This story about a New Jersey transgender couple worried about the status of their legal marriage reminds me of the days when I regularly contemplated gender determinism in the Church of Christ. I wanted very much to believe that someday, somewhere a congregation would need to respond to a transgender man who would want to serve communion and lead singing and, vice versa, to a transgender woman who refused to relinquish her public role at the front of the sanctuary. To wrestle with the question would be just desserts, I thought, for all those years spent hiding behind legalism and willful misconstruings of the incredible splendor of humanity.
I would still be interested to know if anything like that has happened, but I no longer hold my breath for it. I mean, what man who knows himself well enough to have gone through gender reassignment surgery, what woman who knows herself likewise, would still want to remain in a faith community as unreflective as the Church of Christ? No one that I can imagine. But people always surprise me, so who knows?
Short answer: yes.
by JAW—Apr 29, 12:48 PM
FOUL! I want names, dates, and circumstances!!! Barring names and dates, tell the story anonymously!
by greg—Apr 29, 12:55 PM
For follow-up: there’s a COC in LA with which I’m very familiar that is, ahem, facing this very issue right now. I’d say more, but I’d rather not in this venue.
by JAW—Apr 29, 12:56 PM
You know my e-mail address, homes.
by greg—Apr 29, 12:59 PM
Yeah, yeah, OK. This—
—is hopelessly naive.
by greg—Apr 29, 02:15 PM
It’s coming I’m sure. More and more C of C’s are accepting and allowing participation from openly gay members. Anyway I say that to say if anyone reading this is transgender and wants a church home, you’re more than welcome to come to my church which is closely tied to the C of C.
by Steven—Apr 29, 02:30 PM
I’ve often contemplated the irony that a sex change operation would make me more hireable at my alma mater than my PhD…but “gender genie” and this blog’s motto notwithstanding, I really like being a woman.
Oh, and I second Steven’s invite!
by JTB—May 9, 09:10 AM
Speaking of transgendering, did you catch yesterday’s All Things Considered? The story about the transgender 10yo is riveting.
by greg—May 9, 09:13 AM