Celebrating Diversity

A Vision of Certain Hope

2008-12-20T13:57:00.001-05:00

These lines, adapted from a speech given by Martin Luther King, Jr. at the end of the Selma to Montgomery march in 1965, are a reminder of the certain hope that is shared by all who seek LGBT justice.

“And so I plead with you this afternoon as we go ahead: remain committed to nonviolence. Our aim must never be to defeat or humiliate our adversaries, but to win their friendship and understanding. We must come to see that the end we seek is a society at peace with itself, a society that can live with its conscience. And that will be a day not of straight or gay or transgender humankind. That will be a day of all humankind.

“I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’ Somebody’s asking, “How long will prejudice blind the visions of men, darken their understanding, and drive wisdom from her sacred throne?’ Somebody’s asking, “When will the radiant star of hope be plunged against the nocturnal bosom of this lonely night, plucked from weary souls with chains of fear and the manacles of death? How long will justice be crucified and truth bear it?’

“I come to say to you this afternoon, however difficult the moment, however frustrating the hour, it will not be long because truth crushed to earth will rise again.

How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever.

How long? Not long, because you shall reap what you sow.

How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

Now, as then, I believe we shall overcome.

MSU Rally

2008-11-18T10:56:00.002-05:00

I recently spoke at one of the 300+ rallies that were held in protest of the California vote on Proposition 8. It was held on the campus of Michigan State Univeristy. Here is what I said:

We are here today to celebrate the beginning of the end of the political power of the extreme right. They have lost their self-proclaimed moral authority and we have now claimed the moral high ground. Outright lies - like saying kindergarten kids will be required to study books about gays and saying churches will be forced to marry gay or lesbian couples – this descent to the mud and slime of hate has left us alone at the top. We now stand on the moral high ground because our cause is just and our rights are unassailable. There may be speed bumps along the path – there always have been speed bumps in pursuit of civil rights and justice – but we shall overcome. We can bring change. As someone recently said, yes we can!
We are angry today. It is a righteous and just anger but we must avoid words and deeds of violence or hate and harness that anger into positive expressions of the dreams we have. We are angry at some religious leaders, but we must not forget that many religious leaders, and true religious expression, are on our side. Many know that “Love thy neighbor” means enabling others – gay or straight – to enjoy expressions of love – including marriage – just like they do. It’s okay to be angry, but let that anger be channeled into positive actions for change and not words of hate or acts of destruction.
230 years ago our country – our country! - issued a bold declaration proclaiming ALL are created with the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It took awhile before ALL included blacks, but we got there. It took awhile until ALL included women, but we got there. “ALL” still does not include lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender people, but we will get there!
What is different now about the situation is that instead of denying rights everyone thought we had, rights that have been affirmed as constitutionally protected by the California Supreme Court have been taken away. Taking away of rights from a sub group of society is the beginning of a totalitarian state. It must stop now.
The denial of rights is what started the American Revolution – rights being taken away – and that is what has started this revolution. Ours is not a revolution of guns and war but of the non-violent soulforce power so beautifully modeled in Martin Luther King, Jr., and Gandhi before him, and even in the life of Jesus. Ours is a revolution that is non-violent but not passive, that is gentle, but not quiet, that recognizes that the universe is on the side of justice and God is on the side of love and that, for us, failure is impossible. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are rights that belong to us too. And, they are each under attack.
Life.
There is an effort to kill us; to take away our life. Sometimes it is physical violence against LGBT people. One of the most meaningful days of the year for me is the Transgender Day of Remembrance. It is a time when we remember those whose lives have been taken during the preceding year. I have spoken at many such memorials and they never fail to move me and inspire me to do more. Make no mistake, this violence still happens, often fueled by the foul lies we heard in California. We need to pass hate crimes laws now. This week hate crimes legislation passed the Michigan house and the senate must not delay in passing it as well.
Physical death is real, but more often than physical death; it is a death that simply dehumanizes. The political far right – aided by some religious leaders – declares by their words and actions that certainly marriage is a human right but these “creatures” –“these gays, lesbians, and trans people” are not human. Civil rights are human rights and when our civil rights are denied, ignored, or taken away the message by those that do it to us is . . . “I can do this because you aren’t human”. Our inalienable right of life itself is being eroded, challenged, and even denied.
Liberty.
Your liberty to work where you are qualified to work is being taken away when you can be fired simply for being gay. This is legal in most of Michigan! Your liberty in housing is being taken away when a landlord says “no gays allowed” and gets away with it. Your liberty to live in love is taken away when “No Marriage Allowed” is waved in front of your face. Our liberty is being denied.
Life, liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
One of the most fundamental pursuits of happiness is the happiness that comes from love. One of the most loving – and yes, sacred – expressions of this love happiness is marriage. When marriage is denied gay and lesbian people, our inalienable right of happiness is strangled. Gay marriage is not about taking away someone else’s rights. Gay marriage is not about teaching kindergarten kids about gays. Gay marriage is not about some mythical gay agenda. Gay marriage is about a profound expression of love and the innate, deep, human desire for relational happiness in life.
Joanne and I have been married for 36 years. I wasn’t sure what my transition would do to our marriage; coming out is often a deal breaker. In reality, it has made our marriage stronger and our love deeper. Anyone that tries to take our marriage away is in for a fight. I am in favor of marriage. As an ordained minister I have performed scores of marriages. My favorite lines in the ceremony are pronouncing the completion of the union and the announcement to the couple that “you may kiss”. Whatever California, Florida, and Arizona might have said let me say tonight that you may kiss! You may kiss!
War has been declared on us but it is a war that we will win peacefully and soon because we do stand on the moral high ground. It is a war that will be won if we follow the models of Martin Luther King, Jr., Gandhi, and Jesus. It is a model that patiently and persistently let’s truth ring out and justice roll down. It is a model that lives in quiet confidence but breathes with unstoppable soulforce power. It is willing to change hearts and minds one at a time. It recruits the informed to be active. It informs the uninformed. And it helps the uniformable become aware of their ignorance. It is out and open and proud. It is gentle but bold and it will not be denied. It is you and me, here and now. It is tens of thousands across America in rallies today just like this one. Victory may not come today, but failure is impossible.
Today is a great start, but it is only that. Make your voice heard again and again until the collective roar of our voices can no longer be ignored. Write your state and federal representatives, write your newspapers, speak out - shout out - whenever justice is being denied. Stand with your oppressed brothers and sisters. Their pain is our pain and their loss is our loss. Do not let your fervor wane or your voice be silenced or your candle be dimmed. We shall overcome.
Failure is impossible because we stand on the self-evident truths that we too are equal and we too have the inherent, inalienable, just and certain rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We have these rights. We will exercise these rights. We will live. We will love. We will marry.

