The Gospel According to Trans

Today I’d like to introduce you to a “new” friend of mine. Many of you already know this person from their frequent contribution in the comments. I first met this friend online as a blogger. Then my friend moved to Texas, became my pastor and spent about three years in seminary with me. Along the way this person became one of my closest friends. This friend baptized our first child and their family has been a source of joy, comfort and great friendship to me and my family. I could go on about how my friend is brilliant and a great theologian, someone whose faith, conviction and integrity I respect and admire, but this is not about that.

My friend shared with me last semester a personal struggle and decision that had been a long time coming. My friend is transgendered, a transwoman to be exact. There is a long story that goes with anyone who has struggled in our culture with these kinds of issues and it’s not for me to recount. What I think is most exciting about all of this is that she has returned to the world of blogging. The blogosphere has certainly missed her voice. Please allow me to introduce you to Allyson. She recently sent out a “coming out” email to some friends and colleagues. I thought this part was important to share as many of you who know her will certainly have questions and reactions to this news. She said,

I understand that, for some of you, your first instinct will be to try to talk me out of all this. If that’s where you find yourself, I want you to know two things. First, I genuinely appreciate your desire to help me—thank you for caring for me and for my family so much. Second, I know all the arguments against the path I’ve chosen, from the practical to the psychological to the theological. In fact, I know them far better than most. I argued that side against myself for three decades. In the end, I decided that all the arguments against this path could not be reconciled with reality as I’ve experienced it. If you’d like to know more about how I’ve harmonized my need to change genders with my faith, please feel free to write or call and ask me about it—I’m eager to share my thoughts and experiences with you.

While I realize that this might stir up some of our conversations about sexuality again, I hope people will respect these sentiments. If you want to have those conversations here I continue to be open to talking about it, but I wouldn’t expect Allyson to participate. If on the other hand you have questions about her own journey, I’m sure she’d love to share more.