of Jesus in a spirit of love.
As an individual effort, Jesus in Love has the independence and flexibility needed to nurture each person’s unique spiritual journey and do sometimes-controversial work. Jesus in Love is not an IRS 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so gifts to Kittredge Cherry for Jesus in Love are not tax deductible. Click here for info on how to support Jesus in Love.
Vision
Jesus in Love supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) and queer spirituality and art. It promotes artistic and religious freedom and teaches love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It is based on these beliefs: God loves all people, including sexual minorities. The creative process is sacred. The queer visions, especially the gay Jesus and LGBT saints, will free people to experience the divine in new ways and lead to a more just world.
Click here for news releases from Jesus in Love
Click here for prayer page
News reports
South Africa: Website courts controversy with gay Jesus
United Kingdom: Website portrays gay “faggot” Jesus
“Gay spirituality and visual art collide in a meaty blog that dissects both modern and aged works, confronting the intersection of religious imagery and queerness.”
— from “Twelve Queer Blogs to Watch” at Where the Girls Go
What others are saying: Praise and criticism
Praise from readers and progressives
“You are truly a light in the darkness for gay Christians.”
— Alison Amyx, editor
“A wonderful combination of inspiration and education. And now you’re in Spanish too!”
—Ernesto Borges Torres
“You are an icon amongst queers. Which is about as high a compliment as a queer theologian can give.”
— Jeff Hood
“Some of our best resources, that push the edges and make us re-evaluate, do not have a regular source of funding. This one is well worth your donation.”
— Nancy Radclyffe
“A very well written, well researched and always wonder-filled blog.”
— Br. Mark D’Alessio
“Often reading your JesusInLove blog, it is clear that you are an LGBTQI cultural hero. You continue to research and publish on behalf of justice and equality for all LGBTQI people. You do this single handedly, with little support, at your own expense, and at personal risk. One might wonder if you have wings on your back? You get my vote as a modern Saint!”
— Adrian Ravarour
“Your work is never less than interesting and often powerfully inspirational.”
— Derek Collins
“Provocative, inspiring, uplifting!”
— Jason Wood
”So proud of the work you do, Kit, and the lives you lift.”
— Rev Kyle Lovett
“I think sometimes you understand my work better than I do!”
— Tony O’Connell, artist
“I believe your blog is a unique tool for many queer people in Latin America to ever encounter this information. Thank you so much for all your efforts. Your work is awesome and always respectful.”
— Hugo Córdova Quero
“A wonderful space for queer arts and spirituality.”
— Ric Stott, artist
“I am honored to be included in this blog that has at times supported my journey, pushed me to discomfort and drawn me deeper into the heart of God.”
— One and Doll, artist
“This journal communicates with members of the LGBT community and their friends and families. It assures them that they are created in God’s image and beloved. This is an important newsletter to a widespread community and a lifeline to those who are struggling.”
— Roberta Ford
“Your much needed voice broadens the scope bringing new light to our Christ awareness. Keep pushing that envelope of inspiration.”
— Samuel Lipton
“Your blog is such an inspiration and important resource.”
— Ernest Disney-Britten, art collector and grant-maker
“Thanks for your blog. It’s among the few Christian blogs I find resonant with my own beliefs.”
— Gordon Gross
“Kudos to Rev. Kittredge Cherry for pushing the spiritual envelope and causing us to ponder (and even debate) the deeper things of God. Well done!!!”
— Ernesto Borges Torres
“Thanks, Kittredge Cherry, for tending to our souls. You are a living saint.”
— Elizabeth Kaeton
“Thank you for keeping the flame of the LGBT creative spirit burning bright!”
—Stephen Mead, artist
“Kittredge, your boldness for the Queer Christ inspires me and gives me joy. Keep up the good work!”
— Brian Hutchison
“The work of people like you, Kitt, convinces me of God’s love for us!”
— Kevin Elphick
“Rev. Cherry’s stuff is always fabulous.”
— Durrell Watkins, Sunshine Cathedral
“Great, courageous website in the true spirit of Jesus... Your site has often helped me feel lighter, made me smile and helped me feel loved by God. Thank you Kitt!”
— Michael
“Always impressive... always informative... You do such great and important work, Kitt! It’s always an honor to share aspects of it here at The Wild Reed. Thank you!”
— Michael J. Bayly at The Wild Reed
“You provide an amazing service. Sometimes I think you go too far (but so what?). I don’t want or need a sexualized Jesus. But it’s very, very important to reach LGBTQ’s with the love of God, and I don’t know anyone who does that better than you.”
— Josh Thomas, author
”Kittredge Cherry continues to publish very fine, very eye-opening histories at her site, Jesus in Love.”
— Mitch Gould, scholar
“Just tremendous stuff Kitt. Thanks so much for putting this up. Just the kind of thing that I- a)*absolutely* want to know about and b) would almost undoubtedly not ever even hear of or see if you weren’t covering it.”
— CJ Barker
“I find the commentaries informative and enlightening. You give a positive and personal alternative outlook to the people and events that formed the Christian Church.”
— Bob
“Keep doing what you do so well. It’s providing me an education no institution could ever provide!”
— Eric Hays-Strom
“I’m just so in awe of you for creating such a great blog. It’s really impressive.”
