Trans Spirituality

Trans Spirituality is a submissions-based and collaborative tumblog where trans-identifying, transitioning, and gender nonconforming folks share and explore the intersections of trans identity with spirituality. Please check out the List of Resources for learning more about trans folks in your faith or trans spirituality in general.

[wadey-wilson]

There’s a kid in my congregation. I’ve been waiting for him to come out since the first time I met him. His mom and his grandma had been waiting for him to come out since he was 4. He came out this year.

Queer Eye, season 5

[transmanconfessions]

trans christians?

Please tell me there are other devout Christians who are trans? I cant be the only one struggling with my faith and who i am.

[trans-spirituality]

Anyone out there who’d be open to talking with the person who submitted this to @transmanconfessions?

[elierlick]

This is revolutionary y’all. I remember being 13 and refused to go do any ceremony because my parents tried to force me to go through a bar mitzvah. By virtue of the masculine name alone I just couldn’t do it. After that, I felt very alienated from the Jewish community. Having this option is so important for us to repair these binary aspects of our culture (link)

[progressivejudaism]

The Orthodox Jew who became a gender-reassignment surgeon

“I’m at synagogue on Saturdays, but if my pager goes off, I drive in to the hospital, because saving a life supersedes the Sabbath. Many people I meet believe that my faith is at odds with my career. But my work allows me to practise the medicine that interests me while helping a marginalized community. I deal with patients who, by and large, have had negative experiences with hospitals and the health care system, and I give them the care they deserve. That is very much in line with my religious practice.”

[hannah-belle-lee]

Out of all the things I’ve received at pride parades, as a Christian, this one is my favorite.

[bluelucied]

@wigglyflippingout

[wigglyflippingout]

this is a damn good thing and i am proud it’s being handed out

[the-sunshine-cult-deactivated20]

Hey! @ our Christian followers, here’s a thing!

[hellyeahscarleteen]

The blue and green sheep seem particularly important if you’re an LGBT Christian and feel as though your faith has no place for you.

[tahnij-nikitins-deactivated2019]

Trans Pagan: Life at the Intersection of Faith and Gender Email for inquiries and submissions: [email protected] Megalithica Books, an imprint of Immanion Press (Stafford, U.K./Portland, OR, U.S.A) i…

In response to recent backlash against the trans community within the pagan community, a couple of publications are opening up to queer, gender queer, trans, intersex, and other marginalized gender populations within the pagan community.

“ This anthology examines the interesectionality of transgender lives and Pagan faith… The vision for this anthology is to include a combination of academic and personally inspired pieces that explore the experience of transgender lives within a Pagan context.”

Spreading this far and wide is appreciated. :)

[strawberreli]

Queer Muslim Masterpost

This post pretty much came about because I was asked if I had resources for Muslims who were discovering or newly coming to terms with their sexuality. I didn’t, and the poor advice I had to offer was … poor. So, I pulled up a few of the blogs I followed that are targeted towards queer Muslims, and put together this little post for you!

Queer Muslim Blogs:

QueerMuslims

IamNotHaraam

Ace-Muslim

AllahMademeQueer

Bekhsoos

ComingOutMuslim (check out their project here: [x])

YouKnow-You’reaQueermuslim-When

lgbtMuslim

InQueeries channel with Yusef Woof (contact [email protected])

Salaam Canada 

TheBisexualBangladeshi

Muslims Against Homophobia and LGBT Hate facebook group

Queer Muslim 101:

A quick gender/sexuality 101

Defining homonationalism and pinkwashing.

PDF:Homosexuality In Islam, by Scott Siraj al-Haqq Kugle (Intro + 1st Chap) Buy your own copy!

PDF:Muslim LGBT Inclusion Project, by Intersections International

Why Safe Spaces are Important

“I’m confused about my sexuality.”

“I need proof from Qur’an and Sunnah that I’m not Haraam.”

“What about the Qur’an and Hadith that chastise LGBT*Q Muslims?”

