My wife and I have been discussing the need to be part of support groups. I will preface this by saying we are both Christians. She would like to find Christians who have transgender support groups. I have managed to find two in my area, but reading through the sites it became very, very apparent that the groups are centered on conversion therapy and not actually helping people who are transgender. They use words like "delusion" when referring to gender dysphoria.
I'm afraid this is going to be a VERY uphill battle. I see being transgender as being more akin to a medical condition than a spiritual condition. I welcome the thoughts and input of fellow Christians, but don't necessarily feel it is a requirement. If I needed treatment for colon cancer, my criteria for a support group would not be focused on matters of faith. It would be centered on finding people experiencing and living with colon cancer.
I read through some of the "testimonials" of the people supposedly "healed" by these groups and they all center on things like having been sexually abused as children and blame being transgender on that. While I am sure that some transgender people have been abused as children, I have had no such abuse and had a pretty normal and safe childhood.
I am discouraged by the idea that many seem to have that being transgender is caused by some abuse or experience early in life. My struggles with gender dysphoria go back to my earliest memories. And, though it would be anecdotal, I can attest that HRT has very positive effects for me and corrects something in me.
I guess I am just venting and kind of rambling a bit, but I feel frustrated. I feel a bit betrayed by the faith community I have been a part of for decades. I know if I go to any church affiliated groups I can expect rejection.
