Religion and Transsexuals

During the early years of my  transition, following  the Standards of Care, I run into many different social situations. Dealing with the ministry of established religions was the most difficult and certainly was one of life's tests. In this area (Silicon Valley of California) I found the following:

One would expect established religions to extend a hand of friendship and help to those born intersexed or transsexed. Some individuals within some religious groups do. Most neither understand or desire to understand transgendered.

According to statistical information, approximately 20% of those individuals identified as transsexuals, and actively following the Standards of Care, suicide. Those individuals take their own lives not from dissatisfaction with themselves, but from the severe pressures brought upon them from within our society -- family, employers and unions, community, and ministry of established religions.

Our society is so intensely fearful toward individuals who are different, including those who are intersexed / transsexed, that transsexuals themselves believe they are excluded and unwanted, giving them no reason to continue living. Unfortunately, instead of friendship and help, many clergy from established religions express the fear, or the voices of the few vocal members within those groups.

The one institution within our society that should offer care, concern, and aid to intersexed / transsexed individuals does not. Instead the clergy and their churches rarely extend a helping hand to the transsexual. While seeking a church to attend nearly two years ago, I called the local Unitarian church. After speaking with the minister, explaining the transition I was in and that my spouse and I had remained married, he said ". . . why don't you look for another church to attend."

I've often viewed the clergy of society's religions and  wondered whether:

If God had a physical body, he must be is sitting back, shaking his head and wondering whether the human race will ever mature to an understanding that it is the essence of each human being --  whether defined as the mind, persona, soul, or what ever --  not the casing --  or body --  that matters.

Thankfully, not all religious people are willing to persecute and destroy others they perceive as different than they. The following note was sent to me in later October 1998:

I had actually done a search on the Mormon church because I was trying to figure out what a ward was and I came across your site. You story intrigued me and saddened me as well. I am a Catholic, and though many have their "bad" stories for the Church, it is my experience that the Catholic Church and what it stands for, love each person as a whole. It is forever sad however, that PEOPLE within a church (whatever denomination) fail to recognize the dignity of each person.

Good luck!

Yet there are clergy and congregations who accept Intersexed/transsexed individuals. A transsexual, checking on the Jewish community in her area received the following (in part) note:

Speaking as a Reform rabbi, I teach that all of us reflect God's image and are therefore precious. Certainly, then, you would be welcome. (There are some rabbis, as there are some people, who might be made nervous, or who might have unresolved issues regarding gender. That is true in the Reform community as well as those which are more right-wing, unfortunately. It is not yet a perfect world we live in!) In my congregation I know of two transgendered people. I don't know if there are others, it's not something that usually comes up in conversation! For us it's not the important thing; what's important is whether Judaism works for you as a human being, to help you reach your highest potential. That is the standard you should set for the choices you make spiritually. Don't settle just for a community which welcomes you, hold out for one in which you truly feel your soul is at home!

For a few TS and spiritual links, try Rev. Eriswen's (see Presbytery Retains TS) website. Or, visit TransFaith On-Line.

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