THE TRANSGENDER "SISTA" AMONG US: CHAOS OR COMMUNITY?
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blackwomenblowthetrumpet.blogspot.com at 1:55 PM
http://blackwomenblowthetrumpet.blogspot.com/2008/07/transgender-sista-among-us-chaos-or.htmlThe church folks who read this blog who know me personally have noticed from my visitors at church that I have a few transgender friends. I never set out to find transgender friends, but life has a way of bringing us into situations that are intended to teach us. My transgender friends have always created a huge scene whenever they show up in church. People seem to become nervous and afraid when seeing transgenders. I think that our natural instinct is to fear whatever we do not understand. There is a blog that addresses transphobia. Click here to read the writings of a 30-something transwoman.
I came into the transgender community while serving God. I began meeting people in communities that I entered who were transgender. As I was ministering, friendships were formed. One person I was close to was dying of AIDS and was hospitalized. When I came to the hospital in my clergy garment, I entered the hospital room and those who did not know me were staring at me. I walked through the door and smiled at everyone saying: "Is there room for more love in here? I've brought some." The transgender community embraced me and welcomed me. When my friend died of AIDS, the funeral was filled with transgender "sistas". I walked up to the casket, looked into the casket at my friend and said out loud, "I'll see you later." It was an affirmation that I wanted my friend's mother to hear, that I truly believed I would see her child in Heaven when I got there. I spoke to the sister of my friend and told her how much her sibling had mattered in my life.