Some hadiths can be read in different ways, so it’s best to look at the outcome.

“Islam and LGBT* are not mutually exclusive.”

“But I was taught Islam was the most heterosexist religion.”  [tw: continuously moving background at the link]

“But all Muslims are homophobic!” (spoiler alert: you’re wrong.)

“But Muslims hate sex - it’s ~dirty~ to them!” (I would recommend this class for basic 101 on marriage and love [sex] in Islam. Take it with Basyouni.) (See also: x and x)

“Love the sinner, hate the sin, and why that’s bullshit.”

“Should I come out?” (spoiler alert: that’s up to you!)

“Is there a place for LGBT*Q Muslims?” (Or “There’s no place for LGBT*Q Muslims/no organisations/no hope.”)

“Will LGBT*Q Muslims go to hell?” (spoiler alert: I’m not God, how would I know?) 

“But it’s unnatural!” (lolk)

“There aren’t any gay Imams or Sheikhs, so you’re just making things up!” (Also here.)

“But no fatwa was made!” (It’s Wahabi.)

A post about other Sheikhs’ opinions.

“But there are no inclusive mosques for LGBT* Muslims!” (Just stop.)

There is no place for homophobia in Islam.

Let’s repeat that: There is no place for homophobia in Islam.

Ayahs that talk about Prophet Lut.

A closer reading of ayahs re: homosexuality (prev here but no longer).

See also: You decide how you interpret your religion.

Homosexuality in Sharia

Homosexuality in Predominately Muslim Countries

Predominately Muslim Countries who are taking steps toward equality. [x] [x]

Same-sex marriage

Queer Muslim Cinema: Azizah, Illuminations, Coming Out Muslim, A Jihad For Love, I Exist, Coming Out Muslim: Radical Acts of Love, Al-Nisa [BONUS: Show Al-Nisa and Red Summer (the producer) some love!], Circumstance, Naz + Maalik (Currently in production), Gay Muslims (a documentary produced by Channel 4 in the U.K), City of Borders, The Bubble, Out in the Dark (Palestinian and Israeli fall in love. facebook page).

Queer Muslim Literature: [x] [x] [Gaylaxy magazine] [Bareed Mista3jil] [Totally Radical Muslims Zine]

Desi LGBT*Q Hotline

Queer Pakistan LGBT*Q Voice and Support Group [and here is a news article]

Resources

A good thing to remember is to avoid the self-hatred phase, if you can. Focus on loving yourself, and realising that Allah made you just the way you are, and that you are loved. If this phase is unavoidable, here are some helpful sites:

Help! I’m losing my Islam

Feeling suicidal?

Suicide prevention

Supporting someone who self-harms

Suicide and Crisis Hotlines

Online Crisis Network (for those with anxiety which prevents them from talking on the phone)

If you are a student and would like to get Faisal Alam to speak at your uni, or to see if he is coming to your uni soon, click here.

If you would like to attend Faisal Alam’s 2013 Retreat for Queer Muslims and their partners, here is the facebook event, and here is more info. Register for the retreat here.

If you are from Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, or India and want to share your experiences (anonymously), please click here.

If you can spare some funds, help navigatethestream, a queer Muslim, become an Imam to help the Muslim LGBT* community!

Lastly, here is a link if you are NOT a queer Muslim, but want to be a good ALLY! (And here is another on how NOT to be a saviour!)

Muslim-Queer-Friendly Blogs:

Read More

[trans-spirituality]

[Image is a rainbow background with text which says: “If you’re struggling after learning about the new LDS Church policy on children of LGBTQ couples, and you need to talk to someone, please reach out.

Suicide Prevention Lifeline: [phone] Trevor Project: [phone] Trans Lifeline: [phone] Also, you can message me anytime.

YOU ARE LOVED. YOU ARE WANTED.”]

(Source)

This image is in response to Thursday’s announcement from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) adding a new rule that children of parents in a same-sex relationships are ineligible for baptism and other rites until they are no longer living with that parent/those parents and disavow them. Already in Utah, in these past 5 days, there has been a spike in people reaching out to crisis hotlines. Please, if you need to, reach out. There are so many people who love and support you.

