A plea for acceptance of diversity

On Tuesday, May 16, 2017, the Alaska State Legislature in joint session voted on confirmation of 98 appointees to state positions by Governor Bill Walker. 97 received confirmation. One failed to receive the required majority vote. Drew Phoenix failed to receive the required vote. Drew was tabbed by Governor Walker to serve on the commission that protects human rights. Drew is a male transgendered person, who was born a female.

I read of the rejection in the news on May 17. I was enraged at yet another expression of transphobia. A majority of the members of the Alaska State Legislature are dominated by fear, ignorance or simple bigotry, possibly all three.

Over 45 years ago as the pastor of an American Baptist Church, I became aware of the presence of gay persons in my congregation. I was ignorant of the phenomena. I set out to educate myself. Over a period of time, I learned that gay people in our Christian congregations were not few but many. I also learned that I had to find words to describe what I found. Gay in my vocabulary became a very broad term that makes room for great diversity. My vocabulary went through expansion. Transgender is only the latest tern to enter public vocabulary and for an odd reason. The use of public restrooms.

My purpose in writing this column is not to explore the various forms of sexuality that have come to my attention. Rather it is to make a plea for people (and especially Christians) to accept what is outside of our own sexual experience.

When in graduate school I was exposed to Rogerian psychotherapy. I became convinced that pastoral counseling was primarily an exercise in listening. Counseling was not advice giving, but listening. Hopefully, I have been a good listener to those who have come to me for help. In the process I have heard stories that were outside of my own experience. Over and over an accepting ear was what was needed by deeply troubled parishioners. Over and over I was the first person to hear a gay person say “Pastor, I am gay.” Every story took me into foreign territory. I am thoroughly heterosexual, physically and emotionally.

I have now listened to stories of several persons, who identify themselves as transgendered. I have listened and have read. I confess that I do not understand because their experience is clearly outside of my own. However, because of the Christian gospel, education and listening, I have no problem accepting transgendered persons as close friends, fellow Christian believers, and partners in ordained Christian ministry, The key is listening and accepting the integrity of the witness of transgendered persons.

The common theme that runs through their stories is simple. They have a body that says they are of a particular gender. Their feelings and emotions tell them a different story. My best understanding of the phenomenon is a picture given to me by a transgendered person. IT IS LIKE LOOKING IN A MIRROR AND SEEING SOMEONE YOU KNOW YOU ARE NOT.

I offer some random facts. There is a confirmed 150,000 transgendered persons living in the United States. However, that number is believed to be much larger. Transgendered persons hide their identity with great skill. They hide their identity for social acceptance and personal safety. They hide from family and hide especially from churches and ministers. Many marry, father children or bear children. They live a lie and do not come out of their closets, many times until after many years of dysfunctional marriage. The suicide rate among transgendered persons is eleven times that of the general public.

I write from the perspective of a devout follower of the peasant teacher from Nazareth in Galilee. I consider myself a serious disciple of Jesus of Nazareth. No clear minded student of the life and teachings of Jesus can deny that Jesus collected a diversity of followers. He had a special affinity for the stranger and the disenfranchised. Sexual and/or gender identity were not issues at the time when Jesus was teaching in northern Palestine. However, I cannot imagine Jesus offering anything but a helping hand and a friendly ear to gay people in a modern world.

In my years of listening to stories, I have not found weird persons who somehow deserved rejection. I have found friends, who need a welcoming embrace and a friendly ear.

As a clergyperson I take seriously my responsibility to speak truth to power. I have friendly relationships with both my state representative and my state senator. When they return from their session in Juneau (our state capital), they can expect a visit from this Baptist minister. I urge other clergy to do the same. Our gay friends have suffered enough indignities from ignorant legislators.

The Rev. Howard Bess is a retired American Baptist minister, who lives in Palmer, Alaska. His email address is hdbss@mtaonline.net.