Religion Dispatch features an interesting essay regarding the Christian community reaching out to the transgender community. The essay begins by questioning how “inclusive” the struggle for equality has been of the transgender community. The essay’s author, Becky Garrison, then explores how a gay-friendly church in San Francisco “struggled with how to welcome a very attractive transgender woman who walked through their doors in the mid 1980s.” Fast-forwarding to the new millennium, Garrison explains that “By the time distinguished evolutionary biologist and transwoman Joan Roughgarden came to St. Gregory’s around 2002, the community had learned enough that she could call this church her home.” The essay offers a great deal of hope that the worldwide church will continue to open its hearts to the love and peace sought by transgender people. Garrison shares that:
When the Rev. Stephanie Spellers, Priest and Lead Organizer for The Crossing in Boston tries to engage the church on this issue, she finds that the liberal churches tend to be silent on transgender issues, while the more conservative churches shout that transgender people are living “a lifestyle choice” that is patently “wrong,” “evil” and “an abomination.” She says the balance needs to shift.
Garrison allows includes a powerful comment from Candace Chellew-Hodge:
“there is no sides when it comes to say civil rights and the KKK, there is but one side on this issue. Do we recognize people as having an inherent dignity as being part of our shared humanity?”
Queer Faith News 