Discrimination

Gina Taylor · May 27, 2014, 12:37:16 AM

I went to church and I asked the choir director {who is also our pastor's wife} if I could join the choir. She told me that she would have to check it over with her husband first. If she's afraid of me standing out, I'll stand at the back. This shouldn't be a sexual thing, but all I wanna do is sing with the choir because I have developed a nice voice. Do you think I should bring to my pastor's attention about the pastor {Richard Zamortny} that had a sex change as a thing of common interest?

suzifrommd · May 27, 2014, 08:26:02 AM

Quote from: Gina Taylor on May 27, 2014, 12:37:16 AM
I went to church and I asked the choir director {who is also our pastor's wife} if I could join the choir. She told me that she would have to check it over with her husband first. If she's afraid of me standing out, I'll stand at the back. This shouldn't be a sexual thing, but all I wanna do is sing with the choir because I have developed a nice voice. Do you think I should bring to my pastor's attention about the two pastors that had sex changes as a thing of common interest?

You should be permitted to join the choir. I would bring this to the attention of the pastor. If the your church holds values that says that anyone "different" needs to be hidden, that is UNCHRISTIAN by any standard that any true Christian anywhere uses.

Gina Taylor · May 27, 2014, 06:27:49 PM

Quote from: suzifrommd on May 27, 2014, 08:26:02 AM
You should be permitted to join the choir. I would bring this to the attention of the pastor. If the your church holds values that says that anyone "different" needs to be hidden, that is UNCHRISTIAN by any standard that any true Christian anywhere uses.

Well like I said Suzi, the choir director is the pastor's wife, and she knows that I am a transsexual, but as said that shouldn't be an issue.

But I do agree with you that it is UNCHRISTIAN to hold my transsexuallity against me for wanting to sing in the choir.

Rayne · May 27, 2014, 06:33:09 PM

are you sure that's the cause? Based on "I went to church and I asked the choir director {who is also our pastor's wife} if I could join the choir. She told me that she would have to check it over with her husband first." there is no indicator that your gender is a problem. It could be that she wasn't sure if the pastor was accepting any more, or if you needed some kind of audition or something. There are many factors that could lead to wanting to ask the pastor. I'm not sure if it's necessarily discrimination, but the best of luck to you. ^^

Gina Taylor · May 27, 2014, 06:46:22 PM

Quote from: Rayne link=topic=165877.msg1436461#msg1436461 date=140123358heir9
are you sure that's the cause? Based on "I went to church and I asked the choir director {who is also our pastor's wife} if I could join the choir. She told me that she would have to check it over with her husband first." there is no indicator that your gender is a problem. It could be that she wasn't sure if the pastor was accepting any more, or if you needed some kind of audition or something. There are many factors that could lead to wanting to ask the pastor. I'm not sure if it's necessarily discrimination, but the best of luck to you. ^^

A few weeks ago, my pastor wanted to speak personally with me. It was about me using the ladies room, which I've refrained from doing, and then he told me that the congregation isn't 100% comfortable with having a MTF transsexual there, but I've been told that that is their problem not mine. So I'm just saying that I hope I'm not discriminated for being a transsexual and being allowed to join the choir.

Rachel · May 27, 2014, 07:47:09 PM

Gina, I am sending good thoughts your way in hopes things work out.

King Malachite · May 27, 2014, 08:00:07 PM

I wouldn't fault her for asking the pastor first since he is over the church and as his wife, she is supposed to submit to him in all things (Ephesians 5 22-23). Aside from that, I also wouldn't rule out the possibility that it's because of something else other than gender. I would just sit down with the both of them first and ask if they have any reservations about you singing on the choir.

Jessica Merriman · May 27, 2014, 09:27:13 PM

Quote from: Gina Taylor on May 27, 2014, 06:46:22 PM

A few weeks ago, my pastor wanted to speak personally with me. It was about me using the ladies room, which I've refrained from doing, and then he told me that the congregation isn't 100% comfortable with having a MTF transsexual there, but I've been told that that is their problem not mine. So I'm just saying that I hope I'm not discriminated for being a transsexual and being allowed to join the choir.

Gina if the Pastor asked you from refraining to use the ladies room there is your answer. He is either against you being trans or the congregation is pressuring him. I would find another accepting church, because this one is not obviously.

Gina Taylor · May 28, 2014, 12:46:25 AM

Quote from: Cynthia Michelle on May 27, 2014, 07:47:09 PM
Gina, I am sending good thoughts your way in hopes things work out.
[/quote]

Thanks Cynthia. Really appreciate it.

Gina Taylor · May 28, 2014, 12:51:43 AM

Quote from: Malachite on May 27, 2014, 08:00:07 PM
I wouldn't fault her for asking the pastor first since he is over the church and as his wife, she is supposed to submit to him in all things (Ephesians 5 22-23). Aside from that, I also wouldn't rule out the possibility that it's because of something else other than gender. I would just sit down with the both of them first and ask if they have any reservations about you singing on the choir.

If it comes to that I will. Very good suggestion, Malachite.

Gina Taylor · May 28, 2014, 12:59:11 AM

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on May 27, 2014, 09:27:13 PM
Gina if the Pastor asked you from refraining to use the ladies room there is your answer. He is either against you being trans or the congregation is pressuring him. I would find another accepting church, because this one is not obviously.

The pastor told me that he doesn't understand why, but he also told me that he's got nothing against me. That's between me and God. If the congregation was really pressuring him, they'd have me removed, but as long as I follow the rules, there's no problem.

Jessica Merriman · May 28, 2014, 01:29:35 AM

Rules that violate your right to live free and be who you are? This place does not accept you Gina. If they accepted you their would be no rules given to you. The others have no rules to be who they are. If the Pastor thought it was between you and G-D he would not have given you any rules at all. The rules are of man, not G-D. Sorry to be so blunt and I really don't mean to be, but Christians do not control others or have SPECIAL rules for just a few.

Gina Taylor · May 28, 2014, 03:48:25 PM

Quote from: Jessica Merriman on May 28, 2014, 01:29:35 AM
Rules that violate your right to live free and be who you are? This place does not accept you Gina. If they accepted you there would be no rules given to you. The others have no rules to be who they are. If the Pastor thought it was between you and GOD he would not have given you any rules at all. The rules are of man, not GOD. Sorry to be so blunt and I really don't mean to be, but Christians do not control others or have SPECIAL rules for just a few.

Very good point Jessica. If they accepted me, then the choir director would have taken me in with no questions asked. But because I've been identified as a transsexual, I must suffer for it. instead of being treated as an equal.

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Discrimination