Dobson's Dotage

2008-06-25T07:54:00.001-04:00

A man who never had theological training promulgates his theology as the theology for all Christians. A man who advocates practices rejected as ineffective and even harmful by every major counseling organization (plus many medical groups), says his “therapeutic” ideas need to be followed by every Christian parent. A man, who is not a scientist, manipulates scientific data so much that even those he quotes are angered by his blatant misrepresentations and deliberate lies. A man who has never had a course in constitutional law now believes he knows more about the constitution than a constitutional law professor. Fruitcake?

Dobson’s dotage is not pretty.

Soulforce, Willow Creek, and Me

2008-06-17T23:25:00.001-04:00

(or why I drove 500 miles this weekend)
This weekend Joanne and I were in Chicago as part of a Soulforce action group. The American Family Outing (see http://soulforce.org/ ) was conceived as the beginnings of a movement to increase the understanding and dialogue between lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Christians and the evangelical church. Six key churches were selected for visits between Mothers’ Day and Fathers’ Day. Once the date for the visit was set, letters and phone calls went out in an effort to get a face-to-face meeting with the Soulforce group and the senior pastor and as many staff members as possible.

The church that our Soulforce group visited was Willow Creek Church near Chicago. Willow Creek is a 38-year old mega church with an average weekly attendance of over 22,000. The784,490 square foot building is beautifully sited on a 155 acre site, including a 5-acre lake that is used for some baptisms. (Winter baptisms happen in a large, glass, hover-craft baptismal platform that floats on air as it is moved out to the platform.) The church has 350 full-time employees, 150 part-time staffers, and 12,500 regularly serving volunteers. Their weekly budget is $550,000.

On Saturday our group met at a community center in the Boystown area of Chicago (just north of Wrigley Field). Our 29 members included two sets of parents with their adult gay sons and one set of parents who lost their daughter to suicide (as told in the award-winning documentary For the Bible Tells Me So). There was a gay couple with their three kids, a lesbian couple with their son, and a lesbian couple with their service dog, Rylee. There was a straight ally (the son of evangelists Jim and Tammy Baker), a number of gay or lesbian couples and us . . . the transgender couple. There were five ordained ministers in the group, 2 PhDs and a mix of ages and sexes. Five couples have June 17th weddings planned!

We reviewed the non- violent, reconciliation principles of Jesus, Ghandi, and Martin Luther King, Jr, that define Soulforce’s approach. We shared our own stories and heard from former members of Willow Creek Church. We watched a 2006 teaching session by one of Willow Creek’s pastors. The Willow Creek teaching session was filled with much misinformation and false teaching. It helped us focus on our goals for the next day.

There was a gentle, wounded, but positive spirit among this group of Christians that came from all over the country to be together for this weekend. We clearly sensed the presence of Christ in our midst as we prayed together and heard more about each others’ faith journeys. Our four hours together helped make this diverse group a people a cohesive Body of Christ.

On Sunday we arrived at Willow Creek at 10 AM for a tour (at Willow Creek’s invitation). There were some non-Willow Creek protestors near the campus entrance proclaiming their “Christian” certainty of our destination in hell. Most of our group had a white top and we all wore name tags indentifying us as part of the American Family Outing. With the white shirts; nametags; presence of our mascot, Rylee; and loving couples holding hands as we walked, we turned a few heads as we toured the massive, high-tech, church village.

At 11:15 AM we were ushered to reserved seats near the center front of the mezzanine section. The rock-star like stage had a 17-member worship team that led us into a meaningful time of worship. They had a VERY adequate sound system. The speaker for the day was a guest mega church pastor from Cincinnati. He had a powerful message about the importance of serving others as a way of expressing Jesus’ love. We wondered if this included LGBT “others” as well. The guest pastor referred to Willow Creek as “the most influential church in America” in part because of their regional churches and the many churches that are part of the Willow Creek Association.

