Outed By My Pastor

[Gina Taylor]

Religious folk crack me up.  I've never seen so much intolerance from people who claim to be all about love.

You're absolutely right, Anna. Jesus promoted love and if these churches had their way they'd run me out for silly things such as using the ladies room, which I've only used maybe four times. If I had never stepped foot into the ladies room, I wonder if we'd be having this problem? Unfortunately since the damage is done, I can't present a letter to my pastor excusing my actions, nor do I want to make a spectacle of the situation.

[Amy1988]

Just had a meeting with my pastor from a Baptist church. He first went over the standard things like if I'm going to die, how do I know that I'm going to heaven, and then he surprised me and told me that he knows that I'm a cross-dresser. But at least it doesn't bother him, because he's been watching me over the past few weeks and he's noticed that I'm not trying to glamorize myself but am just looking for my space when I'm there. Then he told me that some of the women from the congregation have said something to him about me using the washrooms, so I'll have to refrain from using those.

Now I've been going to this church for the past four months and I really thought everything was going well and that I was accepted as a 'woman'. Guess I was wrong.    I guess I'll still attend the women's bible study, since I'm still a part of that group. The only thing that really puzzles me is how he found out my male name. 

People of faith, particularly Christians and Muslims  are the most bigoted human beings on earth which is odd since the bible strictly prohibits placing ones self in judgement of others.  Religion seems to attract these kinds of people who have some sort of pathological need to feel superior over others.  It's like that bigot so called pastor Phil Robertson who lashed out against gays for being sinners when in fact it's no more or no less a sin than any of the other sins EVERYONE of US including Robertson commits every single day.  If Phil Robertson thinks he is going to heaven he is going to be in for one hell of a surprise.

[Sheala]

Good morning Gina. First i want to say that i am sorry that your congrigation are acting the way that they are. I am as well a member of a babptist church, I however started there before I came out....  I came to my pastor before he married me and my wife. He is very accepring of me as well of my marraige. I know that i will not get the same acceptance from the congrigation however. I cant answer if i will ever go in fem or continue my ando look through out my time here.

I want to commend you in your commitment to jesus and recomend a book that you may find intrest in. it is "the Gay Gospels" by Keith Sharpe. im in the middle of it and it is giving my some insite into how most christians tweak the word to fit there wants.

[Gina Taylor]

I spoke with my pastor yesterday about our meeting and he told me that he's known that I'm a transsexual since day one, and that he found out my male name from my bible study leader. He tells me that my lifestyle is between God and me, even though the church doesn't accept it, but they have no problem with it. He told me that if I have a problem with a person, it's with that person and not with the church, and that they will not judge me because of they way I am. 

[Sheala]

I spoke with my pastor yesterday about our meeting and he told me that he's known that I'm a transsexual since day one, and that he found out my male name from my bible study leader. He tells me that my lifestyle is between God and me, even though the church doesn't accept it, but they have no problem with it. He told me that if I have a problem with a person, it's with that person and not with the church, and that they will not judge me because of they way I am. 

Well thats is a step in the right direction. and it only goes to show that even when we think we pass. it may not be as well as we imagion. it makes me wonder how so many see me the way i am and dont say a word.......

[Gina Taylor]

Well thats is a step in the right direction. and it only goes to show that even when we think we pass. it may not be as well as we imagine. it makes me wonder how so many see me the way i am and dont say a word.......

Very interesting thought there Sheala, and it's probably something that we all take for granted as well, but at times I wonder how many people see me the way I am and don't say a word.

[Gina Taylor]

Yesterday, the assistant came over and greeted me at church and then a minute later he came back and he handed me  sheet of paper and told me to read it when I got home. I unfolded it and the first thing I  saw was the heading Deuteronomy 22:5 and then right below gave their definition of abomination.

[suzifrommd]

Yesterday, the assistant came over and greeted me at church and then a minute later he came back and he handed me  sheet of paper and told me to read it when I got home. I unfolded it and the first thing I  saw was the heading Deuteronomy and then right below gave their definition of abomination.

1. Transgender is not mentioned in the bible. Anyone who claims that the bible says anything at all about us is projecting their own beliefs on the bible.

2. Eunuchs, however, are mentioned in the bible. (Eunuchs are male-bodied people who have renounced their masculinity and allowed themselves to be castrated). Isaiah 56:4-5:

For thus saith the Lord unto the eunuchs that keep my sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and take hold of my covenant;

Even unto them will I give in mine house and within my walls a place and a name better than of sons and of daughters: I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off.

[Gina Taylor]

My goodness Gina I don't know what to say. I'm so sad that this happened. You really don't need these people in your life.

These people consider themselves to be good people? Shame on them.

