Introduction
Starting today, we are now celebrating transgender awareness week! Since I’ve previously written about being a queer Christian, I’ve decided to write about the gender side of things as this is often forgotten, even in the LGB Christian community. For this reason, I’d like to share information, resources, and, of course, the bible verses celebrating gender diversity. Even though this week is transgender awareness week, I would like to talk about the broad categories of gender altogether.
Gender 101
What is Gender?
Great question. This is often the first question that people, in general, struggle to understand and for understandable reasons. First and foremost, within the field of Sociology, gender is called a “social construct.” This means it is learned not innate, performed, and supported by the structure of society, the individuals within it, and the language we use. Gender, itself, is usually denoted by the pronouns others use for us, the way we act, dress, speak, or look, the role we play in society, and often varies from culture to culture (this is how we know it is a learned social construct merely recreated and sustained by the world around us). We also know this because pre-colonization many indigenous cultures actively embraced, honored, and loved the gender non-conforming people in their midst.
What’s the Difference Between Gender and Sex?
Gender is performed when a man opens a door for a woman or when a woman puts on her makeup, dress, and heels for work. It may not be what we want to do 100% of the time, but most of us do gender anyways because we would be breaking a dress code or seem unprofessional or worse be bullied for our choice.
Sex used to be solely based on external genitalia, but scientists now believe it is a combination of hormones, DNA, internal organs, and external genitalia. This is how it’s always been, but the science hadn’t caught up until we had more technology and equipment to discover this. Caster Semenya, a South African Olympic athlete, was and still is unfortunately trapped in the middle of these discoveries. She was so good that people began to wonder if she was a man. The IAAF (important international athletic group) forced her to take a sex verification test if she wanted to continue competing. There was drama, her results were leaked unofficially, and she was denied participation in some events because she wanted to keep her MEDICAL RECORDS CONFIDENTIAL. In the 2012 Olympics, people thought she was doping and fast forward to 2018 there was a change to the testosterone rule that would require all women with higher levels of testosterone to take medication to lower that level if they wanted to compete. We now know that she is intersex and has XY chromosomes and elevated testosterone levels. This is one example of why sex assigned at birth can be incomplete as its only based on one part of what we recognize to be sex.
What about Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity?
Without making it too long, sexual orientation is about who you have romantic feelings for while gender identity is how you personally see yourself.
What’s the Difference Between Transgender, Non-Binary, Intersex, & Gender Non-Conforming?
This is going to be a lot of definitions but if you’ve never heard anything about this before except for it being bad, it will help you gain a better grasp of the reality of gender diversity.
Transgender
Someone who is transgender does not identify with the sex assigned to them at birth. It includes gender dysphoria or the feeling that your body is a cage, it is not your body, and discomfort/distress over the fact that their body does not match their gender. This definition can include non-binary people, but not every non-binary person experiences dysphoria or identifies as transgender. Some transgender people may also change their name that they were given at birth. This is not because they hate their parents, God, or anyone else (although, God does have a fondness for abruptly changing people’s names that I wouldn’t want to forget). This is because that name has, through association, become part of the body that just isn’t right for them, so they choose something that fits.
Non-Binary
Non-binary is a term used to describe anyone whose gender is not included in the socially constructed male or female. For some people, this may include dysphoria and for others this may not. Some people may experience a more fluid sense of identity or always stay near to one gender’s presentation. Others may not identify with any gender at all. Because of this, there are so many different identities that it would be impossible to name them all. You could be a “woman” who wears makeup and dresses and pretty high heeled shoes, but still identify as non-binary. You might even still use she/her pronouns. Because of the discrimination related to being non-binary, I wouldn’t be stepping out on a limb by saying she’s probably not a part of some fad. It may not make sense to you and that’s okay. Her gender identity is about the way she sees herself, not anyone else’s point of view.
