St Christopher is the patron saint for travelers, while St Francis de Sales is the patron saint for journalists (who knew?) and even comedians have a patron saint with St Lawrence in their corner. But is there a patron saint for the
queer community?
Well not officially, but there are a few saintly figures that LGBTIQ people look towards.
Saint Sergius and Saint Bacchus
Sergius and Bacchus were fourth century Roman soldiers who have been revered as martyrs and saints. The pair served in the army of Roman Emperor Galerius until it was revealed that they were secret Christians. It is believed that Bacchus died while being tortured and that Sergius was eventually beheaded.
Historian John Boswell, who specialized in LGBTIQ history in the Christian faith, suggested that Sergius and Bacchus may have had a romantic relationship, leading to raise in the popularity of the two saints in the queer community.
Boswell, who was History Professor at Yale University wrote widely about LGBTIQ history until his AIDS related death in 1994. Sergius and Bacchus are probably the best known paired saints.
Saint Sebastian of Avia
Sebastian was an early Christian saint who is believed to have died around the year 288. He is often depicted as being tied to a tree wounded by arrows.
It is believed that he was rescued from the tree by Irene of Rome but later criticized Roman Emperor Diocletian, who order that Sebastian be clubbed to death.
Sebastian is often seen as a patron saint for soldiers and as a defense against ‘the plague’. Why‘s he popular in the queer community?
Well for one thing he’s always looks pretty good in the many painting that have depicted him, often as a muscled youth with curly hair.
In the 16th century he was depicted by Italian artist Giovanni Antonio Bazzi, who was known by the name Il Sodoma – a name he was bestowed due to his homosexuality.
Modern depictions include a piece by French photography duo Pierre et Gilles and in 1976 queer film director Derek Jarman created his film ‘Sebastiane’.
More recently, artist Wolfgang Tilmans has portrayed St Sebastian in an AIDS context bringing together two of the areas he is most associated with.
When the writer Oscar Wilde was released from prison, he spent the last three years of his life living in exile in France. During this time Wilde took on the pseudonym Sebastian Melmoth. Tennessee Williams also used the name Sebastian for a gay character in his play ‘Suddenly, Last Summer’.
OIP Staff
