Review: Queer Saints

Beautiful people, aren't some saints kinda queer? I grew up hearing many stories about saint this and saint that, but there are some that are not as well known as others. There are also aspects of their lives that don't get shared so much either. I learned a lot about this while reading Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession, by Antonio Pagliarulo. Many thanks to the author for the review copy!

• Print Length: 240 pages.
• Publisher: Red Wheel Weiser.
• Publication Date: June 1, 2026.
• Genres: Folklore, Non-Fiction, Occultism, Witchcraft.
• Rating: 5/5 stars.

Boldly redefining and broadening the meaning of sainthood, magic, and miracles.  

Everyone has patron saints, even the marginalized who may feel abandoned and removed from the tradition of saint veneration. Antonio Pagliarulo, author of The Evil Eye, grew up among Italian immigrants, practitioners of folk magic and saint veneration. A lifelong lover of saints, he seeks to bring their blessings to those who have long felt cut off from these traditions. Queer Saints is not only a compendium of queer people who have lived extraordinary lives, accomplished extraordinary feats, and who now dwell comfortably in the spirit realm; it is also a spiritual gateway that invites you to explore more deeply the power of folk magic and its practices, of co-creation, allyship, and mystical solidarity.

Saints derive from many spiritual and religious traditions, not just Roman Catholicism. No canonization process is required for folk saints, also known as unofficial saints. Pagliarulo offers readers a wide range of saints that includes the traditional, such as Mary Magdalene,

Antonio does a great job at explaining the traditional concept of a saint, comparing it to other similar terms, and updating it for today's world. He is clear that, although the Catholic church is the most well-known institution related to saints, there's no single authority when it comes to personal practice, especially if it is about witchcraft.

In the same line of thought, it can be strange to include these figures in our practice as witches, but we also learn through the chapters how doing it can also be as natural as including heroes, goddesses, spirits, gods, ancestors, and other entities. The first half of the book serves as an introduction to sainthood in the modern era, preliminary practices, and central ideas, with a second half composed of these figures who influenced/defined queerness one way or the other.

As a history lesson, this is invaluable! I enjoyed learning more about different figures, especially those that were similar to me in some way. There are several magical workings included as well, which help you get started with this practice, but the author is clear from the beginning that you should also strive to create your own. Indeed, some figures lack these workings!

All in all, Queer Saints: A Radical Guide to Magic, Miracles, and Modern Intercession, by Antonio Pagliarulo, is a must for any queer witch and magical practitioner who's interested in our history. With a little bit of everything for everyone, I loved the clear style, the guided steps along the way, and the redefinition of sainthood as something that witches and magical practitioners of different kinds can feel comfortable with. Highly, highly recommended!

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