Comments on: Obama Appoints Transgender Woman

By: Eugene

Eugene — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 07:37:45 +0000

“I urge you brothers and sisters, take the structure that has been given to us and work to find a way to bring Kingdom to that—not working to try to have Kingdom rule and dominate a culture unwilling to allow such a thing to happen.

What are your thoughts?”

What does it have to do with transgender people? Are you implying that people who identify as transgender don’t belong in “God’s Kingdom”? You say, “let us continue to hold on to our belief”. Does it mean that you essentially agree with “the Christian world’s response to this appointment”, but merely consider it too vocal or too harsh? What exactly is “your belief” about transgender people?

By: Lincoln

Lincoln — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 06:42:01 +0000

Hi Andrew!

This is a pretty nice post. I just had a quick point to make as a transgender man.

The word “transgenders”…yeah, we’re not real keen on it. Transgender isn’t a noun. It can modify a noun, like I did up there by saying transgender man. Or if someone says they’re a member of the transgender community. But we’re not transgenders. That was something cisgender (non trans) people smushed together for a shorthand. It’s pretty much like calling us homos.

If you need a shorthand term, which God knows we all do these days, trans is the most grabbed word. I use it all the time, as do most of the other trans activists (see how nicely that rolls? *grin*) I run with out here in Seattle.

There’s another tricky cultural bit that using trans sidesteps. There can be conflicts around inclusive language between folks who consider themselves transsexual and some who consider themselves transgender. Because some from each group (not all) don’t like to be lumped in under one category or the other. So the word trans lets them fill in that blank, and we all get to move along to the task at hand.

Here endeth the lesson. I love your book, btw. I think I emailed you once a few months ago. Could have been longer ago than that even. I’ve been ill, so time has kind of sped by me. But since your book, and some of the things you’ve been up to since have built up a measure of cred with me, if you want to email back and forth to learn more about trans issues, I’d really enjoy that.

Lincoln

By: concerned friend

concerned friend — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:25:16 +0000

Andrew,
I have a friend who has recently announced their decision to go transgender. This person is married and has children. I am not sure yet but it seems their spouse is supportive of the decision. They feel this is God’s will for their life at this time.
I want to be a friend to this person and show them love, as this is what they need the most right now, this is just such a new topic for me and I am sure this person will have questions also if we have a chance to delve into it further. Are there any books or resources you can suggest that have a *godly* (ie., loving yet truthful) perspective on this topic?
Thank you.

By: Jeff S.

Jeff S. — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 12:12:10 +0000

Bravo, Andrew! Great post. Thanks for speaking out on this subject.

By: Andrew Marin

Andrew Marin — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 17:44:33 +0000

Mrs. T – I think you bring up a very interesting point. Though I wasn’t around during the civil rights era, I do see quite a bit of correlation with what you said. I am so puzzled by the mainstream media’s attention/lack-their-of/backhanded compliments, that it makes me wonder out loud: Where, really, are they with such divisive issues…other than just continuing to perpetuate it for attention’s sake?

Seth and David – Sorry, I have never answered such questions. I will though. I’m starting to compile a list of questions and follow-up questions folks have asked me in the comments section, and I’m going to start doing full length posts about them. I will be adding your questions to the list. And if you have anymore of them, feel free to ask away…

By: David Foreman

David Foreman — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 16:09:31 +0000

Wonderful post and insights. I feel for this individual. To make such a radical change in oneself, hoping for some kind of peace, only to find the emptiness, loneliness, and separation are still there. To me, this isn’t a transgender issue. It’s a human issue. One we all face in different ways.

By the way, Andrew. A few times I’ve asked how you approach the hatred of “ex-gays” by many in the GLBT community. I certainly don’t buy into much of what those kind of ministries sell, but I DO buy into the right of the individual to investigate whatever avenues of help they so choose. Maybe you’ve already answered that concern, and I’ve missed it. If so, please direct me to the appropriate link.
Again, thanks for all you’re letting God do through you.
Be very blessed,
dave

By: Seth

Seth — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:43:32 +0000

Dude, great post! Say more about how to bring our Kingdom into the secular, mainstream worldview and structure. Jesus, Peter, Paul and the early church did that very thing, and the world has not been the same since. They turned the Hebrew tradition–in the context of the (more-or-less secular) Roman occupation–on its ear, and those vested in it were not at all happy about it. Jesus was crucified as a result (even Pilate considered him innocent), and most of the remaining leaders were persecuted and martyred–they paid the ultimate price for ushering in the new Kingdom. Imagine what things would be like if that kind of radical love had a better foothold in our society. It might not even matter whether anyone was gay, straight, male, female or transgender, because we would routinely recognize them foremost as created in God’s image and loved by God. Some days this seems just around the corner to me; other days it seems so far away.

By: Mrs T

Mrs T — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 19:27:33 +0000

I’ve kind of picked up that the mainstream media is not as pro-gay as we thought, either. The October gatherings in D.C. didn’t get as much coverage as I thought they would(just like the huge pro-life gatherings in various cities recently). This is the first election we have had so many gay or lesbian candidates in Illinois, but I haven’t heard much of anything from the secular media. Maybe it’s like the old civil rights era – “get your rights, but don’t marry my daughter!!” So now it’s “get your opportunities, but keep your distance.”
Is that how you see it, Andrew?