Faith Convictions Spur United Methodists to Protest Anti-Trans Bills

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United Methodists across the United States are actively advocating on behalf of transgender children and youths amid this spring's wave of anti-transgender bills in state legislatures.

Both United Methodist clergy and laity cite faith-based examples, such as Jesus' announcement of his mission in Luke 4:18 and the work of Methodism's founder John Wesley, as their inspiration for their social justice witness. For some like United Methodists Debbie Mallis of Boise, Idaho, and Heather Thomas of Nashville, Tenn., this year's efforts are the latest in a decade of speaking out on behalf of LGBTQ persons. For some United Methodist clergy such as the Rev. Geoffrey C. Moore of Mesquite, Texas and the Rev. Andy Oliver of St. Petersburg, Florida, standing up to the latest efforts against transgender people grows from the core their ordained ministry.

'One of the reddest states'

"I live in one of the reddest states in the US," said Ms. Mallis in an email to United Methodist Insight. "We have had anti-LGBTQ bills come through our legislature for a long time.

"In the last few years, we have seen a number of anti-trans bills introduced and passed," said Ms. Mallis, a member of Hillview United Methodist Church in Boise, Idaho. "The courts have thrown out some and some are still in litigation.  This year our legislature is even more right-wing so we are seeing more nasty bills."

Those "nasty bills," as Ms. Mallis terms them, have galvanized United Methodists in multiple states to travel to their legislatures to testify against anti-LGBTQ bills. Proposed legislation has ranged from outlawing drag queens reading to children in public libraries to criminalizing parents who seek gender-affirming care for their children and teen-agers. According to Trans Legislation Tracker, there are currently 492 bills proposed in 47 states – an increase of 489% since 2015, with 25 passed, 424 active and 43 failed.

On April 3, Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) quoted a story on the forces behind anti-transgender bills:

"Russell Contreras for Axios reports that the multimillion-dollar effort to restrict transgender rights is being fueled by many of the Christian and conservative groups that led the charge against Roe v. Wade, including the Alliance Defending Freedom, the Family Research Council, the Liberty Counsel, and the American Principles Project. (The Alliance Defending Freedom reported more than $78 million in revenue in 2021, and the Family Research Council changed its IRS status to an "association of churches" to avoid filing a public tax return, ProPublica reports.) ... Of these bills, PRRI President and Founder, Robert P. Jones stated: 'They want to preserve their vision of a white, Christian America (and) they're willing to embrace all sorts of anti-democratic means to protect it.'"

Anti-trans bills threaten children, families

In Texas, more than 650 United Methodist clergy and laity posted an open letter supporting International Transgender Day of Visibility March 31 as part of a campaign protesting efforts by legislators to outlaw all gender-affirming care, especially for children. The letter notes that discriminatory policies in the past have been used to "erase" groups of citizens.

The campaign's lead organizer, the Rev Geoffrey C. Moore, PhD, said the letter's motivation was to help families with transgender members defend against anti-LGBTQ legislation.

"These bills are putting our trans children, youth, and families at risk of serious harm," said Dr. Moore, lead pastor of St. Stephen United Methodist Church in Mesquite, Texas. In the end, they seek nothing less than the erasure of our trans population.”

Dr. Moore continued, “This is a gospel issue. I acknowledge that some people don’t ‘understand’ transgender and gender non-conforming people. But Jesus didn’t call us to ‘understand’ others. In fact, on more the one occasion he rebuked the disciples when they tried to ‘lean on their own understanding’ and treated marginalized people with scorn. Instead, Jesus is clear that he is calling us to love and serve others. Full stop.”

Dr. Moore and hundreds of people of faith traveled to the Texas Legislature in Austin on March 27 to testify against HB 1686, which proposes to outlaw gender-affirming care including hormone treatment. More than 2,800 people registered against the bill, including 470 who registered to speak before the House public health committee. Among them was the Rev. Dr. Jeff McDonald, senior pastor of St. Paul United Methodist Church in Houston, who was badgered by State Rep. Tony Tinderholt (R-Arlington) during his testimony.

Scott Atnip, public witness director for Texas Impact, a faith-based advocacy organization, said in a press release that many of those who registered to speak against HB 1686 were prevented from speaking by a time limit imposed by the chair of the Texas House public health committee. In response, Texas Impact has invited United Methodists and other people of faith to record their opposition to HB1686 and its companion SB14 and post them on social media with the taglines #TexasFaithVotes and #PeoplesTestimony.

