ABSTRACT
The Virgin of Guadalupe, who has a mothering role in Roman Catholicism, is used by Mexican gay artist Nahum Zenil to challenge religious homophobia and undermine the typical position of the church on homosexuality. Zenil uses overt gay self-portraits with the traditional iconography of the Virgin as mother. The Virgin of Guadalupe appears with approval with Zenil and his male spouse in their bed, and as well as blessing their marriage ceremony and other significant life experiences. As Sabia-Tanis explains, the Virgin Mary is perceived as a mother accepting her gay son despite the conservatism of Mexican Catholicism.