After the service we were led to a private meeting room where we ate together (wonderful boxed lunches provided by the church) and talked casually around tables arranged in one large, open-in-the-middle, rectangle. There were 29 of us allowed at that meeting and 5 people from Willow Creek including their founding (and current) pastor, Bill Hybels. Both sides shared their issues and concerns in a very gracious dialogue. The Willow Creek staff seemed genuinely taken back that our emphasis was on committed, monogamous, loving relationships and families . . . not sex. One of our group members said, “We’re just like everyone else; too busy with our lives to have much time for sex!” Pastor Hybels also responded in disbelief on hearing that many gay and lesbian Christians are being told to marry heterosexually if they expect to be part of a church.

One of our team members is a survivor of “ex-gay” therapy. He went through $35,000 of therapy – including electroshock treatments – before he came to reject this hateful treatment and accept the truth that God made him as he is and the problems people had with this were their problems and not his. He now works with thousands of others who suffered ineffective – often harmful – indignations because they wanted to be welcome in unwelcoming churches.

For our part, we were surprised and pleased that Willow Creek’s own 30-year study of homosexuality has led them to conclude that: (1) Sexual orientation is unchangeable. and (2) Sexual orientation should not keep someone from being received into their church. They acknowledged that 6 of the 7 verses used to condemn homosexuality are irrelevant; really referring to other things. Unfortunately, they still felt that one Genesis text supported their position that gay and lesbian members must commit to celibacy to become members. We told them how this perspective has caused many in their congregation, because of their love for Willow Creek, to live lives of deception and secrecy in order to be accepted and still enjoy sexual expression in their committed relationships.

As we looked for action steps at the end of over 2-hour meeting, we agreed to continue the dialogue. Bill Hybels also indicated that their church will continue to study the subject and that he would begin to speak out against the misinformation that some Christian groups publish. We then, stood, held hands, and prayed together.

Please pray that God will use these visits for His glory and the healing of the Body of Christ. Blessings, Julie

Kudos to the AMA

2008-06-17T19:13:00.000-04:00

Yesterday the American Medical Association (AMA) passed Resolution 122 calling for the removal of financial barriers imposed by insurance companies on transgender people. Insurance companies often arbitrarily call care for transgender people “cosmetic” or “experimental” or “not a medical necessity”. The AMA rejected those “myths” (their term) and affirmed the necessity and effectiveness of a combination of mental health care, hormonal prescriptions, and surgical interventions that provides “safe and effective treatment for a serious health condition.”

The AMA noted that, left untreated, Gender Identity Disorder (GID) can cause “serious psychological distress, dysfunction” and even “suicidality and death”. In contrast the AMA noted that the treatments recommended by health experts in GID can help persons with GID achieve genuine and lasting comfort. In discussing this “serious medical condition”, the AMA referenced the “established body of medical research” and the “sound scientific evidence” behind the internationally recognized standards of care. They further stated that delaying treatment can “cause and/or aggravate serious and expensive health problems.”

So what is it that causes so many people to react with rejection, disdain, and even violence toward transgender people? I think there are three main reasons for the willfully retained ignorance and discrimination. First, some people are very insecure about their own sense of gender identity. For them, people with gender identity conflicts only intensify their own questioning . . . and they don’t want to do that. Second, some people presume that the Bible condemns transgender people. In reality, like many other medical conditions, the Bible is silent about GID. Third, some people just do not want others to be happy. It’s a perverse twist on the adage that “misery loves company”; no one else should be happy if I’m not.

The AMA is right on target on this one. Even though I lost my job, had to change churches, and lost some friends in my transition (transitioning is part of the medical standards of care), I would do it again. I did not know it was possible to be this happy. Hopefully, the AMA’s action will change some hearts and minds and open up care for others trying to deal with this serious medical condition. AMA, you rock!

A Special Sunday

2008-06-02T11:37:00.001-04:00

For the first time in a few years I preached yesterday. I was the guest preacher at an area church. I read the little book The Rainbow Zebra for the children’s story. Seven kids nestled up close so they could see the colorful pictures while I read to them as the adults listened and smiled. My sermon was from Galatians 3:28 on tearing down the walls that divide. This church was celebrating diversity Sunday with songs, hymns, and readings honoring the worth and dignity of all people. There was about a half hour for questions after the service. Most of the questions were about transgender issues (many of the people have been following my story in the local newspaper), but some questions were also about the sermon. Some shared their own stories. One genetic woman talked about being harassed in a bathroom because she looked too masculine. Another couple talked about being uninvited to a family wedding because of their sexual orientation. Another talked about a co-worker who transitioned from female to male and the loving and caring response of her co-workers.

After the service a number of people (including the pastor) said that my message was precisely what the church needed (another “God thing”). Others said I should be preaching more often or serving a church somewhere. It felt good to get this affirmation of the gifts God has given me. We spent some time in conversation (and some more questions) with those who stayed for the “Rainbow Brunch”. As Joanne and I drove home, I couldn’t help but feel that God was pleased with this church on this Sunday.

Lansing State Journal

2008-05-09T09:50:00.002-04:00

The following guest editorial was published in the Lansing State Journal in an abbreviated form in late March.

