Recently in transgender Category
I have a theory about gender transition.
Before I go any farther, let me say that this is based on my experience and what I have seen in some of my friends. It is not a universal truth of gender transition. It may not even be generally true. I have no study to back this up. I am asking that no one take this as an attack on their process, and that no one use it to describe someone else's experience.
That disclaimer done, here's what I've observed in my own life:
Gender transition often involves hormones. For most of us, when we hit puberty, we get a set of secondary sexual characteristics. For those of us who take some form of hormone therapy, there is a sort of second puberty where we gain the other set of secondary sexual characteristics. (The first set generally remain, although they may diminish slightly.)
Years ago, I came up with a theory about a second psychosocial puberty as well.
Living a transgendered life - that is, projecting an outward gender that society expects while privately identifying as another gender - requires the construction of a character. For me, the tough, athletic male was not an option, so I worked on the studious, intelligent male. In high school I developed a new character that people identified as a "stoner", although I did not actually use drugs or even drink.
The creation and maintenance of these characters takes a lot of time and energy. When I was around other people, I had to play this role, which left little room for me to develop my inner identity.
As I began my social transition, I had to learn a lot of things that I ought have done as a girl (had I a girlhood). Who were my role models? What is appropriate dress? What do I want to be when I grow up? To whom am I attracted?
When I first began thinking about this second psychosocial puberty, I thought it reset me from the age I was (about 24) to about 13. Now I'm thinking it probably reset me to 8 years of age - or earlier.
The problem for me was that I was like an emancipated eight year old with no parents to guide me. No one to tell me "you're not going out of the house dressed like that, young lady". No one to tell me what people were probably not good choices to date. I did a lot of crazy - and sometimes dangerous - things. I dressed in ways that may not have been appropriate for the time and place. I put myself in situations where I was alone with a stranger.
I also had to discover who I really was. This took years. I discovered my sexual orientation. I discovered my desires and fears. I discovered role models, then changed to new role models, then new ones again. I found strengths I never knew I had - in fact, I found I was stronger as a woman than I had ever been as a man.
And, though I had never really lost my faith in God, I found a renewed relationship with my creator - one of real love.
But I was growing up alone, and I made a lot of mistakes. There were probably many times when people thought I was old enough to know better. The truth is, this little girl was still growing up.
As I approach the end of my fifth decade, I still feel at least a decade (maybe two) younger than that. I'm still lagging behind other women my age.
I'm wondering whether any other people have experienced something similar.
Before I go any farther, let me say that this is based on my experience and what I have seen in some of my friends. It is not a universal truth of gender transition. It may not even be generally true. I have no study to back this up. I am asking that no one take this as an attack on their process, and that no one use it to describe someone else's experience.
That disclaimer done, here's what I've observed in my own life:
Gender transition often involves hormones. For most of us, when we hit puberty, we get a set of secondary sexual characteristics. For those of us who take some form of hormone therapy, there is a sort of second puberty where we gain the other set of secondary sexual characteristics. (The first set generally remain, although they may diminish slightly.)
Years ago, I came up with a theory about a second psychosocial puberty as well.
Living a transgendered life - that is, projecting an outward gender that society expects while privately identifying as another gender - requires the construction of a character. For me, the tough, athletic male was not an option, so I worked on the studious, intelligent male. In high school I developed a new character that people identified as a "stoner", although I did not actually use drugs or even drink.
The creation and maintenance of these characters takes a lot of time and energy. When I was around other people, I had to play this role, which left little room for me to develop my inner identity.
As I began my social transition, I had to learn a lot of things that I ought have done as a girl (had I a girlhood). Who were my role models? What is appropriate dress? What do I want to be when I grow up? To whom am I attracted?
When I first began thinking about this second psychosocial puberty, I thought it reset me from the age I was (about 24) to about 13. Now I'm thinking it probably reset me to 8 years of age - or earlier.
The problem for me was that I was like an emancipated eight year old with no parents to guide me. No one to tell me "you're not going out of the house dressed like that, young lady". No one to tell me what people were probably not good choices to date. I did a lot of crazy - and sometimes dangerous - things. I dressed in ways that may not have been appropriate for the time and place. I put myself in situations where I was alone with a stranger.
