The Bible, Being Transgender and Me

By Meggan Sommerville, Thursday at 6:16 am

http://www.chicagonow.com/trans-girl-cross/2012/07/the-bible-being-transgender-and-me/

There was one verse that caused me great distress as I was growing up. It is the one verse that seems to be the most used by those opposed to the idea that someone can be transgender or those who believe that being transgender is a sin.  Deuteronomy 22:5 which says

"A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man, nor shall a man put on a woman's garment; for whoever does these things is an abomination to the LORD your God."

What many who use this verse against the trans community fail to do is to put this verse into the context of the era in which it was written.  At the time this book was written, the Israelite people were occupying a land that did not share in their belief of one true God.  The Canaanites believed in multiple gods and had many rituals surrounding them.  One of these rituals required men to dress as one of the goddesses and serve as prostitutes in her temple.  The prohibition in Deut. 22:5 addresses one of the most visible acts of pagan idol worship of the time.  God gave the law to create a separation between the Israelites and the pagan culture of the day.  By following the law, people of the day could plainly see that the Israelites were different and did not believe in their pagan gods.   When you put this verse into context, this law and many others from Deuteronomy have no context in today's world.