GLBT spiritual site marks 4th anniversary (11/17/09)

Los Angeles, CA -- Nov. 17, 2009 -- JesusInLove.org is celebrating its fourth anniversary as an online resource for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) spirituality and the arts.

“We take creative risks and present controversial material that most websites won’t touch,” says Kittredge Cherry, the lesbian author and minister who founded JesusInLove.org. “We specialize in new GLBT Christian art that is too queer for religious institutions and too religious for GLBT organizations.”

As a small, independent website, JesusInLove.org is able to make an impact far beyond its size. By serving the grassroots, it has built a loyal core community of people who comment, donate, contribute and subscribe. They come from many spiritual traditions, but most have moved beyond mainstream churches.

“Christian rhetoric is often misused to justify hate and discrimination against GLBT people,” Cherry says. “I founded JesusInLove.org to present a positive spiritual vision for GLBT people and our allies.”

It has expanded from a single website into an online network that includes this popular blog, videos, e-newsletter and image archive. The content has also grown beyond the original emphasis on gay Jesus art. This year a new series on GLBT saints is generating lots of buzz at the Jesus in Love Blog. The blog now showcases a wider range of work from diverse contributors.

JesusInLove.org was launched on Nov. 17, 2005 with a news release titled “New Website Dares to Show Gay Jesus.” Since then it has reached thousands of people all over the world and co-sponsored the first National Festival of Progressive Spiritual Art.

“We have won many honors -- and we also get a lot of hate mail from conservative Christians,” Cherry says. She reports that a typical comment is, “Gays are not wanted in the kingdom of Christ! They are cast into the lake of fire.”

“Right-wing Christian bloggers labeled me ‘a hyper-homosexual revisionist’ and denounced my projects as ‘garbage,’ ‘insanity,’ and ‘a blatant act defamation and blasphemy,’” Cherry says. “The ongoing religious bigotry proves that JesusInLove.org is needed now as much as ever. Jesus loved everyone, including sexual outcasts.”

Cherry was ordained by Metropolitan Community Churches and served as its national ecumenical officer. One of her main duties was promoting dialogue on homosexuality at the National Council of Churches (USA) and the World Council of Churches. Her books include “Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More,” “Jesus in Love: A NovelEqual Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations.” The New York Times Book Review praised her “very graceful, erudite” writing style.

The first JesusInLove.org news release from the original launch is available in the Jesus in Love media room, along with other major news releases from the past three years.

For more info, visit the Jesus in Love Blog (www.jesusinlove.blogspot.com), JesusInLove.org, or contact info-at-JesusInLove.org.

New novel shows Passion of a queer Christ (2/1/08)

BERKELEY, CA -- Feb. 1, 2008 -- A queer Christ lives out the Easter story of death and resurrection in the new novel “Jesus in Love: At the Cross” by Kittredge Cherry.

The book is being released in time for Ash Wednesday (Feb. 6), which begins the season of Lent when Christians remember the sufferings of Jesus to prepare for Easter.

Jesus commits the ultimate act of love in “At the Cross,” a fictional autobiography of a bisexual Christ. The dramatic events of Christ’s Passion happen in the context of a gay love story between Jesus and his disciple John. The novel covers Palm Sunday, the Last Supper, and Jesus’ arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection, ending on Pentecost. Jesus has today’s queer sensibilities and psychological sophistication as he reveals the erotic, mystical experiences that may have led to the first Easter.

“At the Cross” is a sequel to the popular “Jesus in Love: A Novel,” but there’s no need to read the other book first. “At the Cross” stands alone in its own right.

“Christ’s story is for everyone, but queer people often feel left out because conservatives use Christian rhetoric to justify hate and discrimination,” says Cherry, a lesbian Christian author and minister who promotes queer spirituality and the arts at JesusInLove.org.

“I wrote ‘At the Cross’ so more people could connect with the powerful story of Jesus’ human struggles and how he rose above them,” Cherry says. “Gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people can relate to a queer Christ -- and so can many others.”

The prequel, “Jesus in Love,” became a surprise hit with mainstream readers after achieving success in the GLBT community. Cherry receives fan mail from a diverse range of readers -- male and female, queer and straight, ranging from Roman Catholic priests to atheists and Jews. And she gets hate mail from conservative Christians, too.

Some conservatives labeled Cherry “a hyper-homosexual revisionist” because of the gay love story between Jesus and John. However, her books follow the Biblical text and standard Christian doctrine while speculating on Christ’s erotic inner life.

Meanwhile, secular literary critics and progressive Christians affirm the Jesus in Love series as “profound,” “spiritually mature” and “beautifully written.” Gay spirituality author Toby Johnson praises it as “a real tour de force in transforming traditional myth to modern consciousness.”

The Bay Area Reporter called it “revolutionary religious fiction” and Mel White, founder of Soulforce, says, “Kitt Cherry has broken through the stained-glass barrier… a classic re-telling of the greatest story ever told.”