I also had to discover who I really was. This took years. I discovered my sexual orientation. I discovered my desires and fears. I discovered role models, then changed to new role models, then new ones again. I found strengths I never knew I had - in fact, I found I was stronger as a woman than I had ever been as a man.
And, though I had never really lost my faith in God, I found a renewed relationship with my creator - one of real love.
But I was growing up alone, and I made a lot of mistakes. There were probably many times when people thought I was old enough to know better. The truth is, this little girl was still growing up.
As I approach the end of my fifth decade, I still feel at least a decade (maybe two) younger than that. I'm still lagging behind other women my age.
I'm wondering whether any other people have experienced something similar.
Executive summary: There isn't one.
My work was about me--Buck Angel--not me being the poster boy for the transman community - Porn Star Buck Angel This link contains nudity
More of us who speak publicly should be making this clear.
More of us - trans or not - should recognize this.
I bristle every time I hear a so-called expert say "One of the things I learned about being trans is that we..." Example: Our class was encouraged by a professor to attend a lecture by a transgender speaker. She pointed out that she learned (after her transition in 24 hours) that women always step out of the paths of men, and she had to learn to do that as a woman. I just stared in astonishment, because I used to step out of everyone's way as male but don't do so as much anymore as female (maybe it's just my change in confidence, or being comfortable in my skin). She spent about five minutes on this important point. I wonder how many came away from that lecture with this new-found wisdom about men, women, and transgender people.
My cortisol level also rises whenever I have someone correct me on my experience because "Kate Bornstein says" or "Les Feinberg says". They have their experiences. They are outspoken. They do a lot of good for the community. My experience has points that coincide with their experiences. But people have to recognize that Kate Bornstein and Les Feinberg are not every transgender person. Elton John and Ellen Degeneres are not every gay and lesbian person. For God's sake, Dick Cheney and Ann Coulter are not every heterosexual person.
The transgender experience has far too much variance for any one person's experience to be taken as normative. I think this needs to be said early and often.
I attempted to register for a class at Northern Baptist Seminary.
The seminary I attend, Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), is part of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS), which "was formed in 1984 by twelve theological schools located in the Chicago area to provide means for cooperation among the member institutions in the areas of student cross-registration, library access and acquisitions, interchange among faculty members in the disciplines of theological education, and communications between the schools." - http://www.actschicago.org/index.html
Students at ACTS schools may register at other ACTS schools:
Now, granted, there is a stated exception:
I attempted to cross-register for a class at Northern Baptist Seminary (which has the awesome domain name of seminary.edu). I was aware that the seminary was more conservative, and I did not expect it to be easy to take a class there. But I was willing to sit with far more conservative students in a far more conservative school, in part to keep from having my graduation date from being pushed back another two years, and in part because I do not want to be estranged from my more conservative brothers and sisters in Christ.
I didn't want to go stealthily into the seminary for several reasons. First, I am not ashamed of who I am, nor the path taken to get here. While I don't advertise my sexual orientation or transgender history to everyone, I don't take steps to hide these parts of my life either. To do so is to walk in shadow, and I prefer to be in the light.
Second, to hide an aspect of one's life can result in feelings of betrayal should the secret be found out. It is damaging to a relationship when trust is broken: witness what happened with Ted Haggard.
Third, even if the secret is never found out (unlikely as a simple web search will find enough information about me), keeping a secret from those with whom one is in relationship creates an inauthentic, dysfunctional, and, dare I say it, sinful relationship.
So, to be as honest and authentic as possible in my relationship to the class, I sent e-mail to the professor teaching the class. I explained my background (Evangelical Free, Bible Students, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, and United Church of Christ), my school affiliation (CTS), and my sexual orientation and transgender history. I asked for advice on what I could do to make the situation easier for everyone involved.
I did not expect the culture clash to be easy. I also did not expect, however, to be rejected from taking any classes whatsoever.
