People of faith are fond of saying that each of us is “made in God’s image.” We invite you to ask yourself the following questions:
- What if each of us really is made in God’s image, even when some of us don’t look or act in ways that match the conventional view of male or female?
- What if God’s love of diversity, so evident in the profusion of flowers, trees, fish, and wildlife, extends to humans?
- And what if God is well pleased?
“...When I finally began transitioning to male, I went through a sort of limbo. I didn’t think I passed enough to be safe in the men’s room, but when I entered a women’s restroom, someone would see me as a man and freak out. Believe me, some women will attack in that situation! For about a year, I avoided public restrooms. It was too scary!”
“...Our daughter began developing in sixth grade. But when she was 16 and still hadn’t begun menstruating, we made an appointment for a physical exam. That’s when we learned that she didn’t have a vagina or uterus. Before we even had a chance to digest that information, the doctor—with a total lack of sensitivity—began telling us what we’d have to do to make her ‘normal.’”
“...I finally became dissatisfied with dressing in women’s clothes by myself, with the curtains drawn, so I found a monthly support group. The first few months I gathered up my clothes, wig, and makeup but never got out of the car. Finally, I got brave enough to go in. Even though I was a nervous wreck, I felt like I’d finally come home. I’ll always be grateful to the church that opened its doors to us.”
“...My brother is a transman, and I’ve noticed that a lot of the women in the family ask him for advice about the men in their lives. Since he lived as a woman, he knows what it’s like, but he also has the man’s perspective.”
“...When we moved to a new city, my spouse and I visited churches on and off for about three years. No one would talk to us at coffee hour. Finally we found a congregation where everyone was friendly and helped us get involved. To them, my being trans is only one piece of who I am.”