“At the Cross” grows out of Cherry’s own spiritual journey and her experiences as a minister in the LGBT community. One of her duties was promoting dialogue on homosexuality at the National Council of Churches (U.S.A.) and the World Council of Churches as National Ecumenical Officer for Metropolitan Community Churches. She wrote “At the Cross” after Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forced her into a more contemplative life

Her previous books include “Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More,” “Equal Rites” and “Hide and Speak.” The New York Times Book Review praised her “very graceful, erudite” writing style.

Cherry’s website, JesusInLove.org, features the growing number of books and art based on the queer Christ, as well as other LGBT spiritual resources. She blogs at the Jesus in Love Blog and edits the Jesus in Love Newsletter on queer spirituality and the arts.

“At the Cross” (ISBN 1933993421) is published by AndroGyne Press, a new queer studies press in Berkeley, CA. Ingram Book Group distributes it.

For review copies or more info, contact info@JesusInLove.org or publisher@androgynepress.com, or visit:
http://jesusinlove.org
or
http://www.androgynepress.com
# # #

Jesus in Love: At the Cross
By Kittredge Cherry

ISBN: 1933993421
Publisher: AndroGyne Press
Price: $18.95
Paperback: 312 pages
Publication date: Feb. 2008
Distributed by: Ingram Book Group

Sex and spirit mix on Jesus book cover from Germany (12/12/07)

LOS ANGELES, California -- Dec. 12, 2007 -- A homoerotic Christ image on the cover of a new German book is sparking international debate as Christmas approaches.

The provocative cover art appears on the newly released German translation of “Jesus in Love,” a novel about a queer Christ by American author Kittredge Cherry.

The cover art by Berlin painter Alexander von Agoston shows a near-naked Jesus and John the Baptist rising from the water together after Christ’s baptism. The men’s genitals shine through their wet clothes. A shared halo affirms the union of body and spirit.

“My book says that gay sexuality is holy to Christ, but even I thought the image was too frankly erotic for the cover at first,” Cherry said.

Discussions with her German publisher, Edition EuQor convinced the author to approve the powerful cover. “German readers are used to seeing nudity on covers, much more than Americans,” the publisher said. “Sure, the cover attracts attention. That’s what a cover is for.”

Cherry, a passionate promoter of queer spiritual art, is now enthusiastic about the controversial cover. “Gay-positive Christian images are needed now because conservatives are using religious rhetoric to justify discrimination against queer people. The cover goes all the way in showing that God loves gays. It’s the right cover for Germany,” she said.

Cherry is a lesbian Christian author who offers spiritual resources at JesusInLove.org and blogs at the Jesus In Love Blog. She was at the forefront of the international debate on sexuality and spirituality as National Ecumenical Officer for Metropolitan Community Churches. Her other books include “Art That Dares: Gay Jesus, Woman Christ, and More.”

The German translation of “Jesus in Love” was released in time for Christmas by Edition EuQor, a start-up German press specializing in provocative books.

“When ‘Jesus in Love’ was published in English, websites in Germany buzzed with excitement,” the publisher said. “The idea of a bisexual Jesus seemed to fascinate Germans more than anyone else outside the English-speaking world. Soon Edition EuQor offered to do a German translation.”

Reactions to the “Jesus in Love” cover vary widely from delight to shock and disdain, even within the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community.

The original English version of “Jesus in Love” was published in 2006 by AndroGyne Press with a more romantic cover drawing of Jesus and John wreathed in roses. Conservative Christians attacked the novel as blasphemy because it portrays a Jesus who felt sexual attraction to men. However, it received praise from literary critics and GLBT Christian leaders.

Mel White, founder of the GLBT Christian activist group Soulforce, endorsed the English version. “Kitt Cherry has broken through the stained-glass barrier,” White said. “This is not a prurient look at the sex life of Jesus, but a classic re-telling of the greatest story ever told.”

Theology professor Carter Heyward called it “a lovely, gentle, playful book.” Toby Johnson, author of “Gay Spirituality,” described it as “a wonderful, gay-sensitive, and delightfully ‘shocking’ reassessment of the stories of the old-time religion.”

For more info and a look at the cover, visit:
http://www.jesusinlove.blogspot.com/
or
http://www.euqor.de/jesus.html
# # #

Media contacts:
info@JesusInLove.org or verlag@euqor.de

Jesus in Love: A Novel
By Kittredge Cherry
German hardcover: ISBN 978-3-940071-04-0, 288 pages, 34,90 EUR
German paperback: ISBN 978-3-940071-07-1, 288 pages, 24,90 EUR
English paperback: ISBN 1-933993-18-9, 328 pages, $18.95, distributed by Ingram

Author Coaches U.S. Senators on Coming-Out (8/28/07)

LOS ANGELES, CA -- Aug. 28, 2007 -- “Hide and Speak: A Coming Out Guide” will be sent free upon request to any U.S. Senator, including scandal-plagued Larry Craig.

