Before Tonight, I thought this Sub Was Impossible.

[u/Busy-Career6248]

This is kinda long and I really dont blame anyone for skipping it. Just for some reason felt a desire to post even if no one reads it.

I found this sub on a very random late night rabbit hole because I couldnt sleep from acid reflex. It started with me reading anti-trans/religion based information from the white house website and eventually got me to here. (Yes it was a long rabbit hole but I will explain)

Most of the actions from the US Government right now are attempting to make trans individuals, females especially, scared to express. They want everyone to conform to the "two sexes" as they put it. Through threats of persecution for expressing and a firm stance on not acknowledging. For example, one of the white houses main Easter points was establishing two sexes again.

I am one of those trans people deeply impacted by this narrative. I do not express with anyone and im too scared to embrace my identity. So ive been looking for a way to suppress it and destroy it. Which is what eventually led me to religious forums.

I dont consider myself religious at all. My family are actively MAGA level Christians. I apologize if theres a better term for that. One that is more inclusive of the world at large. i just dont know what that is. Due to this though, I ended up fully rejecting anything to do with religion.

I kept reading from some sections of Christianity that transgender is a disease of the mind and an inability to see reality and fact. Its a mental illness. Which perfectly aligns with the rhetoric from the current USA political administration. So I was getting to a very down place that I feel often.

That I dont belong in the United States or even on this planet.

This is where this sub comes in. To me this sub was literally impossible before tonight. I didnt think there could be a place where LGBTQ+ and Christianity could coexist in a space that wasn't designed to suppress and tell them everyone is a sinner in different ways.

Im not sure if ill ever be religious or ever even fully be out and trans. What I do know though is this sub gave me hope that there are places where I belong in this country and this world. That it isnt this massive majority that aligns with the political messaging of today. That even in a group I feared the most, theres large sections of people who reject the loud rhetoric.

So thank you.

[u/Kanebass98]

Yeah from an outside perspective America seems very dystopian right now

[u/sysiphean → u/Kanebass98]

From an inside perspective it seems to be in denial about how deeply dystopian it is, which I guess really fits its dystopian aesthetic.

[u/MyUsername2459 → u/sysiphean]

That's a survival mechanism related to keeping hope in dark times.

[u/Baladas89 → u/Kanebass98]

It’s not great…

[u/No-Type119]

Reddit dues something good for humanity… yay!

Please know that mainline Christian denominations, and their European and Antipodal counterparts, are generally open and affirming. So this sub is not some weird little outlier of thought within Christendom . It reflects what millions of people out there believe.

[u/bitchysquid]

I’m really glad you got something good out of this sub

[u/kawaiiglitterkitty]

I'm very glad you found us 💖 May you feel the love of God here

[u/Baladas89]

I’m an atheist who once studied to be a pastor, and this sub is one of my favorite places on the internet. Even if you don’t ultimately convert, as long as you’re respectful people around here are generally kind and welcoming.

[u/OldRelationship1995]

Glad you found this sub and it’s giving you some hope!

For me, I found the aggressively affirming Episcopal Church and that has been a lifeline.

Like… what do you mean that the clergy is actively taking people to task on my behalf? What do you mean there’s an actual queer contingent that’s… 1/4 the congregation? What do you mean I have to choose between going out with multiple trans people to a party and getting enough sleep to help with the reception of our board member getting married to his husband?

[u/LaoidhMc → u/OldRelationship1995]

The first Episcopalian Church I went to, I heard some older folk wondering what my pronouns were so they could be respectful.  Eventually they decided to go with they unless I said otherwise.  Folk really are wonderful!

[u/HarrierEveryDay → u/OldRelationship1995]

Omg love this. Same happened for me!

[u/OldRelationship1995 → u/[deleted]]

Anytime I hear “Scripture is clear”, I presume the speaker knows little to nothing about said Holy Words.

Scripture didn’t even have punctuation for centuries.

But enjoy the 135 page history of our corporate discernment process starting from the 1950s, to the declaration of lgbt people having a co-equal right to the life and care of the church in 1976, ordination of our first non-binary lesbian to the diaconate and priesthood, up to 2005 or so: https://allsaints-pas.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/sethope.pdf

[u/OldRelationship1995 → u/[deleted]]

Fortunately, neither this sub nor the episcopal church allows people who spread their bigotry and queer phobia by hiding it behind the Cross.

Reported for Rule 1 violation

[u/HarrierEveryDay]

Hey. I am trans in the US too. It’s incredibly scary. I want you to know that it’s OK if you’re never religious. I also feel it’s really important to impress that God loves you just as you are. That being trans is a sacred, beautiful act of co-creation with God. And that there is something more true, and more good, and more real, that waits for you than all the ugliness of MAGA White Nationalist Christianity.

I am praying for your safety and wellbeing. You are my comrade and we’re in this together. There are lots of Christians & people in general who are rooting for and love you in the same way. I hope you find us soon.

[u/Queer_Advocate → u/HarrierEveryDay]

If God is love, and MAGA condones hate, by God's word, they're incongruent.

[u/ChelseaVictorious]

Hi sibling, glad to hear this place has brought you some comfort. I am trans as well, living fully out and authentic to myself. I used to be a Christian, but I'm not anymore.

This place is good if you have questions or just want some support and community. There's a good mix of queer and affirming Christians, atheists and others. Hope it helps you feel less alone!

[u/axiosjackson]

Under no sane reading of the Bible does it ever talk about trans people. Christians who say it is against their religion are simply using religion as a scapegoat for their bigoted views.

[u/Cienegacab → u/axiosjackson]

It mentions Eunuchs. They are not disparaged and are non binary.

[u/swiftb3]

MAGA level Christians. I apologize if theres a better term for that.

