Confused expressions of sexuality have become an inescapable part of our reality. Increasingly, we are aware of ever greater deviations from God’s design for sex. As our awareness increases, we risk becoming desensitized to the significance of these deviations.
It can be said that 2015 was the year of transgender awareness. Perhaps nowhere was this better exemplified than in the Collins English Dictionary, which listed “transgender” as the word of the year.[1] Indeed, in June of 2015, former transgender activist Riki Wilchins announced, “We are at a social inflection point on transgender issues.”[2]
According to the Human Rights Campaign, “TV shows like Transparent and Sense8 and reality shows like I am Jazz, Becoming Us and I Am Cait have brought transgender people into living rooms across America.”[3] Winning two Golden Globe Awards and five Emmy Awards, Transparent made history when Jeffrey Tambor became the first actor to win an Emmy for playing a transgender character.[4] Likewise, Vogue reports, “After winning a SAG Award for being part of the Orange Is the New Black ensemble cast—as well as taking home a Daytime Creative Arts Emmy—[Laverne] Cox was immortalized as the first trans person to get a wax figure in Madame Tussauds wax museum.”[5]
In the world of print media, Olympic icon, Bruce Jenner, graced the cover of Vanity Fair as Caitlyn Jenner in 2015.[6] This was later named cover of the year by the American Society of Magazine Editors.[7] Aydian Dowling, a 28-year-old trans man, was runner-up for the Men’s Health fitness cover competition.[8] And a photospread of transgender model Andreja Pejic was featured in Vogue magazine’s article, “Has the Fashion Industry Reached a Transgender Turning Point?”[9][10] In April of 2015, the Human Rights Campaign reported that two-thirds of all Fortune 500 companies offer explicit gender identity non-discrimination protections, and one-third offer transgender-inclusive health care benefits.[11] Moreover, in August of 2015, the White House appointed its first openly transgender staff member. According to the Washington Post:
Freedman-Gurspan “demonstrates the kind of leadership this administration champions,” Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to President Obama, said in an e-mailed statement confirming the appointment. “Her commitment to bettering the lives of transgender Americans – particularly transgender people of color and those in poverty – reflects the values of this administration.”[12]
No longer are alternative sexual expressions considered to be a private matter. Whether it be in government, business, or entertainment, transgenderism is regularly flaunted. It is now a public matter. As such, it has become an issue that Christians can no longer avoid addressing.
This article comes from Transitioning: A Biblical Understanding of Transgenderism.
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1. Williams, Joe. “Transgender Named as 2015 Word of the Year.” Pink News, November 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.pinknews.co.uk/2015/11/05/transgender-named-as-2015-word-of-the-year.
2. Griggs, Brandon. “America’s Transgender Moment.” CNN, June 1, 2015, n.d. Last updated June 1, 2015, 3:06 p.m., ET. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.cnn.com/2015/04/23/living/transgender-moment-jenner-feat.
3. Miller, Hayley. “Best of 2015: Transgender Visibility Continues to Break down Barriers.” Human Rights Campaign, December 9, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.hrc.org/blog/best-of-2015-transgender-visibility-continues-to-break-down-barriers.
4. Rich, Katey. “Transparent’s Emmy Wins Make Two Kinds of History.” Vanity Fair, September 20, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2015. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/09/transparent-emmy-win.
5. Taylor, Trey. “Why 2015 Was the Year of Trans Visibility.” Vogue magazine, December 29, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.vogue.com/13383474/2015-year-of-trans-visibility.
6. Bissinger, Buzz. “Caitlyn Jenner: The Full Story.” Vanity Fair, July 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2015/06/caitlyn-jenner-bruce-cover-annie-leibovitz.
7. Bacardi, Francesca. “Caitlyn Jenner’s Vanity Fair Issue Named Cover of the Year.” E News, June 1, 2015, 9:17 a.m. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.eonline.com/news/661816/bruce-jenner-makes-public-debut-as-a-woman-on-the-cover-of-vanity-fair.
8. Taylor, “Why 2015 Was the Year of Trans Visibility.”
9. Gregory, Alice. “Has the Fashion Industry Reached a Transgender Turning Point?” Vogue, April 21, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.vogue.com/13253741/andreja-pejic-transgender-model.
10. Griggs, Brandon. “America’s Transgender Moment.”
11. Halloran, Liz. “Survey Shows Striking Increase in Americans Who Know and Support Transgender People.” Human Rights Campaign, April 24, 2015. Accessed May 16, 2016. http://www.hrc.org/blog/survey-shows-striking-increase-in-americans-who-know-and-support-transgende.
12. Ohlheiser, Abby. “Meet the White House’s First Transgender Staffer.” News. Washington Post, August 18, 2015, 1:40 p.m, EDT. Accessed May 16, 2016. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2015/08/18/the-white-house-has-appointed-its-first-transgender-staffer.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.