”Gay sex scandals have become way too common -- especially among conservative leaders who oppose gay rights,” said Rev. Kittredge Cherry, a lesbian minister and author of “Hide and Speak.”

Cherry offered the book to Senators today when a media frenzy arose over Craig's arrest for allegedly soliciting gay sex in a public restroom. Craig announced today that he regretted making a guilty plea to a lesser charge and keeping the incident secret from his family, friends and staff.

”Sometimes telling the truth is difficult, but living a lie is even harder,” Cherry said. “Senator Craig is just the latest example of an anti-gay leader caught in a web of lies about a secret gay life.”

Former U.S. congressman Mike Foley and evangelical leader Rev. Ted Haggard officially opposed gay rights until recent gay sex scandals ended their public careers. They all might have prevented their scandals by following the book’s powerful program of self-acceptance and appropriate disclosure. The coming-out guide gives practical help with the coming-out process for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) people -- and anyone else with a story to tell.

Each chapter of “Hide and Speak” includes real life examples and tested, highly effective exercises used by Cherry in coming-out workshops nationwide. She tells positive ways to come out to oneself, create a circle of supporters and deal with family, job and school. Readers will learn how to live proud, free and balanced, no matter what happens.

”Senator Craig needs coming-out advice, but so do many others,” Cherry said. “Queer teens are exploring their sexual orientation at younger ages. Lesbian and gay soldiers are facing the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ policy while they fight in Iraq. Transgender surgery is now common. ‘Hide and Speak’ is the right resource for all of these challenges and more.”

“Hide and Speak” is not just about homosexuality. The life-changing handbook is useful for all people who struggle with secrets and their consequences.

U.S. Senators are invited to request their free copy by contacting kitt@JesusInLove.org or visiting www.JesusInLove.org.

“Hide and Speak” was recently released by AndroGyne Press, a new queer studies press based in Berkeley, CA.

###

Publisher: AndroGyne Press (Oct. 2006)
Price: $16.95
Paperback: 162 pages
ISBN: 1933993111

New Book Stirs Gay Jesus Debate (4/4/07)

BERKELEY, CA -- April 4, 2007 -- A new novel about the sexual and spiritual awakening of a queer Christ is sparking controversy this Easter.

“Christ taught love, but some of his followers preach hate,” says Kittredge Cherry, the lesbian Christian author of “Jesus in Love.” “Conservative Christians are calling me names and saying I’ll go to hell -- all because I wrote a novel with a gay love story between Jesus and his disciple John.”

Right-wing Christian bloggers labeled Cherry “a hyper-homosexual revisionist” and denounced her book as “garbage,” “insanity” and “a blatant act defamation and blasphemy.” Her website, JesusInLove.org, got many emails with warnings such as, “Gays are not wanted in the kingdom of Christ! They are cast into the lake of fire.”

This kind of religious bigotry is exactly why “Jesus in Love” is needed, Cherry noted. “Christian rhetoric is used to justify hate and discrimination against LGBT people, but Jesus loved everyone, including sexual outcasts,” she says.

Cherry was at the forefront of the sexuality debate at the National Council of Churches (USA) and the World Council of Churches as National Ecumenical Officer for Metropolitan Community Churches. She wrote “Jesus in Love” after Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forced her into a more contemplative life.

“Jesus in Love” closely follows the Biblical text and standard Christian doctrine while speculating on Christ’s erotic inner life. It presents a gender-blind Jesus who blends masculinity and femininity as he does humanity and divinity. Enchanted by people’s souls, he barely notices their gender and ends up falling in love with John, Mary Magdalene and the multi-gendered Holy Spirit as he teaches and heals people in first-century Palestine.

“Every community presents Jesus in their own way,” Cherry explains. “There’s black Jesus, Asian Jesus -- and now queer Jesus to heal the damage being done by homophobes in Christ’s name.”

LGBT spiritual leaders affirm “Jesus in Love.” Rev. Mel White, founder of Soulforce, says, “Kitt Cherry has broken through the stained-glass barrier” and urges people to read her “classic re-telling of the greatest story ever told.”

Theology professor Carter Heyward calls it as “a lovely, gentle, playful book” and gay spirituality author Toby Johnson praises it as “a real tour de force in transforming traditional myth to modern consciousness.”

“Jesus in Love” is also getting good reviews in the secular LGBT community, and translations into German and Portuguese are underway. Syndicated gay book critic Richard Labonte proclaimed it “a winsome affirmation of erotic love’s sacred potential.” The Bay Area Reporter described it as “sensuous, courageous, and unique.”

“Jesus in Love” (ISBN 1-933993-18-9) is published by AndroGyne Press, a new queer studies press in Berkeley, CA. Ingram Book Group distributes it.

For more info, contact info@JesusInLove.org or publisher@androgynepress.com, or visit:
http://jesusinlove.org
or
http://www.androgynepress.com.