Station 5: Simon helps carry cross / LGBTs fired in Lavender Scare

Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry the cross while LGBT people fired during the Lavender Scare in Station 5 from “Stations of the Cross: The Struggle For LGBT Equality” by Mary Button, courtesy of Believe Out Loud

1950: 190 individuals in the U.S. are dismissed from government employment for their sexual orientation, commencing the Lavender Scare. The fear and persecution of homosexuals in the 1950s paralleled the anti-communist scare campaigns of McCarthyism.

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Mini-commentary by Kittredge Cherry:

LGBT people were fired from US government jobs in the 1950s because supposedly the “Reds” (communists) could blackmail them into becoming spies. Jesus continues carrying his cross through another scene in the history of persecution faced by LGBT people. I love the colors of this image, like a rainbow flag in the background.
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“Stations of the Cross: The Struggle for LGBT Equality” is a new set of 14 paintings that link the crucifixion of Jesus with the history of LGBT people.

Artist Mary Button painted the LGBT Stations series for Believe Out Loud, an online network empowering Christians to work for LGBT equality. They invite churches and faith groups to download and use the images for free.

The whole series will also be shown here at the Jesus in Love Blog this week. Click here for an overview of the LGBT Stations by Kittredge Cherry, lesbian Christian author and art historian.