“Do you think your mama thought when you were born you would grow up to be a pervert?” Fundamentalist protester near parade

“What do you say to those who ask how God could make you perfect but you want to change your gender and mess with what God created?” Honest question from the audience to a transgender panelist at a Pride Sunday church service

Behind both of these statements I find several misconceptions about God’s creation - the first being "perfection."

Many of us who grew up in Sunday School were taught that God, “made us in the womb.” Job 31:15. See also Isaiah 44:24, Jeremiah 1:5 Meant to comfort us with how much God cares about every hair on our heads, it resulted in oppressing us - "If a perfect God created me, how could I be so imperfect?" We come to believe that if there is some variation outside the norm then the person is broken, ill, or willfully damaging what God must have created "perfectly."

"Perfect" in context

The statements also assume that God stops creating the person at the moment of birth. Perhaps their understanding is that “perfect” means “complete” in the sense of “with no need for change or further effort.”

This misconception takes 37 seconds of thought to correct. Is it not perfectly obvious that the growth begun in the womb continues for twenty or more years, and then slower changes happen continuously until death?

"Creation" in context

The fundamentalist quoted above was not just a victim of poor theology. He was actually making a moral judgment when he presumes that the only definition of homosexuality and transgenderism is “perversion” based on chosing an immoral behavior or lifestyle.

Extreme fundamentalists (in Christianity and other religions as well) who don’t really care what the nature or cause is, define the very concept of homosexuality or gender deviation as “evil” and condemn it to eradication. Some of these take judgment into their own hands by bombing gay bars, lynching perceived homosexuals, beating and murdering transgendered people, imprisoning, castrating, and the latest torture of super-gluing shut the anus of suspected Gay men to let them die of septic poisoning.

"Moral Failing" in context

Homosexuality is not an allergy which can be avoided by removing the presumed causes (lust) or treating the symptoms (by repressing physical expression).

Suppression of something as fundamental as sexuality and gender identity has proven highly damaging and self-destructive. Living in the closet of self-denial and social condemnation leads to psychological trauma, severe stress, acting-out with dangerous behaviors (such as drug abuse and unsafe sexual practices), and suicide.

Sexuality in context

Certainly, a day at the Pride Parade showed me a shift towards acceptance and celebration of diversity. The detractors quoted at the top of the article were 13 people strong and not even allowed on the parade route this year. However, the young people congregating in their area were completely unphased by the ranting.

One teenager had written in marker pen across his chest, "I'm straight but you can kiss me anyway."

I think what I heard one fellow say sums it up, “Get over yourself, Mary, it’s just life.”

Pride in context