Not in My Name: 6 Reasons This Cisgendered Woman Pastor Stands for Bathroom Just

[traci_k]

Not in My Name: 6 Reasons This Cisgendered Woman Pastor Stands for Bathroom Justice

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-ashley-harness/not-in-my-name-6-reasons-_b_9841684.html?utm_hp_ref=transgender

Huffington Post
Rev. Ashley Harness
Pastor at Lyndale United Church of Christ in Minneapolis; Director of Communications, Center for Progressive Renewal
May 4, 2016



As a Christian pastor and as a woman, I believe trans* and genderqueer people are made in the image of God. I've watched as people have claimed my faith as a tool of harm against my trans* and genderqueer siblings. I've watched as men claimed to protect me, while really using my safety as a pawn in political games. Not in my name — as a Christian or as a woman.

I stand in sacred solidarity and this is why:

1) The "bathroom bills" are Trojan horses: HB2 in North Carolina is getting tons of attention for gender policing, but as the Charlotte Observer notes, "The law limits how people pursue claims of discrimination because of race, religion, color, national origin, biological sex or handicap in state courts. The law also means a city or county cannot set a minimum wage standard for private employers." In other words, trans* and genderqueer folks are the lightning rod for this bill and many other across the country, but this is really about all of us on the margins being kept on the margins. And that means this is about thrwarting the realization of the Realm of God among us.
******************************************
Encouraging to see we have allies everywhere. Well written and some interesting perspectives and observations.

[suzifrommd]

Encouraging to see we have allies everywhere. Well written and some interesting perspectives and observations.

To be fair, UCC is known to be an LGBT friendly Christian denomination, so not surprising that a UCC cleric is coming out against HB2.