Intersex
Now, this one is a little more complicated to explain and, I think, much easier for all Christians to accept (that’s just my opinion though). In the simplest terms possible, someone who is intersex has sex characteristics of both male and female sexes at birth. Some people who are intersex have internal reproductive organs that don’t match their outer body, some have chromosomes differing from their sex assigned at birth, and most if not all have testosterone or estrogen levels that are not expected for the sex they were assigned. This varies for everyone and for some is also associated with additional health problems. Even now, many intersex people are either forced to or not told before hand (or at all) that they are having surgery to remove some of their organs or genitalia. Discrimination runs rampant in the medical community as well.
Gender Non-Conforming
Someone who is gender non-conforming likely does not experience much gender dysphoria or they do not experience enough to change their gender identity. A man who is gender non-conforming may paint his nails or wear heels to walk in just because he enjoys it and he wants to. It is a small act of rebellion against gender norms and expectations. Some gender non-conforming people may experience discrimination for their choices even though they still identify with their sex assigned at birth (usually). They way they express themselves does not necessarily change or reflect their gender identity as much as it does for other people. Some people who identify as non-binary maybe would’ve identified as gender non-conforming and vice versa if the definition of gender wasn’t so strongly connected to the male/female binary.
Biblical Support for Gender Diversity
You might be surprised to know that the bible has many examples of how God really feels about gender identities if the only thing that comes to mind are Christians telling trans people that they are going to hell. Both fortunately and unfortunately for us, the bible is up to interpretation. However, by looking at the original Hebrew (not me personally but knowing that most scholars share the same conclusion) makes many of these examples difficult to dispute. Other examples that I’m including may not directly relate to gender, but are stories or verses that have played a huge role in trans Christians being able to accept themselves so I thought both of these carry some weight.
Imago Dei
Imago Dei is a Latin phrase that was originally written as Elohim or, in English, in the image of God/God’s image. The first time it is used is in Genesis 1:26-27. “Then God said, ‘Let us make humans in our image, in our likeness. Let them rule the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the domestic animals all over the earth, and all the animals that crawl on the earth.’ So God created humans in his image. In the image of God he created them. He created them male and female.” First, if you couldn’t tell already, it is made very clear that ALL humans are created in the image of God–not just the ones we like or think are right. Second, this verse is sometimes used to say that being trans or non-binary is wrong. Here’s why it shouldn’t be. God created them male and female, as in the sex male and female. If God only created men and women then why would He go about creating intersex people in His image? Why would God create people with hormonal imbalances or brain structures like those of the opposite gender if they were not in His image? This argument just doesn’t make sense to me. Because of the fall and all that fun stuff, humans created gender, the social construct.
Jacob and Esau
We’ve probably all heard the story about how Jacob was jealous of Esau and stole his inheritance and how Jacob didn’t have the inheritance because he was technically younger in Genesis 25 and 27. What is often skipped over is the fact that Jacob has smooth skin like a woman’s (wearing animal skins to pass as Esau), supposedly has a less manly voice than Esau, was quiet, did not hunt, cooked, and even stayed in the tents as women would traditionally do. All of this can be found in Genesis and this doesn’t mean that Jacob was transgender but it does support Jacob being gender non-conforming at the very least.
Joseph
This one is probably my favorite stories. The story of Joseph has always been one of my favorites and, more recently, I discovered that he was likely gender non-conforming or even non-binary. I should mention that since none of us personally know any of these people, all we can do is speculate. But as far as Joseph is concerned, there is some rock solid proof. You know the special robe Jacob/Israel gives to Joseph? Well, the Hebrew word for it, ketonet passim, is only used one other time in the bible and translated as “princess dress.” Every time I think about it, I just want to gush over how adorable that is. Anyway, knowing this, the story of his brothers selling him into slavery, hating him, and not recognizing him later on in life (Ancient Egyptians liked their makeup) makes a lot more sense with that in mind because being a man with feminine characteristics was not exactly respectable. Also, before he was sold into slavery, he didn’t work with the rest of his brothers. Perhaps, it was because he was a little ‘different.’
