That’s kind of it. I don’t have a whole lot of reflection on the topic. I’m not going to write 7,000 words on the importance of supporting trans folks. I’m not going to go through the statistics of how many trans youth are homeless, trafficked, at risk of intimate partner abuse or self-harm, and that they are at higher risk of suicide. I’m not going to mention that all of these harm statistics are lowered when others treat them as fully human and respect pronouns, names, and all the other trappings of gender. I could mention that churches are usually the worst about caring for trans folks, but I think we all know that.
I could talk about how in Jesus’ time there were seven (7) genders known to the rabbis quoted in the Mishnah. I could say that in every country and culture in recorded history there have been people who transitioned from one gender to another. I could even say that in many of those cultures, being trans wasn’t a liability as it seems to be to so many in the modern world, but rather, being trans was a blessing. I could even say that how someone understands their gender is not my concern, but rather, my concern is to “respect the dignity of every human being” (BCP 305) and “love my neighbor as myself” (Lev 19.18), but as a Christian, I should know that already.
No, I’m not going to bore you with a list of reasons that I as a cisgender person want to raise the visibility of my trans kindred and celebrate them today. Instead, I’m going to give thanks for the amazing diversity and vibrancy of God’s creation and pray that we as a society may see our trans kindred, celebrate them, and give them a safe and just world to live in.
St. Augustine's Chapel 