Lesbians for Christ: The Rev. Rose Mary Denman and The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Photo Archive

1987. [LGBTQ] Lesbian Minister Photo Archive of 4 Original Press Photographs. Included in this archive is one sepia-toned press photograph of lesbian minister, The Rev. Dr. Rose Mary Denman, and two original black and white silver gelatin press photographs of ordained lesbian minister, The Rev. Dr. Jane Spahr. Three measure 11" x 8", one measures 10" x 8". In a May 1987 letter, the chair of the Board of Ordained Ministry informed Denman that "the executive session of the Conference clergy would be asked to terminate her clergy affiliation - unless she chose either to resign or to request a trial". The jury eventually found her in violation of church law and she was later granted preliminary ministerial affiliation with the UUA, who were very supportive of her sexuality. Her press photo portrait is dated in the midst of her trial, and is captioned "The Rev. Rose Mary Denman, a United Methodist minister and avowed Lesbian, is challenging her church' recommendation that she be defrocked. Denman is shown in her Portland, Maine, home on Tuesday". The Rev. Dr. Jane Adams Spahr is a "lesbian, feminist, Presbyterian minister committed to justice issues for the lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender community, pursuing connections for wholeness with other oppressed communities claiming their freedom". By the early 90's, she was barred twice from positions in the Presbyterian church because of her open lesbian identity. Nevertheless, she is pictured in two photographs dated 1993 at the Downtown United Church of Rochester, N.Y., where she was ordained in 1974 after being most qualified despite her lesbian identity. In one image, she poses inside the empty church. In another photograph, she hugs a member of the church. There is another photo of two men in an embrace from behind, captured at the Convention of Gay and Lesbian Faith Alliance. Red annotations on blank margins of Denman press photo, not impacting photo quality. All photos are feature press captions on front bottom margin or verso. This archive is interesting and in very good condition overall.