Support for Trans Kids
AUSTIN, TX – Val Benavidez, Texas Freedom Network Executive Director, and other LGBTQ leaders speak outside the Travis County courthouse where a hearing was held to stop the newly mandated cruel and unconstitutional child welfare investigations targeting supportive families of transgender children, on Wednesday, March 02, 2022 in Austin. (Erich Schlegel/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign)
United Methodist activists are encouraging church members to stand up for the rights of families to choose their transgender children’s health care in the wake of policies and legislation that would criminalize medical and psychological care for gender dysphoria.
The Anti-Racism Daily newsletter recently documented 10 states where anti-trans legislation and/or state policies are in process: Texas, Tennessee, Kentucky, Alabama, Iowa, Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Utah and South Dakota. See ARD’s full breakdown.
Anti-trans efforts in Texas have been especially “nasty,” said ARD. Families with transgender children have felt “terrrorized,” according to a Texas attorney specializing in family law quoted by the Texas Tribune. The activist magazine Mother Jones carried an article in its March 11 issue headlined, “I’m a Cop With a Trans Daughter. Lawmakers Want Me to Arrest the Doctors Who Saved Her Life. Alabama is about to pass a law that would criminalize gender-affirming care.”
The ACLU and Lambda Legal have sued the state over its policies, and a raft of major businesses including Google, Apple, and IBM have called out Gov. Abbott over his anti-trans policies. Fortunately, reported Equality Texas, a judge March 11 ruled that “the state would be prohibited from investigating anyone else for providing gender-affirming care until the ‘end of any trial.’ According to the judge this includes, ‘[her] court, and potentially the Court of Appeals, and the Supreme Court of Texas,’ which means that until this case continues in July, families don’t have to wait in dread for a knock from CPS [Child Protective Services].”
Also in Texas, the Dallas Morning News reported that Dr. Ximena Lopez, who headed a program treating transgender children at UT Southwestern Hospital, has sued the hospital for abruptly cutting care for new transgender patients last fall when Gov. Abbott began promoting anti-trans policies.
In contrast to the wave of anti-trans politics, recent research by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) found that eight in 10 Americans now favor laws to protect LGBTQIA persons against discrimination. Its newsletter reports:
“More Americans than ever now support rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals (LGBTQ), according to a large new survey of more than 22,000 adults conducted by Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI). The survey, which contains findings for all 50 states, is the latest in PRRI’s American Values Atlas project, a seven-year tracking survey measuring Americans’ support for LGBTQ rights policies at the state level since 2015.
“’This massive 50-state study brings into sharp focus the contradiction between increasing support for LGBTQ rights, including rights for transgender Americans, and the proliferation of laws seeking to restrict or abolish those rights over the last year,’ said Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., founder and CEO of PRRI. ‘Support for nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ Americans has never been higher and garners the support of all political parties and major religious groups.’”
Read the full PRRI report here.
Guidelines for action
In response to inquiries from United Methodist Insight, unofficial United Methodist groups that support LGBTQIA persons have issued statements and guidelines for responding to threats against transgender children, youths and their families.
Ophelia Hu Kinney, communications director for Reconciling Ministries Network, responded that “sadly” a statement issued last fall remains valid today:
“Across the United States, anti-trans legislation is threatening God’s beloved children. A wave of cruel legislation is threatening trans existence by seeking to remove healthcare access, full inclusion in schools, use of public facilities, and more. This rash of legislation exists because fearful Christians are using trans people as a political and religious scapegoat.
“Trans people already face heightened levels of discrimination and violence. As Reconciling United Methodists – people of faith committed to the affirmation and inclusion of God’s LGBTQ children – we have a spiritual obligation to speak out.
“On this page, we’ve included example language for:
- Calling your state legislators’ offices
- A letter to the editor for your local newspapers
- An op-ed for your local newspapers
“You’ll see that some language is repeated in these three pieces. Please feel free to use this language or to adapt it for your use. This language exists to help you, but we encourage you to make it your own if you’d prefer that.
“Engage your Reconciling Church or Community to call in or write in with you! Our power is in our numbers, our voices, and our prayers.
“To learn about anti-trans legislation in your state, click here.”
'Blatant bullying'
Bridget Cabrera, executive director of Methodist Federation for Social Action, offered a report on the organization’s activities in support of transgender persons.
“MFSA Chapters, Justice-Seeking Congregations/Communities, and members are speaking out against the blatant bullying of trans children and youth by politicians and political agendas,” Ms. Cabrera said in an email.
“In Florida for example, Justice-Seeking Congregation Allendale United Methodist Church [in St. Petersburg] has worked actively to speak out at local school board meetings and the state legislature. Along with actively working against harmful legislation, any LGBTQ+ inclusion work within faith communities makes a big difference. We as Justice-Seekers have a responsibility to speak out, especially when our faith is used as a weapon against entire groups of people.”
Ms. Cabrera said MFSA encourages United Methodists to confront governments attempting to enact anti-trans policies or legislation:
- Individuals: Show up to your local school board meetings and elect more pro-LGBTQ+ candidates to all levels of public service
- Congregations and Individuals: Speak out against these bills directly. Talk about them in your congregations and educate yourselves and your community.
- Congregations: Find ways to be in solidarity publicly with the Trans Community and actively work to share a more inclusive narrative. Most of the reasoning behind these bills come from ignorance, harmful stereotypes, bigotry, and fear. People of faith and churches that speak out in support can make a big difference in changing public opinion.”
Ms. Cabrera cited Neighborhood Church, a Justice-Seeking Congregation (JSC) in Atlanta, GA, which made t-shirts that say “The Practice of Hate is Incompatible with Christian Teaching!” The proceeds go toward a solidarity fund that donates to LGBTQIA+ and Black-led organizations.
“Another JSC, Central United Methodist Church in Detroit, MI, had a banner made that is displayed on the side of their church located across the street from the Detroit Tigers Stadium that states boldly ‘No matter what anyone says, you are a child of God,’” she wrote.
“Acts of public witness by faith communities can have a huge impact to show solidarity and support,” Ms. Cabrera said in her email.
The General Board of Church and Society, the social justice agency charged with carrying policies set by the church-wide General Conference, has a standing page on its website with guidelines for responding to any acts of oppression, violence, or hatred against LGBTQIA persons. The page reads in part:
“As a church we ‘deplore acts of hate and violence against groups or persons based on … sexual orientation [or] gender identity.” (Social Principles, ¶162) According to the United Nations, 76 countries criminalize consensual same sex relationships and in seven countries the penalty may be death. Bullying and threats of violence against people who are, or are perceived to be, LGBTQ contribute to cultures of fear and shame. As a result, LGBTQ people have a higher risk of suicide and a higher risk of sexual and gender-based violence.
The page offers these guidelines:
- “Listen openly to the stories and experiences of people whose lived experience is different than your own.
- “Create safe spaces for young people to talk about their Christian faith where they are supported as they navigate challenges they experience growing into adulthood (e.g. dating, bullying, peer pressure, drug use, etc.).
- “Advocate for laws protecting the dignity and rights of people of all sexual orientations.”
Cynthia B. Astle serves as Editor of United Methodist Insight, which she founded in 2011. To republish this content, email Insight to request permission.