An Eye Opening Night

Last night, Kevin and I spent a evening at the congregation where he regularly worships talking about how faith communities can better support the needs of the transgender community. Along with over 30 other persons, we were a part of the trial-run presentation of a curriculum which the Human Rights Campaign is developing. The goal seeks to help faith communities better understand what it means to be a transgender person in our society today.

While some of you reading might think, wow, now that is weird, why would you waste your time doing that? I would answer to say that I've had those thoughts too. I've stared at transgender people wondering why they are the way they are. I've never really thought about what would happen if a transgender person wanted to join my church.

Yet, is this how Jesus calls us to love others? Is this what being a human is all about? Hate. Ignorance. And mean looks?

It is so easy to label those who are from the trans community as so abnormal that they are less than human. It would be easy to write such persons off and go back to my life as a "normal" heterosexual woman.

But, at a base level no matter if we agree or disagree, human dignity and respect is something that we all deserve to be given by others. We all need to treat all human beings with kindness and respect. I am committing myself to be on a life path that welcomes all, especially those that society describes as broken.

Because maybe they aren't so broken after all? Maybe I have a lot to learn.

Here this quote that was shared with us last evening by Rabbi Elliot Rose Kukla: "Gender rigidity affects us all, even if we are not transgender. Ronnie Paris, Jr., a three-year-old boy, was beaten to death by his father in 2005 for not acting 'masculine' enough. Ronnie's story illustrates the fact that the belief that there are only two ways to be human leads to multiple types of violence and oppression. It limits and circumscribes everyone's potential."

For me, it feels like the right thing, the human thing to do to have this conversation open. Who wants children to die from crimes of hate? Who wants the suicide rates to rise? Who wants people not to know of God's love because they look a little different?

For these reasons and many more, I feel it is time to share love as a first response, not judgment. Won't you join me?