My e-mail to the instructor was apparently forwarded to the administration who, in a very polite but firm e-mail, explained to me that the school's admission policy is applied to cross-registered students. The seminary, in their catalog, under code of conduct, states:
Northern Baptist may believe my twenty-one year relationship with my spouse to be sinful and unChristian. They may believe my transition, twenty-five years ago, to living as my identified gender to be a violation of Deuteronomy 22:5.
They may well object to my behavior off school grounds, but they were not going to change that by rejecting my cross-registration. They can't make me a straight white male again by denying me the chance to study with their professor and students.
So exactly what is sinful or harmful about my taking a class at their school? Exactly what is made worse by my presence there?
At their school, I'm certainly going to hear about their viewpoint on homosexuality and transgender issues - especially since the class I was going to take was on the Pentateuch, which includes Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Were they afraid that I would rebut the reading of the few verses applied to homosexuals as they were glossing over the dietary laws, mixing of fabrics, wearing of tassels, uncleanness of women during their periods and after giving birth, trimming of beards, and the Jubilee year? Were they concerned that I would point out that Levitical law says nothing about Lesbian relationships? Did they worry that I would point out that the word "know" in Genesis 19:5 is the same as the word "know" in Genesis 18:19? (I really wasn't planning on it.)
And, perhaps more to the point, how is this following Jesus' example? Did Jesus teach only the holy? Did Jesus not teach prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, Samaritans, Syrophoenicians, Roman soldiers, and (at the cross) thieves and murderers?
I am disappointed that Northern Baptist Seminary chose to not honor its covenant with the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.
I am also sad that sixty faculty and staff are more afraid of me than I am of them.
The seminary I attend, Chicago Theological Seminary (CTS), is part of the Association of Chicago Theological Schools (ACTS), which "was formed in 1984 by twelve theological schools located in the Chicago area to provide means for cooperation among the member institutions in the areas of student cross-registration, library access and acquisitions, interchange among faculty members in the disciplines of theological education, and communications between the schools." - http://www.actschicago.org/index.html
Students at ACTS schools may register at other ACTS schools:
Available to the approximately 3,000 students currently enrolled at its member schools are 400 faculty, about 900 courses offered annually, and library collections of 1.7 million volumes and nearly 5,000 currently received periodical subscriptions.Except, in the case of at least one school, if you're gay.
- http://www.actschicago.org/index.html
Now, granted, there is a stated exception:
Exceptions to the process of cross-registration exist (1) during the summer term when tuition is normally paid to the school offering the course; (2) for D.Min. courses other than Pastoral Care and Counseling and for those students in the ACTS D.Min. in Preaching Program; and (3) in certain courses with limited enrollment. Each school in ACTS reserves the right to limit enrollment in certain courses for pedagogical reasons and to set its own policies for the admission of students from other schools to such courses.
- http://www.actschicago.org/catalog2009/cat06.html#how, emphases mine.
I attempted to cross-register for a class at Northern Baptist Seminary (which has the awesome domain name of seminary.edu). I was aware that the seminary was more conservative, and I did not expect it to be easy to take a class there. But I was willing to sit with far more conservative students in a far more conservative school, in part to keep from having my graduation date from being pushed back another two years, and in part because I do not want to be estranged from my more conservative brothers and sisters in Christ.
I didn't want to go stealthily into the seminary for several reasons. First, I am not ashamed of who I am, nor the path taken to get here. While I don't advertise my sexual orientation or transgender history to everyone, I don't take steps to hide these parts of my life either. To do so is to walk in shadow, and I prefer to be in the light.
Second, to hide an aspect of one's life can result in feelings of betrayal should the secret be found out. It is damaging to a relationship when trust is broken: witness what happened with Ted Haggard.
Third, even if the secret is never found out (unlikely as a simple web search will find enough information about me), keeping a secret from those with whom one is in relationship creates an inauthentic, dysfunctional, and, dare I say it, sinful relationship.
So, to be as honest and authentic as possible in my relationship to the class, I sent e-mail to the professor teaching the class. I explained my background (Evangelical Free, Bible Students, Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, and United Church of Christ), my school affiliation (CTS), and my sexual orientation and transgender history. I asked for advice on what I could do to make the situation easier for everyone involved.
