Texas Progressive Faith Leaders Hit The ATX

The hate pastors are desecrating the Texas Capitol today trying to browbeat the Texas House and more specifically, the House State Affairs Committee into allowing those legislative abominations SB 3, HB 46 and HB50 have hearings and go to the House floor for a vote.

Um, no.  Dignity and diversity over discrimination.

On Tuesday August 1 an event happened that I have wanted and we have needed to see for years happen in terms of progressive faith leaders showing up and rebuking their loud and wrong pastors.


It was sponsored by Texas Impact, a statewide interfaith advocacy network that was founded in 1973.   The real Christians and progressive faith leaders were at the Capitol to express their opposition to the GOP hate slate and push back against the false Texas Values narrative that all Texas faith leaders support discrimination..

Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders during this Texas Interfaith Lobby Day gathered for a day of events that included a prayer service on the floor of the Texas House, visits to legislators, advocacy training sessions and called for an end to attempts to pass the unjust anti-trans HB 46, HB 50 and SB 3 bills.

They spent this day driving home the message they were #MianstreamNotExtreme.

"Mainstream faith communities affirm the shared values of respect, dignity and welcome for every person,"said Texas Impact Executive Director Bee Morehead.

"Discriminatory legislation that targets individuals based on sex, sexual orientation or gender identity runs counter to Texas values."

Trying to pass that unjust legislation has already cost Texas $66 million in convention business with more in jeopardy as an ever lengthening list of corporate leaders urges the Texas House to just say no to discrimination.

So glad that Texas progressive faith leaders are part of that chorus of righteousness

It Is Not Godly To Oppress Trans People

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both [are] abomination to the LORD.   Proverbs 17:15

One of the things that bothers me as a Christian is when our right wing pseudo faith based opposition tries to hide behind Scripture and use it to justify their bigotry and hatred.

It is a centuries old tactic for conservatives to try to use the Bible as a shield in their attempts to other and demonize people, and now they are attempting to do so against transgender people.

The Southern Baptist denomination made it the official policy of their church in 2014 to hate trans people, following the Roman Catholic Church in doing so.

One of the basic commandments of our faith is to love thy neighbor as you love yourself.  It's obvious these faux faith based so called 'christians' hate themselves since they are so busy spending their time and hate orgs money bearing false witness against transgender people.

And the most odious part of their transphobic hate rants is that they are aiming them at transgender kids and their parents

I have a major problem with that.   My pissivity about it is heightened even further when you try to claim that God is on your side when you spout your loud and wrong facts free anti trans comments

God hates injustice and the people who push it.  It's even more odious when you pastors are getting paid to push anti-trans hatred for your personal and political gain at trans kids and their parents who unconditionally love them.

Hate is not a Texas value, much less a value in our Christian faith tradition.  Love is.

It is not godly to oppress trans people, and if you pseudo faith bathed oppressors keep pushing that bald faced lie, you will reap what you sow, and the trans folks you are trying to oppress will be standing tall as your efforts to oppress them continue to fail.

Kimberly's Faith Journey

From time to time I've talked about one of our wonderful Lone Star Mama Bears in Kimberly Shappley, who has been on a evolutionary journey of her own along with her amazing trans daughter Kai.

     

Here's the video of the recent Today show interview that was done with Jenna Bush Hager that was recently broadcast.  If you missed it, here's the video.

Going To Miss You, Rev. Lura!

Was sad to hear just before Thanksgiving that at the end of this month Houston is going to lose another member of our progressive faith community in Rev. Lura Groen.

She and Jess are moving to Maryland before the end of the month so that she can get back into congregational life and also write a book.

I first met Lura during our fight to pass HERO in 2014, and while she was the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church attended a few services there.  One thing I loved about her sermons is that she not only is an unapologetic truth teller, but they are thought provoking as well.

She has been a blessing to our progressive faith community here in Houston, and we are going to miss her.   I have been blessed to have you in my life Lura, and will miss you as well.

Megablessings to you and Jess and safe travels to your new home.  May you have much success in the next chapter of your life.  Hopefully our paths will cross again, and with the way I travel, we probably will.

Being A TBLG Christian Is Not An Oxymoron

One of the things I get sick of seeing and hearing is self described atheists taking every opportunity to say hateful and negative stuff about Christianity while they demand that you 'respect their belief systems'.

The hatred in LG World ramped up with the soon discredited news that Kim Davis, their fave person to have Two Minute Hates on, was allegedly given a private audience with Pope Francis during his recent visit to the United States.

Yeah, I and other BTLG Christians get it that many of you have a deep seated hatred of Christianity because of the bible beltings you have been subjected to by right wing fundie Pharisees and Sagicees and GOP politicians hiding behind the bible and the cross. 
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But you need to take that up with the people dishing them out, not beat up on your fellow GLBT peeps who happen to be Christians or our liberal progressive Christian allies. 

May I remind you that many of us LGBT Christians take our faith journey seriously and in many cases are motivated to be better people because of our faith.   Many of us have leaned on our faith to help us get through trying times during our transitions and journeys of self awareness.  

As I have said a few times, if you wish for me as a Christian to respect your decision to be an atheist or follow whatever spiritual beliefs you are comfortable with, then the same reciprocal respect is required of you for LGBT folks like myself who have deeply held religious beliefs and who believe that being part of the LGBT community and a person of faith are NOT mutually exclusive.

Being a TBLG Christian is not an oxymoron.  Respect that.

TransGriot Tour Of Houston TBLG Friendly Churches Continues

One of the things I get a little sick of in the trans and SGL community is people blanket bashing churches. 