I thought that they were good people as well, and I really thought that they wouldn't be judgmental! Boy was I wrong??? Because of this, they've just lost a member o ftheir congregation. My girlfriend has suggested on joining the Goodwill church which she is a member of, and their not judgmental. 

[Gina Taylor]

1. Transgender is not mentioned in the bible. Anyone who claims that the bible says anything at all about us is projecting their own beliefs on the Bible.

2. Eunuchs, however, are mentioned in the Bible. (Eunuchs are male-bodied people who have renounced their masculinity and allowed themselves to be castrated). Isaiah 56:4-5:

If you read the opening post Suzi, you'll see where the pastor called me a cross-dresser and I corrected him  and I told him that I am a transsexual. But he still refers to me as a cross-dresser because of his ignorance, and that's more or less what is refered to in the Bible. I'm writing a letter to him and I will make a point of mntion what you have said to him in my letter. Thank you for bringing it to my attention. 

[Shana-chan]

@Gina: A few things to mention here.

1. you can multi quote instead of multi post which I point this out because every forum I've ever been to has a rule about double, triple etc. (Multi posting) posting in a row.

2. If you REALLY want to learn more about religion, my best advice to you is to whip out a King James bible (Not the new) and read it from start to finish. Be prepared to A) Look up definitions like crazy and remember for the bible's definition, not the normal every day/today's what the word'(s) mean and B) be prepared to read it multiple times in a row. That's what I did, for nearly 5 whole years. While I can't point you to passages like others can, I certainly can tell you I know what's said in the bible and what's not. Likewise I know that other bibles that came after KJ bible have had their words edited to fit the times of now and sadly, that also came with altering in some words to make it sound like certain things were originally said when they never were. Such as how it mentions gay men doing it is an abomination (which doesn't mean it's a sin if you look up the definition of the word), but never says anything when it comes to women and not till new testament, does it say something that "might" can refer to it, but it doesn't say "it" specifically and could mean 1 of 2 other things besides that.

3. I suggest you re-read your posts in this thread from start to finish. I say this because you've made comments about how you're out full time, if someone's got a problem with you then that's their problem and so on, yet, you let them scare you away from the correct wash room.. Just food for thought and, don't let others decide who you are and what you can and can't do.

4. Yes, get away from that "church" as people like that, you don't want to be around. Best of luck!

[JLT1]

Hey Gina,

There is a recent topic on Deut 22:5 in the Christianity section with some good points.  You may wish to take a quick read thourhg that.

I am so sorry this happened.  This isn't the way it's suppose to be.  I don't know that I would want to belong to a church that is so ignorant and is not following Christ. 

Hugs,

Jen

[Gina Taylor]

@Gina: A few things to mention here.

1. you can multi quote instead of multi post which I point this out because every forum I've ever been to has a rule about double, triple etc. (Multi posting) posting in a row.

Thank you for advising this method.

2. If you REALLY want to learn more about religion, my best advice to you is to whip out a King James bible (Not the new) and read it from start to finish. Be prepared to A) Look up definitions like crazy and remember for the bible's definition, not the normal every day/today's what the word'(s) mean and B) be prepared to read it multiple times in a row. That's what I did, for nearly 5 whole years. While I can't point you to passages like others can, I certainly can tell you I know what's said in the bible and what's not. Likewise I know that other bibles that came after KJ bible have had their words edited to fit the times of now and sadly, that also came with altering in some words to make it sound like certain things were originally said when they never were. Such as how it mentions gay men doing it is an abomination (which doesn't mean it's a sin if you look up the definition of the word), but never says anything when it comes to women and not till new testament, does it say something that "might" can refer to it, but it doesn't say "it" specifically and could mean 1 of 2 other things besides that.

I am quite fluent with the King James version of the Bible and I do prefer  it to the NIV. I've been actually reading/ studying it for most of my life.

3. I suggest you re-read your posts in this thread from start to finish. I say this because you've made comments about how you're out full time, ift someone's got a problem with you then that's their problem and so on, yet, you let them scare you away from the correct wash room.. Just food for thought and, don't let others decide who you are and what you can and can't do.

They don't scare me, it's just certain rules or laws that I must follow. When I'm at a shopping mall, I have  no problems, but if I'm in a place where people know me and I have been told about not using the ladies room and if I still persist in using it, then that's just being disrespectful.

4. Yes, get away from that "church" as people like that, you don't want to be around. Best of luck!

[Gina Taylor]

Hey Gina,

There is a recent topic on Deut 22:5 in the Christianity section with some good points.  You may wish to take a quick read thourhg that.

I am so sorry this happened.  This isn't the way it's suppose to be.  I don't know that I would want to belong to a church that is so ignorant and is not following Christ. 

Hugs,

Jen

Thanks Jen for letting me know out that section. It should prove to be a good read.

