This past Monday, President Obama described new federal guidelines on school bathrooms that were recently unveiled. Designed to prevent bullying of transgender students, these new federal guidelines require public schools to allow transgender students to use the restroom and locker rooms that correspond to their chosen gender. And by invoking the sex discrimination law known as Title IX, the new rules carry with them the threat of federal enforcement — including a loss of federal education funds, USA Today reports.
Lining up in opposition to these new guidelines are state officials who feel their rights as states are being trampled. Additionally, religious and conservative leaders are concerned that these guidelines will lead to abuse and a less safe environment for all students, regardless of their gender.
Sadly, overreaction on both sides prevents helpful conversation. No matter what your political or religious leanings, most of us want to prevent bullying. Most of us want our children to feel safe from discrimination and fear. Most of us want dignity and protection for the rights of others, even if we don’t fully understand their point of view.
Transgender, Transsexual, or Transvestite?
Personally, I’ve been trying to understand these concerns from both sides to better serve those in my care. One key mistake both sides seem to be making is confusing “transgender” with “transsexual” or “transvestite.” These words, though similar, describe very different realities.
Transvestite persons are those who choose to dress as someone of the opposite sex, in doing so, they are choosing to behave and look as someone of the other gender. Transsexual persons are those who, while they have no chromosomal abnormalities, choose to have either gender reassignment surgery and/ or hormone therapy to help them more fully feel and appear like someone of the opposite sex. Both of these choices are described by Scripture as sinful; done willfully (like any willful, repetitive, unrepented sin) they threaten to eternally separate us from our Creator.
Genuinely transgender people, I’ve come to learn, are generally embarrassed by all this discussion. They deeply desire privacy concerning this intimate and personal issue. Apparently, about 0.3% of all babies born today are born without fully formed sexual organs. Often, delivery doctors in the past have made surgical changes based upon which was the easiest surgical “fix” without first conducting a chromosome test. This can lead to individuals whose sexual organs do not match their XX or XY chromosomal makeup; this is not a matter of individual choice or sin. These individuals are also not threats to others in the bathroom, as some suggest; there is a 0% correlation between pedophilia and true transgenderism. Frankly, as a matter of personal dignity and equality, I would suggest that we as Christians should be among the first to seek protection, dignity, security, and equality for the 0.3% of genuinely transgender students seeking to use the bathroom without bullying or embarrassment.
On the other side of the issue, those who have highly valid concerns about bathroom safety. Men — with sinful and deviant understandings of their sexuality — have taken advantage of younger children even in public bathrooms; there are numerous examples of this happening, even while watchful parents waited for their children outside. To dismiss these concerns seems short-sighted, unsafe, and even dangerous; one can understand why some states are even attempting to pass laws in this regard to safeguard what they rightly understand to be the safety of all children.
Useful Verse
There’s a useful Bible verse I’ve been turning to more frequently whenever I’m challenged to grow in a new direction. It’s this one:
“Perfect love drives out fear.” (1 John 4:18)
Looking back on my life, some of my worst decisions have been made in anxiety or fear… both of which seem very common today. As we become more aware of the needs and concerns of those around us, in Christ — who first loved us — our first reaction can also be love. This means a loving desire to understand those who have a different point of view… and loving and respectful opposition should we completely disagree. This is certainly not easy, but nothing is gained by demonizing and marginalizing others. Just like Jesus, we are invited to still show love with boundaries, having real, difficult, and messy conversations with everyone.
As I wrestle with these issues in a broken and fallen world, I’ve found myself, in moments of confusion, stress, or pain “editing” my words and actions more and more, asking the Holy Spirit, “Is this the most loving thing Christ wants me to do?” I’ve also found that more I reflect on Jesus’ love — a love that took God Himself to the cross and the empty tomb for you and for me — the less and less I tend to respond in anxiety and unhealthy fear to the things of this life.
Compromise
Being wise people of peace in times of anxiety is one of the best ways that we can — by the Spirit’s power — demonstrate God’s gracious and generous love for all. Thankfully, in this area there appears to be an area of unity and compromise, should both sides choose to take it.
Single-use bathrooms with a lock easily secure privacy and security for all, regardless of their personal choices, gender, or age. Here at St. Philip Church & School we even have a single-use locking bathroom on our campus that we could voluntarily and easily adapt with proper signage, should anyone in our community or school request or require it. Perhaps that would even be the generous and loving thing to do, even if it is never requested.
Hopefully, mature leaders on both sides of this issue will work towards healthy compromises like this instead of seeking to stir up fear for political or religious gain.
Grant this love, Lord, unto us all.
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