The season of the year that includes Black History Month and Women's Month seems an appropriate time to reflect on our progress towards equality in America. In the recent movie The Great Debaters, Samantha, one of the college students from an all-black Texas school, boldly argues, " . . . the time for equality is always, is always right now!"The movie is set in 1935. It took nearly 30 years for congress to enact The Civil Rights Act. Michigan's civil rights act was passed 13 years later. It seems Michigan was slow to get it. So how are we doing now? Over time, the federal government and many states added various groupsof people to their civil rights acts such that discrimination based on religion, race, color, national origin, age, sex, height, weight, familial status, or marital status is forbidden in most states.Michigan, though, still excludes one of the most discriminated groups in our state from protection. Many estimates would place this collective group at about ten percent of our population. These unprotected citizens of Michigan are those whose sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression is "different". Accepting the "different" was precisely the catalyst for adding religion, race, color, sex, and handicaps to civil rights protection. It is still what civil rights - and our country - are all about.Jefferson's reminder of the self-evident truth that all "are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness" is still true and yet some persist in seeking to deny these rights to others; others who are different. Coretta Scott King understood this pursuit of civil rights better than most. She boldly proclaimed, "I believe all Americans who believe in freedom, tolerance and human rights have a responsibility to oppose bigotry and prejudice based on sexual orientation." The time for equality is always now. Amending Michigan's Elliot Larsen Civil Rights Act of 1977 to include sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression is quite simply the right thing to do. In addition to fundamental fairness and equal opportunity, protecting the civil rights of this currently unprotected population is pragmatically good for Michigan. Academician and researcher Richard Florida (The Rise of the Creative Class) has made it clear that the current generation of college and university graduates place the honoring of diversity as a very high priority for their lives. The brain drain (and concurrent job drain) from Michigan is at least partly the result of Michigan being an unfriendly state for this diversity. Many businesses, including most of the Fortune 500, have already added diversity protections in their workplaces because they know it is not only the right thing to do, it is also simply good business sense to do so. Yet these workplace pockets of protection in Michigan are not enough. As one who lost her job because of the lack of job protections for simply being different, I know the time for statewide equality is now. The time is now to amend the civil rights laws of Michigan to protect these who are excluded and too often the victims of hate, exclusion, and even violence. The time for equality is always now.

Worthless ENDA

2008-04-12T11:31:00.000-04:00

Why an Non-Inclusive ENDA is Worthless

Rep. Barney Frank and the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) led the misguided effort to pass a non-inclusive ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) in the House of Representatives saying that it was better to get something than nothing. What they got was nothing.

A non-inclusive ENDA (a bill that does not include “gender identity and gender expression” in the protected categories) A.) will have a rough time in the Senate, B.) never be signed into law by this president, and most significantly C.) offer no protection for gay and lesbian persons. Any smart employer would simply say to a gay or lesbian worker, “I’m not firing you for being gay [or lesbian], but because your mannerisms and clothing are too femme [or butch]. Your gender identity and expression do not fit our company standards.” The House version of ENDA is worthless.

So let’s be honest about what this was all about. It was about Benedict Barney and HRC feeling that it was more important for them to get credit for passing something than to pass something that really matters. Their faux glory was accomplished by throwing transgender people out the window. They tried to say they would come back for us later but would Rosa Parks have accepted the actions of civil rights leaders who might have said, “We’ll get equal rights for men first and then come back for you.”?

I’m with Rosa.

Iron Jawed Angels

2008-03-29T20:57:00.002-04:00

At the suggestion of a friend, I just finished watching the movie Iron Jawed Angels; a movie about the efforts of suffragist women to get a constitutional amendment passed. It tells the true story of some very brave and courageous women during the years 1916-1919. I cried at the pain and humankinds ability to hate and exclude. Yet, their efforts resulted in these words:

Nineteenth Amendment Passed by Congress June 4, 1919. Ratified August 18, 1920.
Section 1: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.
Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

During this last year, I have drawn inspiration and courage from the early women’s rights movement. Susan B. Anthony’s reminder that “failure is impossible” has quickened me when rights are denied or bigotry and hate are tolerated . . . or even encouraged. In many ways the battle for basic civil rights for LGBT people parallels that of these women and the rights movement led by Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. They all exhibited an impassioned persistence that was expressed in non-violence and the consistent call for human rights; for after all civil rights in America are human rights . . . part of that “endowed by their Creator” inalienable gift of our founding fathers’ voices. They fought the battle on many fronts with multiple peaceful weapons. They were passionate and unafraid and they were focused.

I believe we are now the soldiers of that battle and, like those who have gone before us, we will win . . . if we are passionate, unafraid and focused. We will persist for basic human rights (not “special rights” or a new class of citizens). We too - in all our glorious differences - are America. Hate crimes legislation, ENDA, and inclusion in the protections of civil rights law will come to us . . . if we are passionate, unafraid and focused. My prayer is that God will give us the strength and wisdom to be so.

I hope you get a chance to see the movie. It will encourage your heart and mind and help you Celebrate Diversity. :-)

Seven Passages

2008-02-25T09:25:00.001-05:00

On Saturday, Joanne and I attended a powerful play. The play was written and directed by a Calvin College professor. It had a script that was taken entirely from Scripture and interviews with over 100 western Michigan area Christians. These believers told stories of hate, discrimination, and violence directed at them with all-too-few- rays of compassion and love. Most often, the attackers of these Christians were professed Christians themselves. There was a passion to these stories – and a clear love of Christ – that created a sense of sadness in me for the Body of Christ. The author has done a great service for The Christian Church.