— Jon, gay man, age 18
“Kitt, the site’s hardworking administrator, does such an excellent job of promoting (mostly queer) outsider art and in a high quality artistic and creative way… Kitt is a pioneer, outsider god blogger like myself and I like to help her out when I can.”
— MadPriest
“I am a m2f transgender person, & I’m just beginning to learn about the many feminine aspects of faith, of God—of the universe, really! And the art work that you display and link to gives me so much just to look at and so much of life to receive into my heart and enrich my soul. May God bless you abundantly!”
— Sandi
“Keep up the wonderful work.”
— Theodore W. Jennings Jr., Chicago Theological Seminary professor
“Kittredge Cherry is a courageous champion for gay and lesbian religious art. In an age where it is hard for any artist to get visibility, it is especially hard for those who pursue gay/ lesbian religious themes. That such artists are visible at all is almost entirely her work.”
— Douglas Blanchard, artist
“i beamed with pride about helping with your web site and the important message you offer, providing an opportunity for GLBT christians to take back - re-appropriate, if you will - their religion, and to feel good about themselves and about who they are. this is such meaningful work for all people. continued success!”
— Franklin Odel, straight ally
“I LOVE your blog! It is really refreshing to hear from someone who isn't trying to fit inside of some institutional, religion-sourced and oppressive shoebox but speaks of liberation and acceptance, without. Awesome!”
— Enrico Gomez, Gay Mexican Catholic / Buddhist
“I just want to tell you how much I really appreciate your writing and the ‘Jesus in Love’ organization. It has been a great comfort and joy to come to the website for a quick pick-me-up or source for inspiration.”
— Kevin, gay man, age 21
“One of the most refreshing voices I currently encounter online. Kitt’s posts are all about, in my humble opinion, the extravagant, redemptive love of God... One of her methods is to look for and write about saints that may be relevant exemplars of that love for the LGBTQI community. Perhaps to my family, seeing articles about ‘Gay (or Lesbian) Saints’ may be problematic, but these are highly relevant to those of us seeking to live and perceive ourselves in positive light in the face of a church that until recently has painted us in very negative light indeed.”
— Eric Hays-Strom
“Jesus in Love is the most radically progressive and life affirming Christian LGBT site on the Internet that I have ever seen. I find its message both inspiring and empowering.”
— Ernesto Borges Torres, gay Buddhist
“Kitt always has something important to say!”
— Malcolm McPherson, Sydney Australia
“It is a beautiful website, doing such important work in the world!”
— Hunter Flournoy, erotic Christ teacher
“Your blog gives me joy and inspiration.”
— Jendi Reiter, poet, editor, straight ally for LGBT rights
“I live in Russia, in Moscow. I am very glad to read your blog ‘Jesus in Love.’ Among all LGBT-Christian sites it is the best. … I am very glad to see progressive religion which is shown by you. Yes God will bless you!”
— Russian woman
“I want you to know that every single LGBTQI young person I encounter, and I encounter quite a few, particularly from India and The Middle East, who is struggling with reconciling their sexual selves with their spiritual selves, are guided to this blog by me and specifically to this [LGBT Saints] series.… This is a huge service you are providing to the world. I am so grateful for it and for you. Om Shanti Shalom!”
— Raven/Sage Mahosadha, black, queer, writer and sacred activist
“I admire Kittredge Cherry. She is a brave person in that she touches the very center of many people’s being and is not afraid.”
— Amos Lassen, book reviewer for GLBT and Jewish communities.
“I value the witness you provide to the community and to the world. I, too, have benefited directly from your ministry -- I still have on my shelf and use your ‘Equal Rites’ book, and I remember your willingness to stand up publicly and be seen and heard and counted. My ministry has evolved to include being a ‘public, Christian lesbian face’ in the midst of a religiously conservative setting.”
— Kyle Lovett, pastor in Hawaii
“I learn so much from your posts, and they often bring me to a greater understanding of Spirit working in my life. I like to give back to places that spiritually enrich me, and Jesus in Love certainly does that. I am very grateful for all you do.”
— Salvatore Sapienza, author and former monk
“Your little website is spreading more Truth than the whole gay media put together. They’re after our bodies. You’re after our souls. Keep up the Good Work!”
– from a note that came with a gift
Criticism from hate groups and conservatives
Being targeted by hate groups can be seen as a badge of honor and proof that Jesus in Love is reaching people with an important message. As Jesus said, “Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you and revile you, and cast out your name as evil, on account of the Human One!” (Luke 6:22)
Blasphemy 101: ‘Lesbian Christian’ Kittredge Cherry Offers ‘Rainbow Christ Prayer’ (posted by Americans for Truth about Homosexuality, a hate group certified by the Southern Poverty Law Center)
Kittredge Cherry: Lesbian, Modernist, and Deceiver (Jesus-Is-Savior.com)
Huffington Post Promotes ‘Queer Christ’ (Newsbusters: Exposing and Combating Liberal Media Bias)
Gay Jesus in Love. THE FINAL BLASPHEMY? (Virtue Online: The Voice for Global Orthodox Anglicanism)
The Dumb Dora Award for Blasphemous Burlesque Goes to Kittredge Cherry… (Ignorance is Plentiful: Gay Gatekeeper Watchdog Blog)
Bizarre gay christian cleric prays to the “erotic Christ” (Gay Christian Movement Watch: A Blog Upholding Biblical Standards of Sexuality) founded by ex-gay pastor D.L. Foster