Hidden in plain sight

Today was a touristy day, before we start the Camino tomorrow. We had a fabulous time and you can track our path and see some photos here - https://www.relive.com/view/vPOpKYkDmRv

But in this space I wanted to share a moment that brought me some quiet joy and contemplation.

The photo below is of a bas-relief sculpture inside the main entrance of the Sé Catedral do Porto - it depicts the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the River Jordan. It was created by Antonio Teixeira Lopes, a Portuguese sculptor - you can read more about him here - https://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ant%C3%B3nio_Teixeira_Lopes

As soon as I saw it, there was a jolt of joy and recognition of something familiar. The gaze, the placement of the hands, the legs and feet of John. Maybe if you zoom in on the photo you’ll see it too?

Why joy, you might ask? For me, it’s a recognition that queer folk have been here all along, everywhere, in religious life, in art.

Was this sculptor gay?

I have no idea.

Were Jesus and/or John LGBTQ+?

No idea.

Does the thought of that possibility upset you?

There was a time in my life, many years ago now, when the thought of that possibility would have scandalized me and rocked my faith. In fact, truthfully, there was no room in my faith for even contemplating that idea.

I’m glad those days are gone. I’m grateful for all the healing that has happened. And I am confident in the certain knowledge that queer folk have been part of God’s very good creation, from the beginning.

And no matter what the current powers in Washington might declare, we’re still here, all of us, even and especially trans and nonbinary people. You can’t legislate us out of existence.

We’ll pop up just where you might least expect us, even in a sculpture, on a wall, in a cathedral in Portugal.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️