Our watching world has to be amused or mystified or both at the divisive infighting of Christians from a faith that says it believes in love and grace. Is it any wonder that many want nothing to do with this “good news”? The audience felt the pain, hurt, and sometimes anger of some of the most loving and caring followers of Jesus. I pray that someday soon these Christians will find the peace with others that they already have with their Savior.

The play is called Seven Passages based on the 0.03% of the Bible used to condemn these Christians. The interviewed Christians were gays or lesbians.

The Longest Night

2007-12-24T10:37:00.000-05:00

Journal Musings
December 24, 2007

Yesterday we went to a Longest Night service at our church. This service is held annually near the Winter Solstice (longest night). It is designed to bring comfort and solace to those that suffered a loss during the year and are grieving; a very real need for many during the holidays. I was invited because of my father’s death at the end of October. We met in the late afternoon as a very intimate group of quiet mourners.

On the way to the service, Joanne and I encountered a funeral procession turning onto the road in front of us; an extremely rare occurrence but especially so on a cold, wintry, late Sunday afternoon. We followed the mournful procession for 3 or 4 miles. The slow pace gave me plenty of time to think. As I thought about my grieving, I realized that my grief for the loss of my father was just a part of what I was dealing with this year. Grief, like many things, is cumulative in its impact on us. We don’t grieve in isolated partitions but rather with one grief burden to which new grief gets added. The bundle we carry just grows until we are able to deal with it collectively or in bits and pieces..

This past year, I dealt with the grief of loss in many ways: a lost job; a loss of friends; being asked to leave both a church and a small study group; some broken family ties; loss of my former personal and professional identity (no regrets but a gain that does come with a loss); and deaths. The biggest addition to my grief bundle was the death of transgender people who either were brutally murdered or, in despair, took their own life. The hardest for me was the 16-year old boy at whose vigil I spoke. Ian’s tragic passing lingers with me.

In the providence of God, the funeral procession became part of the healing process. There is something about naming our sorrows that helps us begin to deal with them. Experts say that the first stage that we go though in the grief process is denial. Naming our grief enables our steps in finding comfort, because we then know where our need for comfort rests.

The service used Scripture readings, reflections, and hymns to speak to our grief. Our meditation together was framed around the lighting of the Advent candles, but with the candles given a new meaning for those gathered in grief. The candles represented loneliness, regrets, anger, peace and then the Christ candle reminding us of his presence even in the midst – perhaps especially in the midst – of our sorrow. As we sat, I thought of the words from an old gospel song: “I am tired, I am weak, I am worn.” The song is Precious Lord Take my Hand. He has.

As we sat, there were a lot of tears; wellsprings of sorrow that would become seeds of healing. Yes, our collective grief was and is very real but the Longest Night service really isn’t just about the night. Even the darkest, coldest, and longest nights end with a sunrise. Isn’t that what the first Christmas morn was about?

Merry Christmas with much love,
Julie

God's Diversity Christmas

2007-12-12T08:21:00.000-05:00

God loves celebrating diversity. It began with creation and continues through today. Even Christmas is a celebration of diversity.

The Christmas story is not just about a baby being born – even a very special baby – but it also includes God reaching out to diverse people. Jesus didn’t come as a king, he came in humility as a baby to a poor family. God reaches out to the poor. God did include kings (or wise men) in the story in reaching across diverse cultural and ethnic borders to bring good news to a people that weren’t expecting it. Of course, there were also the shepherds being scared nearly to death by God’s pleasure in surprising us and reaching out to the lowly. Being a shepherd was very close to the bottom of the economic and social ranks of the time. They weren’t trusted (their testimony wasn’t even allowed in the courts!), they didn’t smell good, and nobody wanted to be near them . . . but God.

My blog is titled “Celebrating Diversity”, in part, because I believe that – celebrating diversity - is what God does. God delights in the diversity of humankind; He celebrates the richness of his creation. I believe that includes diversity in sexual orientation, gender, sex, ethnicity, culture . . . even religion (the wise men weren’t Jewish!). When that Divine baby grew and began his public ministry, he demonstrated God’s diversity again and again in reaching out to those the religious of his day wanted nothing to do with. Today many people of faith are catching on and joining God’s celebration of diversity. My heart aches for those that are missing God’s celebration and – in the process – His blessing. They will have to wait until heaven to celebrate what some of us are celebrating now.

So Merry Christmas. Enjoy the wildly diverse songs, gifts, and people that make for a wonderful celebration. Join me in celebrating diversity; it's part of what Christmas is all about.
Warm Christmas Blessings,
Julie

Ian's Passing

2007-11-04T07:09:00.000-05:00

Last Friday night I spoke as part of a candlelight vigil for a 16-year old transgender boy who took his life. Such moments are never easy, but this one was especially hard for me for two reasons.

The first reason was that on the previous Tuesday I had buried my father. I felt the cumulative weight of these deaths. I will miss my father but, in many ways, his passing seemed right. It freed him from a very painful battle with cancer and released him to heaven. We celebrated his life with fond remembrances of many happy occasions.