[everyoneisgay]

Being Muslim and Trans

Anonymous asks:

“I grew up in a Muslim household. I’ve recently come to terms with being trans, and while I want to stay connected to my faith, I’m not sure how to reconcile my identity as a trans person with my identity as a Muslim.”

 —

Mahdia Lynn Says:

Mash'allah! What a blessing, to be Muslim and trans. Islam is such a beautiful and dynamic faith. And! Trans people are friggin’ awesome. Being a TRANS MUSLIM!? This is awesome. You are awesome. Yes.

It’s not all sunshine and roses, of course. Holding on to your faith while being “different” can be a real struggle—and being trans is a pretty big “different” to deal with. The highly normative, gender segregated culture that is so common can make navigating Muslim spaces a minefield of gender feels. And while a lot of people in the community are more accommodating and accepting of trans people than you’d think, it’s often the bigots who yell the loudest. 

That doesn’t mean Islam as a whole is unaccepting of transgender people. In fact, multiple well-respected scholars have ruled in favor of transgender people’s rights (like the Grand Mufti Muhammad Sayyid Tantawy of Al-Azhar, the oldest Islamic university in the world, who ruled in favor of modern transgender pioneer Sally Mursi in 1992) and many governments have followed suit (like when the Islamic Republic of Pakistan provided a “third gender” option on legal documentation in 2009 or how the Islamic Republic of Iran provides financial and legal support for its citizens undergoing transition ever since 1987). While the language we use to describe ourselves may change over time, gender variant people have existed since well before the time of the Prophet Muhammad(SAW) and Islam is a dynamic and diverse faith that makes room for all its followers—cis and trans alike.

Here are some strategies that have worked for Muslims like us: A lot of people choose to avoid the masjid* during the early stages of transition. Some start visiting a new mosque, making it easier to use the washroom without being clocked from that one nosy aunt who’s known you from birth. Still a great number of people—trans and cis—have begun creating our own spaces out of exhaustion and frustration with the heteronormativity of it all. LGBTQ friendly, gender-equal, and trans affirming Muslim space is becoming more and more accessible every day—if you’re near any kind of major city (or even some less-than-major ones), chances are there’s a family of queer & trans Muslims meeting up for coffee or having a potluck this Friday. If you can’t find a real-world community quite yet, the el-Tawhid Unity Mosque in Toronto Skypes its jummah services every Friday.

One of the many blessings of my life is that I have a great deal of transgender Muslim family to help field questions like this. Sitting back with such lovely friends last week I asked, “If you could give advice to a Muslim just coming to terms with being trans, what would you say?” It sparked a great conversation—inspiring and engaging, much like most of the conversations I have with such family—but it was what my gender-nonspecific-sibling Fatima said which sums everything up better than I ever could:

“Allah(SWT) doesn’t make mistakes and as such you are not a mistake. Your knowing in yourself is leagues more honest and mature, with wisdom and intelligence, than the things society says/thinks/enforces. Trust in yourself and Allah and make room for the process to learn yourself even though it may be long and confusing and sometimes painful.”

Our faith does not belong to the bigots. Whatever happens and wherever your path leads, there is family to have your back and provide support. The way society divides and stresses it can seem like there’s nobody else on the planet like you. But we’re here. Getting by in our own quiet ways, living out Islam as best we can. 

~

A glossary for some Muslim-y jargon used here:

- “Mash’allah” is a phrase that means something like “Allah has willed it,” used to express gratitude or happiness at a person or happening. 

- “masjid” is another name for a mosque, or Islamic community center.

- After the name of the Prophet Muhammad, out of respect Muslims often use the acronym “S.A.W.”, a shortening of the salawat, which translates to something like “may Allah grant peace and honor upon him and his family.” Similarly, after the name of God we can use the acronym “s.w.t.” which translates to “Glory to God, the Exalted.” 

