Transgender Awareness Week

 

You, however, are a “chosen people, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a people set apart” to sing the praises of the One who called you out of the darkness into the wonderful, divine light. ~ 1 Peter 2:9

 

Being transgender, like being gay, tall, short, white, black, male, or female, is another part of the human condition that makes each individual unique, and something over which we have no control. We are who we are in the deepest recesses of our minds, hearts and identities. ~ Linda Thompson

 

Transgender Awareness Week is to help raise the visibility of transgender and gender non-conforming people and to address the issues the community faces. It is a time for transgender people and their allies to take action and bring attention to the community by educating the public and advancing advocacy around the issues of prejudice, discrimination, and violence that transgender people face. It is a time to bless and celebrate our transgender siblings and proclaim that God’s transforming love and hope embraces all people … just the way we are!

 

Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) was started by transgender advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith as a vigil to honor her memory of Rita Hester, a transgender woman who was killed in 1998. The vigil commemorated all the transgender people lost to violence that year and began an important memorial held each year on November 20. On this day we remember those who have died from anti-transgender hatred or prejudice.

 

For people of faith, this day is an opportunity to proclaim the good news of each person's truest and authentic beauty as a Beloved child of God, and that God calls each of us to live out our lives in the truest, most authentic way. We are also reminded of the ways God’s calls us to stand against systems of marginalization, privilege and hate of any kind. Prejudice, lack of understanding and fear results in injustice and oppression, bigotry and hatred which can result in violence and even death. As God’s people, we are called to make a difference by not allowing prejudice, lack of understanding and fear to get the best of us. Instead let us learn from, embrace and discovery the beauty within our transgender and gender non-conforming siblings.

 

At MCC Richmond we celebrate and stand with our transgender siblings. Let us work to affirm and fight for systems of justice, dignity and hope for all people. We will always do our part in creating a safe and affirming space for all people to grow in the joy and light of God’s loving embrace while being affirmed in all of our becoming.