Ian – the transgender boy – had a death that seemed premature; like many suicides. He was a gentle, creative, friend of many and had a very supportive family. He had been “out” as Ian for a little over two years. While chronologically quite different, both my dad and Ian were released from pain.

Ian’s pain was not from being transgender; he and his family celebrated how God made him. His pain came from a world that was not ready for him. Many today would still rather cause pain than open their hearts up to people who are different. Sadly many do so from presumed religious perspectives; “presumed” because the hate and shame they seek to voice runs counter to the very teachings of their faith. Ian felt no shame for who he was, but died, in part, from the shame that others thrust upon him.

The second reason that Ian’s vigil was hard is that, like many transgender people, I once stood at the brink of that dark, life-ending precipice. What kept me from passing over was a combination of many people praying for me, my love for Joanne and my boys (and their families), and a new-found resolve that hit me hard at that very moment of destiny. The resolve was to not let hate, ignorance, and discrimination claim another life. The resolve saved me, but did not protect Ian.

The world desperately needs more resolved to not let hate – from whatever source (especially the presumed religious) – keep destroying lives. As we sang “We Shall Overcome” at the vigil, tears rolled down my eyes. I was reminded that the battle against hate has a long history and that more soldiers are needed.

I hope you will be one.

A New T Rebellion

2007-10-17T13:44:00.000-04:00

In many ways the current T rebellion parallels the revolutionary tea rebellion. Like the Boston rebels, it’s all about a small band of committed people who no longer willingly tolerate discrimination and who go against the idea pushed by the faint of heart and self-absorbed that if we just wait long enough everything will get better. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were pronounced then as unalienable rights. These rights now seem to be alienable to Barney Frank and the Democratic Party leadership. To them being able to work (life, liberty, and – depending on your job – the pursuit of happiness) are not for T’s (transgender people whose gender identity and/or gender expression are different than mainstream America). The argument that we should “wait awhile and we will come back and get you” was tried in 1776, again in the late 19th century with women’s rights, and, most recently, with the civil rights efforts of the 1960’s. It was a bogus argument every time and still is. Equality should not be a “wait your turn” issue. Frank, Pelosi, et al have shamed their party and all who believe in a just and fair America.

Like many civil rights movements, the outcry has not come from only those most impacted. LGB and civil rights friends have allied with T’s to cry out for a fundamental fairness that keeps the T in equaliTy. Over 200 state and national organizations have made it clear that they do not want a legislation that leaves out trans people. Of all the major organizations only the misnamed Human Rights Campaign has failed to take this position.

Urge your congressional representative to vote yes on an inclusive ENDA (Employment Non-Discrimination Act) and against any legislation that continues to support discrimination against gender expression and gender identity. Pease call or email today.

On Chasing Lions

2007-10-15T21:50:00.000-04:00

The senior pastor at my youngest son's church posted these wise words and beautiful imagery:

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.Chase the lion.

Posted by Mark Batterson on his blog on 10/15.07. http://www.evotional.com/2007/10/lion-chasers-manifesto.html

Community and Integrity

2007-10-04T01:17:00.000-04:00

Donna Rose’s beautiful, passionate, and heartfelt resignation letter from her position on the board of the Human Rights Campaign (Rose Letter ) begins with two words: “Community.” and “Integrity”. She writes of her hurt and sense of betrayal as well as her ongoing commitment to equality and basic human rights. It is an outstanding letter from the hands, heart, and mind of a very beautiful person.

Part of Donna’s beauty is her focus on the community and integrity which are such core values for the LGBT equality movement. It is a movement – with rolling momentum in both governmental and corporate halls of power – but, a movement that becomes shallow, cold, and cynical without community and integrity.

All of us have a desire to belong; to be in a sharing and caring relationship with others. We want to be in community. Many of us have lost communities: family, friends, churches, jobs in the coming out process. At the time, the losses seemed fathomless in the void they left. Many are still working through some of that pain. Yet, we have found new communities of love, hope, and faith that a better future is possible.

In the last few weeks I have been at two different events: the largest conference in the country for transgender people and a large state dinner for LGBT people and their allies. The pervasive sense of love and belonging – of family – at these gatherings confirms the sense of belonging and “rightness” in our openness and, for some, “outness” to the world about who we are. Our sense of family, our community, comes from our shared integrity.

The sense of oneness and wholeness that comes from seeking to live a life of integrity does not replace the losses we feel. We still grieve losses, but our new community and the energizing power of integrity not only “get us through”, but they bring love, laughter, and peace to our lives. As corny as it sounds, this integrity is about “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. These core American values are what bring passion to our movement. They are inalienable rights for all . . . even us. That is why ENDA deserves your unwavering, whole-hearted, inclusive support.

Thanks Donna.

Food for thought

2007-09-29T09:44:00.000-04:00

Here’s some food for thought:

A friend recently sent me the results of research done by the insurance industry on the incidence of transgender people in the United States. Their research concludes that there are approximately 20 million transgender people in this country and that about 400,000 of those are, like me, transsexuals (the severe end of the transgender spectrum of “gender identity disorder”).