[Shana-chan]

@Gina: You're welcome, hope I wasn't rude.

WOW! Awesome!

Oh how I dare the law to even try this and someone to step up and take action and so on, I just dare them to. If it happened to me, I got in trouble, if I can so help it, you better believe I'd try fighting for justice as much as I can and I'd sure as all hell point to sex discrimination as well as to the states such as CA that have had a law passed for trans people and no incident has happened thus far. Anyway, my point here is, it's not YOU who is being disrespectful, it is THEM who is being disrespectful to YOU! You are a woman whether you've had surgery or not! Plus, even AFTER the surgery I guarantee you, some will still not be ok with it. Are you REALLY going to let people ran over you like that, just because you were born a certain way? Are there not woman who are born with both genitals or even some woman born without either? Yes, there are and that doesn't make them any less of a woman so how come it's different for us? The answer is, it really isn't, just people are so dead set in the old ways and so on. Anyway, best of luck in the future and you do what you must as I do what I must.

[Gina Taylor]

@Gina: You're welcome, hope I wasn't rude.

Rude? I enjoyed the challenge.

WOW! Awesome!

Oh how I dare the law to even try this and someone to step up and take action and so on, I just dare them to. If it happened to me, I got in trouble, if I can so help it, you better believe I'd try fighting for justice as much as I can and I'd sure as all hell point to sex discrimination as well as to the states such as CA that have had a law passed for trans people and no incident has happened thus far. Anyway, my point here is, it's not YOU who is being disrespectful, it is THEM who is being disrespectful to YOU! You are a woman whether you've had surgery or not! Plus, even AFTER the surgery I guarantee you, some will still not be ok with it. Are you REALLY going to let people ran over you like that, just because you were born a certain way? Are there not woman who are born with both genitals or even some woman born without either? Yes, there are and that doesn't make them any less of a woman so how come it's different for us? The answer is, it really isn't, just people are so dead set in the old ways and so on. Anyway, best of luck in the future and you do what you must as I do what I must.

Thank you for realizing my strength  and even though the laws are different here in Florida, I still have to abide by them to a certain point. And one law is is that until I've had my SRS I am still considered a male and therefore I must use the male washroom, but when I'm out and as long as I'm passable enough I will use the women's washroom as I care to do so, unless someone says something to someone and makes a  fuss about it. But I just go in and do my business and that's it.

[ErinWDK]

Gina,

Is this a Southern Baptist Church?  I ask this as there are news items posted on this site about the SBC about to look at their position on trans* in their upcoming convention.  The idea proposed to be brought to the floor fits very well with my definition of abomination - they basically are proposing to take such an anti-trans* position as to make themselves a flat out hate group.

There are other Baptists and hopefully they will do better.

I also recommend looking past the sheet your church gave you about Deuteronmy 22:5.  The topic here has some good points, and there are others on the web.  If your church takes the simple read of many modern English translations on that verse it may be time to go somewhere else.


Erin

[Rachel]

Gina, sorry to hear about your recent church issues. I have been following the thread; I have no comment on religion. However, one thing is clear, you know who you are, you know when to hold and when to fold and you are one strong woman! There is one other thing, you treat trespassers much better than they treat you.

[Gina Taylor]

Gina, sorry to hear about your recent church issues. I have been following the thread; I have no comment on religion. However, one thing is clear, you know who you are, you know when to hold and when to fold and you are one strong woman! There is one other thing, you treat trespassers much better than they treat you.

Thanx Cynthia for your good words of comfort.  I'm not gonna let a pastor stand between my love for God and my true belief of myself.

Is this a Southern Baptist Church?  I ask this as there are news items posted on this site about the SBC about to look at their position on trans* in their upcoming convention.  The idea proposed to be brought to the floor fits very well with my definition of abomination - they basically are proposing to take such an anti-trans* position as to make themselves a flat out hate group.

There are other Baptists and hopefully they will do better.

I also recommend looking past the sheet your church gave you about Deuteronmy 22:5.  The topic here has some good points, and there are others on the web.  If your church takes the simple read of many modern English translations on that verse it may be time to go somewhere else.
Erin

Thanx for the interest Erin, but the church I've been attending is not a Southern Baptist Church. I'm just surprised that if the pastor has know that I'm a transsexual why would he wait six months to address me now. 

[Gina Taylor]

One day last week while I was in guy mode, I walked into a Dollar General store. I went down one aisle and a woman stopped me 'cos she claimed that she knew me from some where. She looked me over and it finally occurred to her where she knew me from. She was the leader of the bible study class from the church that I had been asked to leave. She'd always seen me as a woman, and she told me the first time she met me she thought I was a woman and that is why she showed me where the ladies rooms where.