I did not expect the culture clash to be easy. I also did not expect, however, to be rejected from taking any classes whatsoever.
My e-mail to the instructor was apparently forwarded to the administration who, in a very polite but firm e-mail, explained to me that the school's admission policy is applied to cross-registered students. The seminary, in their catalog, under code of conduct, states:
In matters related to homosexuality:
1. Northern will not knowingly admit as a student any person having a homosexual lifestyle.
2. If, without the knowledge of the Admissions Committee, a person is admitted to the Seminary and is found not to be a practicing homosexual, but to be striving to overcome homosexual tendencies, such a person will, in Christian love, be counseled to obtain the best help available so that with the power of God such a person may overcome the problem.
3. If, without the knowledge of the Admissions Committee, a practicing homosexual is found to have been admitted to the Seminary, when such knowledge is discovered, such said practicing homosexual would be counseled to seek education elsewhere and to enter some other vocation, and failing voluntary withdrawal from Northern, would be disallowed to continue at the Seminary.
4. In no case would the Seminary recommend for ordination or for ministry any practicing homosexual or an advocate of a homosexual lifestyle.
This means they are reinterpreting the ACTS policy to say:5. Congruent with its policy of institutional integrity, Northern Baptist Seminary will not hire a practicing homosexual or an advocate of a homosexual lifestyle, and it reserves the right to dismiss from employment any such person on the grounds that it would conflict with the purpose of the institution.
- http://www.seminary.edu/about/PDFs/Seminary%20Catalog%202008-2009%20Revised.pdf
Each school in ACTS reserves the right to limit enrollment in all courses for pedagogical reasons and to set its own policies for the admission of students from other schools to all courses.This in order to prevent any homosexuals from taking any courses at their school, ever.
Northern Baptist may believe my twenty-one year relationship with my spouse to be sinful and unChristian. They may believe my transition, twenty-five years ago, to living as my identified gender to be a violation of Deuteronomy 22:5.
They may well object to my behavior off school grounds, but they were not going to change that by rejecting my cross-registration. They can't make me a straight white male again by denying me the chance to study with their professor and students.
So exactly what is sinful or harmful about my taking a class at their school? Exactly what is made worse by my presence there?
At their school, I'm certainly going to hear about their viewpoint on homosexuality and transgender issues - especially since the class I was going to take was on the Pentateuch, which includes Leviticus and Deuteronomy. Were they afraid that I would rebut the reading of the few verses applied to homosexuals as they were glossing over the dietary laws, mixing of fabrics, wearing of tassels, uncleanness of women during their periods and after giving birth, trimming of beards, and the Jubilee year? Were they concerned that I would point out that Levitical law says nothing about Lesbian relationships? Did they worry that I would point out that the word "know" in Genesis 19:5 is the same as the word "know" in Genesis 18:19? (I really wasn't planning on it.)
And, perhaps more to the point, how is this following Jesus' example? Did Jesus teach only the holy? Did Jesus not teach prostitutes, lepers, tax collectors, Samaritans, Syrophoenicians, Roman soldiers, and (at the cross) thieves and murderers?
I am disappointed that Northern Baptist Seminary chose to not honor its covenant with the Association of Chicago Theological Schools.
I am also sad that sixty faculty and staff are more afraid of me than I am of them.
Three hundred fifty three people.
Three hundred fifty three lives cut short.
Three hundred fifty three incidents of violence and neglect.
I don't like anger. I have seen anger turn to violence, and I do not like the results.
But I am angry.
I am angry because of the loss of three hundred fifty three lives - and more that are unreported.
I am angry because of the violence, abuse, and willful neglect of three hundred fifty three human beings.
I am angry because there are some people who support the killing of these human beings.
I am angry because there are many more people who ignore the killing of these human beings.
Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, I will remember my three hundred fifty three brothers and sisters.
I will remember that they have been shot to death, bludgeoned, drowned, strangled, stabbed, repeatedly struck by motor vehicles, fed ground glass, kicked, and refused medical treatment.
And I will remember that they were created in God's image, and that God called them good.
