A Trans Faith

The Church

vs. Transgender Faith

Rev. Dr. Orlando Jermaine Bego

recent controversy erupted over comedian Dave Chappelle’s “The Closer” stand-up act on Netflix. It received backlash from the LGBTQIA+ community over comments made that were perceived as transphobic. Chappelle even sarcastically referred to himself as aligning with TERF (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists). As clergy/pastor, I believe that our religious perspective on transgender inclusion is marred with Christian overtones of oppression steeped in a hegemony response to misogyny. This is a subject that Christians cannot ignore or evade. We need to evaluate and carefully respond to the issue. What’s more, we need to do so in a consistently Christian fashion.

Theological debates on LGBTQIA2S+ issues have centered around various topics; however, they are absent of discussions on transgender people.

Chappel says, “Gender is a fact. Every human being on Earth, had to pass through the legs of a woman to be on earth.” I agree with this statement (not sure for how long), that every human is born of a woman. Even Jesus was born of a woman. But, have we been making too much of this sacred text? I believe yes, but perhaps not for the reason you would expect. This similar phrase “born of a woman” is found throughout the Bible and other early Christian texts.

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We are not discussing whether transgender people are “born of a woman” or whether transgender people can have children. It is, however, related to what gender we are born as, and what gender identity is assigned.

Churches across denominational affiliations have taken positions that require members to express opposition to transgender people. There is a sharp divide along religious lines over whether it is possible for someone to be a gender different from their sex at birth. Consequently, transgender people have been made to feel that they must choose between their faith and

an authentic life.

I am reminded of the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8. A story centered on trans-equality of a marginalized person. Phillip overheard this eunuch reading from the Book of Isaiah and asked him if he understood what he was reading. The eunuch replied, “How can I, unless someone guides me?”

Phillip asked a question to someone who was “different.” I wonder whether Phillip’s question was rhetorical? I wonder if the eunuch’s response was sarcastic? Maybe the conversation should be viewed with a new interpretative lens:

Phillip: You know you don’t understand what you are reading. You are not like me and don’t know my God.

Eunuch: I know I am not like you. You speak of Christ but offer no compassion for one who is trying to understand your

God.

Confronting the questioner to realize that the answer was within himself is what Socrates, the ancient Greek philosopher, would call the maieutic (childbirth or midwifery) method, concluding that the answer was inside him all along. This encounter represents the current struggle within our own humanity — our willingness to look internally for the answers that we are afraid to confront.

“How can I, unless someone guides me?” Not how can transgender people learn, but how can we learn to find the answer within? I have learned that the only way to fully understand is to see the question through the eyes of someone who has found the answer.

So what about the souls of transgender people who are the target of public and religious discrimination? With social isolation, family disownment and mental health, many also struggle in their faith.

As a child, I recall listening to my grandmother during the holidays discussing “the family business,” including issues, problems, addictions, and all of the above. But, when the table was set, there was no mention of distinction. Everyone gathered, gave thanks, and ate. See, we struggle to identify with people whose truth is different than our own, be it religiously, politically, socially or sexually. However, it does not mean that anyone deserves to be treated with less dignity as people living in the truth of their own existence. If only we decided, like my grandmother, to live out the new commandment given by Jesus, prejudices would be replaced with tolerance that does not devalue worth. We don’t have to accept a person’s choice, but we should respect it as if it were our own.

Rev. Dr. Orlando Jermaine Bego is a Pastoral Care Professional, Mental Health Advocate and Sex & Faith Educator (@DrBegoTransformed or www.DrBegoTransformed.com).