Pastor turned artist David Hayward reminds us that a picture’s worth a thousand words…
Tell us who you are and what you do!
I’m David Hayward, but most know me by “NakedPastor.” I have been drawing cartoons for many years. Some of my most popular, though, are ones advocating for the LGBTQIA+ community. I also try to create spaces that are as safe as possible for people who are struggling and need a place to be heard and supported along with others.
Tell us about the above illustration above.
This one is called “Family Fun.” I have friends who are parents of a trans kid, and one of the parents is gay. Complicated? Not to them! They simply choose to love and support their child. They are a happy family having family fun.
They say a picture’s worth a thousand words. It’s one thing for people to read about the LGBTQIA+ community. It’s another to see positive pictures that can challenge their traditional way of thinking and perhaps even provoke change.
What are you currently working on?
I have a new book coming out in July called Flip It Like This! So I am very busy promoting that and getting the word out. It’s a collection of about 125 cartoons with 15 never-before-seen of my best ones to date. It was a hard task choosing just this many out of the almost 5,000 cartoons I have in my arsenal.
What is your favourite thing about being a part of the LGBTQ+ community?
Simply, I love the love. Sure, every community has its issues. But I find the LGBTQIA+ community to be very open, gracious and diverse. This to me is the definition of a healthy and functional community.
How do you inspire or make a difference in the LGBTQ+ community?
I find my greatest contribution to the LGBTQ+ community is affirming and validating others in their own journeys. I believe in every single person’s right to be their authentic self. So I encourage everyone in their individual uniqueness and their right to live free as they truly are.
How does the community inspire you?
The community truly inspires me to work hard for the freedom of others. I see people, including friends, endure incredible hardships just because they are who they are. They inspire me to be my true and authentic self despite the opposition or even rejection I might face. They are true examples of courage that I aspire to.
Quick… Favourite movie, song and book!
Favourite move: Oh wow…too many…but Lost in Translation comes to mind first.
Favourite Song: Right now I’m listening over and over again to a beautiful instrumental by Nicholas Gunn, “Into the Vastness.”
Favourite book: Carlo Rovelli, Seven Brief Lessons on Physics.
How can people find out more about you, or follow you online?
I’m known as NakedPastor everywhere on all social media. But my home base is nakedpastor.com, where you can see my blog and all my artwork. If you reach out, I’m very good at responding.
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