I will cry out:
Today I will mourn the loss of my three hundred fifty three lost sisters and brothers, and I will pray for those who would seek to cause us harm.
See a list of transgender persons lost to violence and neglect at http://www.gender.org/remember/
Three hundred fifty three lives cut short.
Three hundred fifty three incidents of violence and neglect.
I don't like anger. I have seen anger turn to violence, and I do not like the results.
But I am angry.
I am angry because of the loss of three hundred fifty three lives - and more that are unreported.
I am angry because of the violence, abuse, and willful neglect of three hundred fifty three human beings.
I am angry because there are some people who support the killing of these human beings.
I am angry because there are many more people who ignore the killing of these human beings.
Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, I will remember my three hundred fifty three brothers and sisters.
I will remember that they have been shot to death, bludgeoned, drowned, strangled, stabbed, repeatedly struck by motor vehicles, fed ground glass, kicked, and refused medical treatment.
And I will remember that they were created in God's image, and that God called them good.
I will cry out:
Today, on Transgender Day of Remembrance, I will not fear violence because I am a person of transgender experience.
How many more people must die before we realize we are all one?
How many more people must die before we realize that the violence we do to each other is also violence we do to ourselves?
How many more people must die before we learn to love one another?
Today I will mourn the loss of my three hundred fifty three lost sisters and brothers, and I will pray for those who would seek to cause us harm.
See a list of transgender persons lost to violence and neglect at http://www.gender.org/remember/
When Tyra Hunter was 24 years old, she was riding in a car in Washington, D.C. Her car was broadsided by another car.
She was knocked unconscious due to the collision, but regained consciousness by the time emergency crews arrived. She was still dazed and had respiration problems because some of her teeth had been knocked into her airway.The paramedics went to work on Tyra, but in assessing the injuries they discovered she had male genitals.
At this point, one of the caregivers said "This ain't no bitch. It's a nigger. He's got a dick and balls." The paramedics ceased treating Tyra and instead laughed and joked about her while onlookers demanded they get back to work on her.
Later, after treating another injured passenger, other emergency workers found Tyra gagging and trying to move away from the insulting paramedics. Finally, a supervisor demanded that her airway be cleared.
In addition to these insults and lack of care, she was received at the hospital as "John Doe", given a contraindicated medication, and was not given blood that had been ordered for her. She died from lack of oxygen in her blood.
This is the kind of health care some transgender persons can expect. Value judgments can override common decency and mercy - and the basic job requirements. Amazingly, the District of Columbia defended the paramedics on the basis of their first amendment rights to free speech.
Time and again, I come back to what Jesus taught about how we treat others: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". "Love your neighbor as yourself" . The parable of the Good Samaritan, in which the person who acted as a neighbor to a victimized person was the one who didn't even get along with people of his kind. The parable of the sheep and the goats, where Jesus says that as you do to others, you do to him.
And yet, this is what we can expect from some of the people who choose a career in caring for others.
This is not how to do health care.
This is not how to do emergency care.
This is not how to be a Christian.
This is not how to be a human being.
Whatever one's opinion of transgender people, they are people. There is no excuse for allowing people to suffer while we laugh.
My prayer is that the paramedics learn to care for all others, and that they do not need to experience what Tyra did in order to learn it. I would not wish that on my enemies - because I love them.
Trial notes: http://www.gpac.org/im/tyra/tyindex.html
Remembering our dead: http://www.gender.org/remember/.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20.
At this point, one of the caregivers said "This ain't no bitch. It's a nigger. He's got a dick and balls." The paramedics ceased treating Tyra and instead laughed and joked about her while onlookers demanded they get back to work on her.
Later, after treating another injured passenger, other emergency workers found Tyra gagging and trying to move away from the insulting paramedics. Finally, a supervisor demanded that her airway be cleared.
In addition to these insults and lack of care, she was received at the hospital as "John Doe", given a contraindicated medication, and was not given blood that had been ordered for her. She died from lack of oxygen in her blood.
This is the kind of health care some transgender persons can expect. Value judgments can override common decency and mercy - and the basic job requirements. Amazingly, the District of Columbia defended the paramedics on the basis of their first amendment rights to free speech.