This correlates very well with the research done by Lynn Conway from the University of Michigan finding that the incidence of transsexualism is about one in every 250 people in the United States. It supports the conclusions of Dr. Roughgarden (Harvard PhD and professor at Stanford) that transsexuals are unusual (statistical outliers) but well within the statistical definition of “normal”

So why are legal protections and societal acceptance so hard to come by? Think “women”, “blacks”, “disabled” and you will realize that the majority in power never easily accepts differences. Whether it is because they don’t want to admit that “they” are “us” too (my family, your family, our family), or because they fear a dilution of power, or just because they don’t want to acknowledge the rich diversity in God’s creation really doesn’t matter. It still hurts both society and people like me.

Sadly the one organization that should be leading the way in embracing all people (“God so loved the world”) often is the last to come to acceptance as illustrated in the church’s historic reluctance to accept blacks and see women as equal to men. Praying and working for change, Julie.

Bush and Jesus

2007-09-27T12:48:00.000-04:00

Now that hate crimes legislation protecting LGBT people from violent acts has passed both houses of congress, President Bush has a dilemma. He says he will veto the hate crimes law (Matt Shepherd’s Law) but it is attached to a defense appropriation bill. To try to veto this important and necessary protection would, in effect, be saying that hate crimes against Americans that comes from foreign soil (religious terrorists) must be battled, but that hate crimes against Americans from Americans (bigots and religious terrorists) is okay.

I hope the President finally awakens to the fact that pandering to the lies, misrepresentations, and scare tactics of the religious right is neither in his best interest nor the country’s. He doesn’t need to ask “What would Jesus do?” because he has a more certain answer in asking “What DID Jesus do?” That answer is simple. Jesus befriended and sought to protect the oppressed of his day from the attacks of the religious right. Once that was done, as a friend he said to some, “Go and sin no more.” But to others, he simply said nothing but just loved them as God had made them. What a radical concept!

Heros Needed

2007-09-01T09:35:00.000-04:00

I don’t feel like a hero. To my shame, I was a reluctant activist. I would write congressmen and senators and give to civil rights organizations, but it was all behind the scenes. The actions taken against me by the university where I worked gave me the kick in the pants (or skirt) I needed. Now I expect to be as active and vocal as I can as long as I can.

This week I had two incidents that shook me a little. At Transgender Michigan’s Pride in the Park I had three different people come up to me and tell me that I was a hero to them. Then yesterday, someone wrote to me, “Thanks again, Julie - The world has long needed a strength like you.” I don’t feel like a hero. What makes others think that? I have reached two tentative conclusions. First, every movement needs leaders who – like it or not – are perceived as heroes. Second, we need - desperately need - more heroes.

What made me a “hero”? It was a little over a year ago when I sat in a rocking chair in our living room with a handgun in my lap. I had composed an email to be sent that began with the words, “By the time you read this, I will be dead.” Then God broke through. I had a lot of friends praying for me during those very dark and difficult days. I believe their prayers saved my life. As I sat wrestling in my mind, I realized I loved my wife and kids (and grandson) too much to end my life. And in that moment I decided to not let hate and discrimination claim another victim. I chose to live and I chose to do all that I can to keep hate and discrimination ruining or ending as many other lives as I could.

So I began to tell me story and Joanne often was able to share her story as well. In God’s providence the story was told and people listened. For over a month I averaged 2-3 media interviews a weekday; including everything from student newspapers and local media to Fox News, Newsweek, and the Wall Street Journal. I was getting 80-100 emails a day from people encouraged by the story to be vocal, active, or supportive. All I did was tell my story and seek to live as authentic a life as I could. I guess that made me a hero. I don’t feel like a hero, but if that is what I am, more are needed. Want to be a hero? Tell your story and/or encourage others to tell theirs. You will be a hero . . . at least to me.

Hate Crimes Bill

2007-07-12T11:18:00.000-04:00

Wade Henderson, president of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, a coalition of nearly 200 religious and civil liberties groups recently called the Hate Crimes Bill now before the Senate "one of the most important civil rights issues currently facing the country.

The measure would expand coverage of federal hate crimes laws to include sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, and disability, adding them to racial, ethnic, and religious categories already protected under the law. It would allow federal assistance to local law enforcement authorities and federal intervention in situations of violence when local authorities did not adequately perform their job.

Citing scare tactics by some social conservatives, Henderson said, "It is important to say explicitly that the bill will not trample the First Amendment; it will not criminalize speech; it will not infringe upon religious liberty."

"The bill is about simple justice. Passing it sends a signal to the entire country that no one ... should be the victim of hate crime violence."

Hilary Shelton, director of the Washington, D.C. bureau of the NAACP, said the 1998 murder of James Byrd, where he was chained to and dragged behind a car in a small town in Texas, "would not have been considered a hate crime" unless the attorney general "was willing to stretch existing hate crimes policies."

Bishop Carlton Pearson of Tulsa, Oklahoma, has voiced upset at some African American pastors' vocal opposition to the legislation. He believes they are not the real voice of the African American community.

"Right wing [white] fundamentalists are coordinating and motivating them to be vocal," he charged. "Their motivation is often either fear, or money, or both. It is not the love of God or people."

Amen. Call your senators and urge them to support the hate crimes (Matthew Shepherd) amendment.

Newsweek

2007-05-14T12:35:00.000-04:00

Today’s Newsweek (dated May 21st) has as its cover story a very good article on transgender people and issues in America. It is also available on their web site. I was interviewed as part of the story and there is a nice picture of Joanne and me in the magazine. In general they came pretty close to understanding and articulating things well; even though they did get some facts about me (name – I am Julie – and surgery) wrong.