- FUN FACT! The world “Allah” is just a literal Arabic translation of “God”—the same one Christians, Jews, and Baha’i pray to, to name a few faiths in the diverse dynamic family of monotheistic religions. 

***

Click through to read more about Mahdia and our other contributors!

[mattstransition]

How has the Jewish community been through your transition?

Super super amazingly supportive! I was fortunate enough to grow up and graduate highschool in the SF Bay Area, and my congregation there is very liberal and reform. I have found lots of support through my synagogue including additional family, and can always ask one of the Rabbi’s for advice. In fact, one of our Rabbi’s is a lesbian woman married to her partner with two adorable adopted children! So in that way, it was always a safe space for LGBT kids growing up. I have heard of a significant number of Trans friendly synagogues throughout the Bay Area and beyond, and several trans Rabbi’s as well! If you are interested, check out the website transtorah .org :)

[trans-spirituality]

How Witchcraft Is Empowering Queer and Trans Young People | VICE | United States

"There is no one way to be a witch," says Mey Rude, who left the Catholic church after coming out as trans. "It's a really freeing identity."

[trans-spirituality]

Transgender Woman Barred From Tempe Mosque Unless She Dresses as a Man or Can "Prove" She's a Woman

Leaders of a Tempe mosque have decided that if congregant Sumayyah Dawud wants to continue attending prayers and other community functions at the Islamic Community Center, she must either dress and pray as a man or provide medical documentation proving she is anatomically female. Though Dawud was born male, she...

“This is an issue that most of the Muslim population doesn’t address [even though] it’s not always clear cut where a person fits in,” says Ani Zonneveld, president of the board of directors of Muslims for Progressive Values, a nonprofit built around the belief that “Islam is inherently progressive, inclusive, and egalitarian.” She’s not surprised to hear about Dawud’s difficulty and calls transgender issues an example of “nuanced, spiritual human rights that are not being addressed by mainstream Islam.” Zonneveld thinks it’s the Muslim community’s responsibility to accommodate Dawud because “bottom line: she’s a Muslim and she’s entitled to pray at a mosque . . . That’s her God-given right. There should not be any discrimination — [especially] discrimination in the name of religion.” At MPV mosques, everyone “prays Mecca-style” — not necessarily segregated by gender — so that “people can pray where they feel most comfortable,” Zonneveld says. “It takes off the pressure of a transgender person having to ask ‘where must I stand?’” But since there are only a handful of MPV mosques, many, like Dawud, are left dealing with mainstream religious institutions.

[transqueermediaexchange-deactiv]

Transgender Catholics Can't Be Godparents, Vatican Says

Alex Salinas, a 21-year-old Spanish transgender man, was denied his request to become his nephew's godfather by the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

[trans-spirituality]

The Spanish Observatory Against LGBT Phobia, a Spanish LGBT rights group, called the church's initial decision not to allow Salinas to become a godparent "ethically reprehensible."

[trans-spirituality]

Transgender parishioner says Lafayette's Flatirons church barred her from women's events

A transgender woman from Boulder alleges that Jim Burgen, lead pastor at the evangelical Flatirons Community Church in Lafayette, has barred her from women's events at the church because she lives in a "broken body" that was "betrayed" by sin.

[trans-spirituality]

The Road to Pride: Supporting My Transgender Daughter

My newly turned 12-year-old child walks into the room trembling and crying. This is going to be huge. I wondered if I was going to be able to handle ...

[ftmconfessions]

4973) My best friends mom keeps posting "God made you in his image" photos to my facebook. But I still identify as a Christian despite being FTM. This is the worst pain I've ever felt..

[trans-spirituality]

Any words of encouragement for him?

[trans-spirituality]

I just want to ask as I'm preparing a talk for a pagan festival (as a transgender pagan myself), what inspires trans people to participate in a religion? Are there places where trans people are welcomed by religious leaders? Does anyone feel close to a particular path or deity?

Followers, any thoughts you’d like to share?