Time and again, I come back to what Jesus taught about how we treat others: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". "Love your neighbor as yourself" . The parable of the Good Samaritan, in which the person who acted as a neighbor to a victimized person was the one who didn't even get along with people of his kind. The parable of the sheep and the goats, where Jesus says that as you do to others, you do to him.
And yet, this is what we can expect from some of the people who choose a career in caring for others.
This is not how to do health care.
This is not how to do emergency care.
This is not how to be a Christian.
This is not how to be a human being.
Whatever one's opinion of transgender people, they are people. There is no excuse for allowing people to suffer while we laugh.
My prayer is that the paramedics learn to care for all others, and that they do not need to experience what Tyra did in order to learn it. I would not wish that on my enemies - because I love them.
Trial notes: http://www.gpac.org/im/tyra/tyindex.html
Remembering our dead: http://www.gender.org/remember/.
Transgender Day of Remembrance is November 20.
No commentary today - just the real work concerns of a real human being.
http://rebeccaaugephd.blogspot.com/2007/10/returning-to-work-concerns.html
http://rebeccaaugephd.blogspot.com/2007/10/returning-to-work-concerns.html
Today is the day.
The challenge is before us is to more honestly share who we truly are: with ourselves, with our families, with our friends, with the world.
If we are out to ourselves, we have only just begun. We may love ourselves enough to acknowledge who we are, but we must also love our neighbors as ourselves. That means being honest about our stories, our lives, our identities.
Coming out is a continuous process. Although we mark today as a time to come out, we must always be willing to share the truth about ourselves with others. Rather than inventing lies about a mundane life, we can tell the truth about our passions, our strengths, and our weaknesses.
Coming out is not easy. It brings anxiety, and at times it is risky. Yet believers are not called to quiet safety, and prophets are not called to silence. We - gay, Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, supportive, and leather; conservative and progressive; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Pagan and Wiccan; grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren; we must share what we have been given.
Do not withhold the beauty that is you. Celebrate the unique creation you are.
National Coming Out Day is October 11.
The challenge is before us is to more honestly share who we truly are: with ourselves, with our families, with our friends, with the world.
Yeshua says: Whoever knows everything but himself, lacks everything.It is important that we know and accept who we are. Self-denial is an affront to the one who created us, and to ourselves. If we love our creator, we will not deny that creation. If we love that creation - ourselves - we will also not deny it.
- Gospel of Thomas, 67
If we are out to ourselves, we have only just begun. We may love ourselves enough to acknowledge who we are, but we must also love our neighbors as ourselves. That means being honest about our stories, our lives, our identities.
Coming out is a continuous process. Although we mark today as a time to come out, we must always be willing to share the truth about ourselves with others. Rather than inventing lies about a mundane life, we can tell the truth about our passions, our strengths, and our weaknesses.
Coming out is not easy. It brings anxiety, and at times it is risky. Yet believers are not called to quiet safety, and prophets are not called to silence. We - gay, Lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, supportive, and leather; conservative and progressive; Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist, Taoist, Hindu, Pagan and Wiccan; grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren; we must share what we have been given.
Do not withhold the beauty that is you. Celebrate the unique creation you are.
National Coming Out Day is October 11.
Coming out part I: Coming Out to Yourself.
Who are you?
Really?
Think about all the dimensions of who you are. Consider using adjectives instead of nouns. Adjectives describe aspects of yourself; nouns label and categorize.
Explore the things you enjoy, the things that are important to you, the things that hold special meaning.
Coming out is not just about sexual or gender identity.
Maybe everyone knows you're gay, but no one knows you're a Republican.
Or a Christian.
Or a stamp collector.
Take this opportunity to get to know yourself.
Jesus taught his followers to love each other as they loved themselves. It's time to raise that bar - to love ourselves and others more.
National Coming Out Day is October 11.
Who are you?
Really?
Think about all the dimensions of who you are. Consider using adjectives instead of nouns. Adjectives describe aspects of yourself; nouns label and categorize.
Explore the things you enjoy, the things that are important to you, the things that hold special meaning.