Disappointment after testifying

In Tennessee, Glendale United Methodist Church member Heather Thomas faced disappointment after testifying against a transgender bill. The mother of a 23-year-old transgender son and a 26-year-old daughter, Ms. Thomas said she testified before the Tennessee legislature health and welfare committee that considered a bill banning gender-affirming care for children under age 18. The bill passed and signed into law by Governor Bill Lee.

A technology entrepreneur, Ms. Thomas said she was motivated to testify because of her family's experience with her son's transition. She said she "went deep into research" when she heard the anti-trans bill was proposed, even to meeting with a committee chair she knew as she prepared to testify before the legislature.

"From age 2 we knew something was different about our child," the mother said. "We thought because he was so masculine, he'd be lesbian, but being trans didn't cross my mind."

In middle school her son began to be bullied because they didn't fit in with girls or boys. His parents sought therapy and medication for their son after he showed suicidal tendencies multiple times.

"Across the country trans parents all have similar stories," Ms. Gee-Thomas said. "(Being transgender) is nothing any parent would wish on their child or groom their child to become. My kid went through hell even though he's now in a good place.

"Being transgender truly is biological, not a question of morality. Ninety-eight percent of kids who transition are satisfied with treatment. Trans kids are eight times more likely to have suicidal ideation; hormones drop that risk by 60 percent."

Ms. Thomas credited Glendale UMC’s intentional inclusivity with bringing her back to church after she became disenchanted with religious prejudice against LGBTQ persons.

"Glendale folks have been amazing," Ms. Thomas said. "They've held postcard parties with Belmont United Methodist Church and we have done educational sessions about the anti-LGBTQ bills. They've helped me open other doors (to advocacy)."

"Being so ingrained in LGBTQ acceptance, Glendale members have made me and so many parents much better people," Ms. Thomas said. "The pain LGBTQ people go through and yet they're so compassionate to others. I'm convinced Jesus made them as they are to teach us."

"I cannot stand by and watch this (effort against trans people) happen," she said. I may not be able to stop it but I can't stand by; it's just so wrong."

Criticism and complaint

Sometimes, a church's social witness draws pushback from community leaders.

In Florida, a complaint has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service asking for a review of Allendale United Methodist Church's tax-exempt status because of its social witness, according to an April 2 article in the Tampa Bay Times. Allendale, located in St. Petersburg, and its senior pastor, the Rev. Andy Oliver, have been among the most vocal faith groups protesting several bills that Gov. Ron DeSantis has promoted through the Florida legislature, including what's commonly known as the "Don't Say Gay" bill and the move to eliminate books that parents find offensive from school libraries.

Allendale states that it is a “social justice, anti-racist, LGBTQ affirming congregation of believers.” The Tampa Bay Times quotes Rev. Oliver that "this isn’t the first time Allendale has been the subject of an IRS complaint, and that Nowicki’s filing is just another in a series of attacks — both frivolous and physical — against the church."

A decade of advocacy

Back in Idaho, Ms. Mallis said that like Ms. Thomas, her latest efforts stem from a decade of advocacy on her part.

"I got involved in community efforts to fight for LGBTQ rights over 10 years ago when my congregation voted to become a Reconciling Congregation, the first in Idaho," she wrote in her email. "I became chair of the Reconciling team and decided I needed to get out into the community and meet people. I got involved in Add the Words and later got arrested twice with many others at the Statehouse, fighting for LGBTQ rights (2014, 2015).

"In 2013, I decided that we needed to unite the churches and other faiths who stood for LGBTQ rights, in contrast to the fundamentalists who represented hate and exclusion," Ms. Mallis said.

"With the help of others, I started the Interfaith Equality Coalition," she said. "This is our 10th year doing silent prayer vigils in front of the Capitol on Wednesdays at noon while the Idaho Legislature is in session. We always have rainbow colors and recently make sure we have a trans flag. I send out weekly legislative updates plus timely alerts to our Google group about LGBTQ focused legislation and other progressive issues."

Ms. Mallis encourages others to testify at legislative hearings.

"The prayer vigil really isn't a message to Republican legislators," she said. "It is a message to LGBTQ people (and others under attack) that there are people of faith who love them. We are all children of God. That belief is shared by many faiths. I hope to shine a little light in the darkness."

A veteran journalist who has covered The United Methodist Church at all levels for 35 years, Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight. She founded the online journal she in 2011 as a media channel to amplify the voices of marginalized and under-served United Methodists.