The ‘I Am’
I had the opportunity to go to a conference that my university sponsored called, Women Who Lead. One of the main speakers, was a famous transgender actress of faith, MJ Rodriguez. She is probably the nicest actress I have ever seen. She talked about how she never doubted that God loved her which I think is really cool and a testament to the strength of her faith. MJ told the story of Exodus 3:14, when God tells Moses, “I AM who I AM.” God doesn’t say I am Him, I am Her, or I am Them. God says I am and that’s the end of that. Don’t worry about the gender, just tell the people of Israel I AM who I AM.
Deborah and Jael
While the story of Deborah and Jael in Judges 4 isn’t directly about trans people, it is a beautiful story of gender non-conformity for the both of them. If you didn’t know, Deborah was a female judge of Israel. Instead of Barack, a man, leading the Israelites into victory, Deborah prophesies that the victory will fall into the hands of a woman and she is write. Jael seduces the leader of the opposing arm and kills him with a bloody tent peg to the head murder. A female judge, a prophetess, and a victory in the hands of a single woman are all very powerful stories of God not just tolerating but encouraging people who are gender non-conforming to be themselves as it will lead to victory.
The Holy Spirit
There has been a lot of arguing about the gender of the Holy Spirit. I feel like this should be irrelevant because the Holy Spirit lives outside the bounds of humanity and therefore, sex and gender. However, if the argument, must be made, the Holy Spirit is obviously female. In the original languages, the Holy Spirit is always described in the feminine case. In Greek, they use neuter or a gender neutral case and it changes to the traditional masculine when Latin is introduced.
Galatians 3:28 & the Fruits of the Spirit
“There are neither Jews nor Greeks, slaves nor free people, males nor females. You are all the same in Christ Jesus.” To me, this verse takes the cake. In Jesus Christ, we are all equal. Your gender identity being male, female, non-binary, or all/none of the above doesn’t even matter to Jesus because you are God’s child and, to God, it’s as simple as that.
Even though I also brought up the fruits of the Spirit argument as it relates to LGB Christians, I’d like to emphasize that the fruits of the Spirit also apply to transgender, intersex, and non-binary people as well. I know gender diverse people who are loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and have self-control. If they were not able to express their gender identity in the way that matches their brain, then many of them would not actually experience or show all of the fruits of the spirit in their lives. Only by living as our truest selves are we able to live in a way authentically honoring God.
Resources for Non-Binary & Transgender Christians
Articles
- An Affirmation Guide to Trans and Gender Expansive Identities (PDF)
- Non-Binary Gender and the Diverse Beauty of Creation
Books, Blogs, and Websites
- Transforming by Austen Hartke
Organizations
- The Christian Closet (mental health services for LGBTQ+ Christians)
- Church Clarity (find an inclusive church near you!)
- Q Christian Fellowship
- Transmission Ministry Collective
Podcasts and Videos
- Queerology
- A Tiny Revolution
- What Happens if You’re Transgender in the Church
- Why This Trans Pastor Started His Own Church
- Yass Jesus!
Support Queer Christians’ Work!
- Queerly Beloved Tees (currently taking a short break, but they’re worth the wait!)
- Dr. Robyn Henderson-Espinoza’s book, Activist Theology
Conclusion
So, hon, if you are intersex, transgender, non-binary, or gender non-conforming, don’t be afraid to be yourself and to love yourself exactly the way God created you to be. Maybe someone being trans should not be a testament to God making a mistake as many of us first think, but actually humans making a mistake when we decided on binary gender roles. You are beautiful no matter how you choose or don’t choose to present yourself. I will shout it from the rooftops if I have to but God made you special and She loves you very much! I couldn’t help but make the reference to Veggie Tales, haha.
If you want to get notified whenever I write a new post, get access to free resources, stay in the loop with someone who loves you for you, and all that fun stuff, you should probably subscribe. Bye for now and until next time!