Coming out is not just about sexual or gender identity.
Maybe everyone knows you're gay, but no one knows you're a Republican.
Or a Christian.
Or a stamp collector.
Take this opportunity to get to know yourself.
Jesus taught his followers to love each other as they loved themselves. It's time to raise that bar - to love ourselves and others more.
National Coming Out Day is October 11.
It's only one week before October 11, National Coming Out Day. It's time to consider coming out. It's time to own who we are.
We are straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian, and asexual.
We are women, men, and combinations of these social ideas.
We have bodies and genes and chromosomes that neatly line up as "male" or "female" - or not.
And we are wonderfully made in God's image.
Who are we to deny what God has made in us? Who are we to hide what we are born to be? Who are we to publicly deny God's gift to us?
Who are we to be ashamed of God's work?
Who are you?
We are straight, gay, bisexual, lesbian, and asexual.
We are women, men, and combinations of these social ideas.
We have bodies and genes and chromosomes that neatly line up as "male" or "female" - or not.
And we are wonderfully made in God's image.
Who are we to deny what God has made in us? Who are we to hide what we are born to be? Who are we to publicly deny God's gift to us?
Who are we to be ashamed of God's work?
Who are you?
It's Monday morning and time to head back to work. Well, it's time for some of us.
But not for Susan Stanton. Fired from her job as city manager of Largo, Florida after announcing she was transitioning from living as male to living as female, her latest bid for employment hasn't panned out either.
Such is the body politic, which has a tendency to consume its own pieces. Surely the church is better.
Alas, no. Marla Evans has more free time on Sundays, now that her church has told her to stop coming to play guitar (for which she was paid) and to stop volunteering to teach Sunday School. This even though Marla never showed up at church as Marla - always as her pre-transition identity as Mark. The church found out she was transgender because of a news story.
Can we justify this separation? I've heard the phrase "sin is anything that separates us from God", but to me that's only half the picture: sin against God. What about when we separate others from us? Is that not sin against each other?
I Corinthians 12 suggests it is such a sin.
The Apostle Paul writes that we are all one body and the body is not made up of one part but of many.
In fact, the members of the church are harmed by missing Marla's musical and educational talents. Again in I Corinthians 12, Paul writes:
Every organization, every body, should guard against removing persons that offer so much to their organizations. And if any organizations should know this, it should be the churches.
references:
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/NEWS0119/70928016/1075
http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S202050.shtml?cat=10335
http://rebeccaaugephd.blogspot.com/2007/09/transgendered-woman-says-she-was-asked.html
But not for Susan Stanton. Fired from her job as city manager of Largo, Florida after announcing she was transitioning from living as male to living as female, her latest bid for employment hasn't panned out either.
Such is the body politic, which has a tendency to consume its own pieces. Surely the church is better.
Alas, no. Marla Evans has more free time on Sundays, now that her church has told her to stop coming to play guitar (for which she was paid) and to stop volunteering to teach Sunday School. This even though Marla never showed up at church as Marla - always as her pre-transition identity as Mark. The church found out she was transgender because of a news story.
Can we justify this separation? I've heard the phrase "sin is anything that separates us from God", but to me that's only half the picture: sin against God. What about when we separate others from us? Is that not sin against each other?
I Corinthians 12 suggests it is such a sin.
The Apostle Paul writes that we are all one body and the body is not made up of one part but of many.
The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.If that is so, how can the Body of Christ, represented by this church, say to this member of the body "I have no need of you"? Are Marla's talents diminished by her being transgender?
In fact, the members of the church are harmed by missing Marla's musical and educational talents. Again in I Corinthians 12, Paul writes:
And so, every part of this church - the children in Sunday School and the people in worship services - suffer because the person they knew as Mark has been severed from the body.
If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Every organization, every body, should guard against removing persons that offer so much to their organizations. And if any organizations should know this, it should be the churches.
references:
http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070928/NEWS0119/70928016/1075
http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S202050.shtml?cat=10335
http://rebeccaaugephd.blogspot.com/2007/09/transgendered-woman-says-she-was-asked.html