While some of them like Grace KKKomunity Church and Second Baptist deserve derision and our community's contempt for their ongoing Bible bashing, do not forget there are not only liberal progressive churches in Houston, but churches that have no problems opening their doors wide to our community, and liberal progressive ministers who see the trans human rights struggle as the next human rights one and want to be on the correct side of history..

And do not forget many of those liberal progressive ministers stood with us during the HERO fight a few months ago and still are.

What I decided to do was to check out the various churches in Houston that are LGBT friendly and check our their services, worship styles, et cetera so that I have some real world knowledge of which ones to recommend to people and newly out people who are looking for a church home.

I checked out Progressive Open Door Community Church (AKA the POD) last weekend for their inaugural  Transgender Outreach service.   This weekend since I now live right down the street from it, I'll be checking out Resurrection MCC's 11 AM service. 

And yes Pastor Lura, I'll be hitting Grace Lutheran Church in the Montrose area before 2014 is history.

If you local TransGriot readers are aware of trans or SGL friendly churches you think I should hit, drop their name, address and time they have their services so I can check them out

As for you peeps at Resurrection MCC, see y'all in a few hours.

Happy Easter 2014

Happy Easter TransGriot Readers!

As a Christian, I believe this holiest of days in my faith is for us to remember that Jesus Christ stood up to the Roman Empire, was crucified for it on the cross on Good Friday, died and arose and ascended to Heaven for all our sins..

Jesus' victory over death and resurrection not only was payment for our sins, but also proclaimed death does not have the final victory and eternal life awaits those of us who are believers.

That view was also reflected in the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1957 Easter sermon entitled  “Questions that Easter Answers”    In that sermon, Dr. King points out that the message of hope we hear on Easter Sunday is also connected to the necessity to take steps to live a life of love with a commitment to justice.   

I'll take that message a step further.  It  is symbolic for us in our own lives in terms of we must overcome the crosses we bear in our lives here on Earth and defeat those obstacles.in our path that lie in the way of us becoming better human beings.   

Love is the most powerful force in the universe as Dr. King reminds us.   And no more does that message resonate than on this day.

Happy Easter everyone.

Pastor Lawrence Richardson-My Transgendered Faith

I met Pastor Lawrence T. Richardson earlier this year at the BTMI conference in Dallas and had some long, thoughtful discussions with him during that event. 

I also had the opportunity to attend the Minnesota based minister's panel discussion during BTMI..

He now has an interesting post up at The Salt Collective group blog entitled 'My Transgendered Faith' in which he says this:

My message to every trans and gender non-conforming person is this: "God is love and you were made in the image of perfect Love.  There is space for you in this world.  There is space at your church, in your desired career, in your family, on sports teams...and it is time to take your space.  Show up!  In large number or in small...your presence is valued and necessary.  So what, they stare or ask questions, answer them.   Look them in the eyes proudly with your beautiful, handsome, artsy, brilliant, capable, transgendered self.  Claim your space. Rearrange the seating to make room at the table.  Correct people when they use the wrong pronouns.  Hang up your own sign on the bathroom door.  Tell them who you are and who you are not. Be bold.  No one is going to understand what they cannot see, cannot hear or cannot know.   

You can read the rest of Pastor Richardson's message here. 
   

My message to every trans and gender non-conforming person reading this is: “God is love and you were made in the image of perfect Love. There is space for you in this world. There is space at your church, in your desired career, in your family, on sports teams…and it is time to take your space. Show up! In large numbers or in small…your presence is valued and necessary. So what they stare or ask questions, answer them. Look them in the eyes proudly with your beautiful, handsome, artsy, brilliant, capable, transgendered self. Claim your space. Rearrange the seating to make room at the table. Correct people when they use the wrong pronouns. Hang up your own sign on the bathroom door. Tell them who you are and who you are not. Be bold. No one is going to understand something that they cannot see, cannot hear, and cannot know. - See more at: http://thesaltcollective.org/transgendered-faith/#sthash.L1bQWSnz.dpuf

Faith-Based Bigots Still Trying (And Failing) To Come Up With An Anti-Trans Doctrine

Since they are losing the marriage equality war, the faith based bigot are now trying to pivot and focus their time an efforts on attacking transpeople. 

However, they have one major problem when it comes to trying to use the Bible as a weapon against us.  They don't have a handy go to scripture to bash us with like they do with Deuteronomy 22:2 to bash gay and lesbian people.  

So what the conservafools have tried to do is create one.   You'll note that when they trot out these anti-trans talking points they will not quote any Biblical scripture to back them up because frankly much of what the Bible has to say on our issues is in large part trans friendly.

One of their current ones in addition to their standard 'God doesn't make mistakes' and  variation of it is this faith-based bigoted assertion that transpeople are 'rebelling against God' when you alter your body or undergo a gender transition.

Matthew 19:12 and Jesus himself blows that lie up

For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb: and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men: and there be eunuchs, which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He that is able to receive it, let him receive it. [KJV]


On top of that, Pat Robertson has inadvertently undercut their intended message and efforts to pimp the transsexuality is 'rebelling against God' lie by saying on multiple occasions that transsexuality is not a sin. 

So yeah, it's almost too easy for us to feed our opponents misguided words back to them.  I can easily point out that anyone who has had a tummy tuck, breast augmentation, pierced their ears or other body parts is also 'altering their body' and by their hypocritical conservastandard is 'rebelling against God.. 

And yeah, guess they forgot about Exodus 20:16 in the process of coming up with this crap.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

But back to discussing their faith based crap.  

They have tried and failed twice in terms of using the Good Book as an attack weapon against much needed human rights laws, and it's up to the trans community and our allies to make sure that the faith based bigots spectacularly fail once again.