Newsweek’s conversation with me was primarily about religious issues related to being transgender. I explained to them that the blatant discrimination against transgender people (and often the whole LGBT rainbow) was without Biblical warrant and counter to the clear teaching of Jesus summarizing all of the law and prophets with calls to love relationships and actions toward God and all people. MY web site has an article on Old Testament law and New Testament grace and I will gladly email other writings to any who ask for them.

For me, being Julie has brought authenticity to my relationship with God and a depth to worship beyond anything I have ever known. Should it surprise us that when we come before God without pretense that this should happen? God made me (or allowed me to become) the person I am. I am Julie and I love the Lord with all my heart and am walking faithfully with Him.

Joanne and I have been faithfully waiting upon God’s leading every step of our journey these last few years. Sometimes we have felt like Abraham in “going” but being not quite sure where we were headed. But we have walked by faith every step of the way and have seen God before us and felt His presence with us again and again. Those that confuse human teaching and cultural conditioning with God’s Word have trouble with this. Those that know our hearts have walked with us.

God has made a world filled with the joy of differences. Animals, flowers, and even bugs display a God of immense creative diversity creating many marvelous expressions of His pleasure throughout the universe. LGBT people are part of that wonderful diversity of God’s world. We honor Him when we celebrate the diversity He has given to us.

ENDA

2007-04-30T09:12:00.000-04:00

ENDA, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007 (also H.R. 2015), is a clear and direct bill before congress to “prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.” When I speak and consult, many people are surprised – some shocked – to discover that these protections are not already in place. They aren’t.

ENDA not only prohibits this discrimination it does so in a way which connects with both the definitions and remedies of prior legislative acts; especially the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Basically it is illegal to refuse to hire or to fire or to “limit, segregate or classify” on the basis of actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. Retaliation for employees claiming discrimination is forbidden. At the same time, reasonable dress and grooming standards are allowed as long as they are uniformly applied to all. For transgender people, the applicable standard is the one for the gender “to which the employee has transitioned or is transitioning.”

The exceptions are few and clear. The act does not apply to the military or to some religious corporation employment practices. The religious exception is limited to organizations (including educational institutions) whose “primary purpose” is religious ritual, worship, or the teaching or spreading of religious doctrine or belief.” For organizations whose primary purpose is not defined this way, certain employees whose primary duties involve religious ritual, teaching or governance can be exempt. Additionally a religious entity can require that employees “in similar positions” adhere to religious standards that such an organization has declared “significant”.

If ENDA was in force a year ago, I would still be employed as a university professor at the Christian school where I worked for 16 years. I urge you to write or call your members of Congress to voice your strong support for ENDA. Surveys have indicated that over 80% of Americans support this kind of discrimination protection, but those who believe hate is a traditional family value are well-organized and have money to spend. Your voice is important.

Exciting Days

2007-04-12T07:52:00.000-04:00

Today at 11 AM a housing briefing will be held to inform legislators of the urgent need for passage of the Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act (H.R. 1592). At 3 PM Senators Kennedy (D) and Smith (R) will introduce an identical bill in the house. Both bills include protection for gender identity. The act is supported by more than 200 law enforcement, religious, and civil rights groups.

On Friday, Michigan State – one of five Big Ten schools not there yet – will vote on adding gender identity to its non-discrimination policy. It has been part of their anti-harassment policy since 2003.

These actions demonstrate the momentum this civil rights issue is gaining and stress the growing importance for businesses and non-profit organizations to have clear non-discrimination policies that include gender identity and appropriate gender expression. Chris Daly, of the Transgender Law Center, says that without these policies in place organizations could be increasing their chances of being liable in a discrimination complaint or lawsuit.

Of course the usual suspects may come out in favor of hate crimes by fighting this legislation. One of the favorite arguments is opposition to including what they call “behavioral choices” as a protected category. While I believe science clearly rejects their argument, I guess if they are right we should probably remove religion as a protected category too hmmm?

Contact your congressperson and senators to express your strong support for this legislation. I will be in Washington, D.C. to join with others in expressing the great need for this protection against a world that still nurtures hate against those that are different.

Why celebrate?

2007-04-01T20:03:00.000-04:00

Celebrating diversity may seem like an unusual concept but that is a big part of what both my life and my consulting firm (Julie Nemecek Consulting) are all about. I am firmly convinced that the meaningful celebration of diversity in humankind (1) makes for a richer life, (2) is very good business sense, and (3) is God-honoring. That last reason probably requires the most unpacking for you to understand where I am coming from.

I believe that God created me and other people that are “different” (aren't we all?) for His purposes and His glory. Just like part of the enjoyment of roses is that they come in many hues, fragrances, and sizes, so too God has given us a richness in humankind that is to be treasured.

Celebrating diversity doesn’t mean that we have to agree with everyone else (anymore than we have to like every kind of rose), but it does mean that we will treat all people with dignity and respect. It also means learning to celebrate what we can learn from each other because we are different.

In the work world (profit and non-profit), accepting differences makes for better decision-making, a more expansive world view, and a healthier and more appealing work environment. Celebrating diversity simply makes good sense.