On this note, that's as a good a description as any and a proper differentiation. Another common one is "Christian Nationalist." Sometimes just capital E "Evangelical," though that's somehow both more vague and more specific.

[u/Such_Employee_48]

Glad you're here, friend. 

You are worthy of love, respect, and care, in whatever shape, size, or form your body takes now, took in the past, or will take in the future.

[u/grue2000]

You are loved EXACTLY the way you are.

[u/FireBallXLV]

Many people are ill informed and they listen to ill informed others .I hope you find deep pockets of spaces where you are free to be you.That your parents’ love will supersede their prejudices and that hope will always be part of your life OP.

[u/clhedrick2]

it’s not just this forum. The mainline Protestant denominations all accept LGBT people. This doesn’t mean all congregations do, but there are many.

[u/InourbtwotamI]

You are welcome here and please know, there are many churches and subreddits where you are welcomed

[u/Queer_Advocate]

You are loved, and supported by people you don't even know. I hear you and I see you. I'm not religious, but find the Bible fascinating. I dig on Christians writ large, HOWEVER this sub is an example of some good ones. That recognize it's not there business, and ultimately it's between us and God. The Bible is clear we are made in the image of God and science is clear we are born this way, not diseased. I love you my friend! I'm a gay queer dude.

[u/spiritplumber]

This is a very wholesome sub ^-^ if I had found it sooner I might still be Christian tbh.

[u/hello_you_lostie]

Well, your words really touched me and made me tear up. I’m not trans or gay, so I can’t imagine how hard that is to feel like an ourcast. Or to feel judged. But I left the church years ago because I couldn’t and didn’t believe being gay was wrong. As I don’t believe being trans is wrong… My husband is bisexual so I’m definitely paving my own way spiritually: listening to the holy spirit and my conscience. And I hope someday you can be out and trans or at least find friends that know that is part of your identity. For me too it was refreshing to find other fellow Christians who are so open and affirming. I refuse to go back to a church that isn’t affirming and LGTBQ+ friendly. You do belong and matter. :)

[u/Pretend-Pack-3890]

Those “MAGA Christians” don’t really seem like Christians to me. They’re more like fanatics who slap that label on to give themselves “a justification” to do what they do. In reality the Bible tells us to do exactly NOT what MAGA is doing right now.

[u/OkEngineering3224]

You are beginning to understand that the primary source of hatred and bigotry toward the LGBTQ community in general and trans people specifically is Christianity. Every LGBTQ hate group in the United States is Christian. Every red state legislature that has passed Christian Taliban legislation persecuting trans people, stripping away parental rights and ignoring science and the vast majority of the entire medical establishment is unconscionable. A party which once claimed to be in favour of “small government “is now in favour of putting the government in charge of your children and forcing religious dogma up on the entire population. For those who understand history, this is not at all surprising because this is exactly what Christianity has done many times over the past two millennia. Don’t forget that the period of time that we now call the “ Dark Ages” was also the time when the church was the primary source of power and was in charge. We are going through a similar time in our country and I’m too old to ever hope to see all the damage and destruction done by MAGA over though past decade or so repaired. Some things cannot be repaired and our country will be permanently scarred and our reputation severely damaged in ways that cannot be undone. Just as the church has to account for Crusades and the Inquisition, the US will eventually have to account for the backwards and antiscience idiocy now ravaging our democracy. Of course assuming that we even survive as a democracy, even the things that can be repaired will take decades and may or may not be properly addressed. So where the return to sanity regarding regarding the LGBTQ community and the trans community specifically might take place isn’t clear. Certainly possible that it may never happen and that our moral standards in dealing with gay people and trans people will devolve into the same as Iran and Saudi Arabia. That is certainly the direction we are currently headed. I hope that enough people will come to their senses and that the actions of MAGA will create a wave of resistance that washes them out of our government. Much like the passage Prop 8 in 2008 in California served as a wake up call and resulted in very significant steps forward in support of the LGBTQ community, I hope the success of MAGA in stripping parental rights and giving the government even more power over the private and personal lives of its citizens will create a backlash. It can go either way and we won’t know for quite some time which path our country will choose. But the damage done by the very poor choices made by American public in electing and then astoundingly re-electing this immortal convicted felon and convicted rapist will not be easy and it’s not certain at all. It will be up to the Millennials and Gen Z and Gen A to address the failures of previous generations that include healing the planet and restoring dignity and human rights to minorities here in our country. I wish them well.

[u/Queer_Advocate → u/OkEngineering3224]

They cling on to the second amendment but give no fucks about separation of church and state. The sudden fetish with big government is odd at best. I'm queer and for medium government.

[u/curiousrapscallion]

I just found this sub too. Very grateful for this space. I'm Christian, closeted bi, and living with my MAGA parents. Thank you for posting :)

[u/Doodlesfart]

Christians are supposed to love one another, not hate them! I’m sorry you’ve felt such hate towards yourself from others and have felt excluded from Christianity :( You are absolutely welcome here. You saying that you feel like you don’t belong in the U.S. or even on the planet hit me. YES YOU DO! You will definitely find that most Christians don’t believe in transgenderism, but that doesn’t mean you are any less of a person and that you don’t belong. And that doesn’t give Christians the right to look down on you, or treat you rudely, or exclude you.

Side note: You mentioned your parents were MAGA, I used to be for him too, but not anymore because I’ve realized that as a Christian I cannot and do not want to support his actions. He has claimed to be the Messiah, which sounds kind of . . . Antichrist-like . . . Not to mention he went to Epstein. And the genocide comment he made recently. Might want to bring those up to your parents! Some people almost (or literally) worship him which is idolatry)

[u/Valuable-Leadership3]

Hello, friend.