Father Mychal Judge: Gay Priest Was First Official Victim of 9/11

Father Mychal Judge was a Catholic priest and Franciscan friar. He worked as a chaplain for the New York City Fire Department (FDNY). He was loved and respected by many firefighters and community members.

On September 11, 2001, terrorists attacked the United States. Two planes crashed into the Twin Towers in New York City. Father Judge rushed to the scene to help and pray for the victims.

He was killed when debris fell inside the North Tower. His body was carried out by firefighters. This moment was captured in a now-famous photograph. Because of how deaths were recorded that day, he was officially listed as Victim No. 1 of the September 11 attacks.

What many people did not always know is that Father Judge was gay. He was open about this to close friends and fellow Franciscans. He was a member of Dignity USA, a group for LGBTQ+ Catholics. He also supported people living with HIV/AIDS during the epidemic of the 1980s and 1990s.

Father Judge believed everyone deserved love and care. He ministered to gay men and women without judgment. Many LGBTQ+ people saw him as a safe and compassionate figure in the Church.

His legacy is important for both the LGBTQ+ community and for American history. He showed that a person could be deeply faithful and openly gay at the same time. He did not let those two parts of his identity contradict each other.

Every year on September 11, people remember the lives lost in the attacks. Father Mychal Judge is remembered not only as a hero of that tragic day. He is also remembered as a symbol of inclusion, faith, and courage for the LGBTQ+ community.

His story continues to inspire many people around the world. A foundation in his name supports LGBTQ+ youth and other causes he cared about deeply.