The LGBT Studies Shelf

Heavenly LGBTQ+
Jan Haen
Apocryphile Press
https://apocryphilepress.com
9781958061220, $24.00, PB, 102pp

https://www.amazon.com/Heavenly-LGBTQ-Queer-Religion-History/dp/1958061220

Synopsis: Members of the LGBTQ+ community have bravely faced conflicts with=
church and society throughout history and around the world, including duri=
ng the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

With the publication of "Heavenly LGBTQ+: Queer Icons from LGBTQ Life, Reli= gion and History", Jan Haen highlights the role of LGBTQ+ people in the Rus= sia-Ukraine war and puts it into a broader context.

"Heavenly LGBTQ+" is a compendium of illustrated biographies that tell the = stories of seventeen diverse international LGBTQ figures ranging from Alvin=
Ailey to Xenia of St. Petersburg. Included are the stories of saints, acti= vists, martyrs, ministers, writers, and performers from North and South Ame= rica, Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Most lived in the 20th and 21st centuries. Their courage inspires hope for = LGBTQ+ people today.

The succinct and accessible text lets the pictures tell their stories. Live=
ly commentary reflects on how sexuality, gender, and religion impacted the = war in Ukraine.

"Heavenly LGBTQ+" is formatted in a deceptively simple comic-book style tha=
t effectively conveys sophisticated understandings. The large, colorful ill= ustrations on every page present a fresh, unsentimental perspective on upli= fting people who faced tough times. Intended for adults, the book naturally=
includes occasional nudity and violence, as they are part of history.

Critique: Informed, informative, and timely given the current rise of hosti= lity towards the gay community "Heavenly LGBTQ+: Queer Icons from LGBTQ Lif=
e, Religion and History" deserves as wide a readership among both the gay a=
nd the straight communities. While also available for personal reading list=
s in a digital book format (Kindle, $7.99), "Heavenly LGBTQ+: Queer Icons f= rom LGBTQ Life, Religion and History" is unreservedly recommended for commu= nity and academic library LGBTQ+ collections and supplemental curriculum st= udies lists.

Editorial Note: Jan Haen is a Dutch visual artist and Redemptorist priest w=
ho has ministered in the Netherlands and South Africa. His art appears freq= uently in the LGBTQ Saints blog series at Qspirit.net. He painted murals in=
schools, churches and public places in Africa and across Europe. Haen is a=
n active member of the Werkverband van Katholieke Homo-Pastores, an associa= tion of gay Catholic pastoral leaders. "Heavenly LGBTQ+" is the sequel to J=
an Haen's first book, "Heavenly Homos".

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