The Session (our church board) issued the following call to action in May 2023. Since then, the concerns have only increased. We have also started a letter writing campaign at our congregation. We invite you to join us in pursuing justice for our young neighbors.
2023 A Call to Action in Support of Transgender Youth
Northside Presbyterian Church, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Background
Legislative attacks on LGBTQIA+ persons, and particularly transpersons, are a rising concern across the country. As of May 12, 2023, there are 474 anti-LGBTQ bills that the ACLU is currently tracking. There are only four states that have not yet had to engage in these issues in the legislature this year.
Of these bills, 125 are around issues of transgender health care. Thirty-three US states have had bill proposals to their legislature that target healthcare for transpersons. Critically, as of May 15, 2023, 14 states have enacted laws that restrict or ban medical care related to the transgender identity of trans youth. The Human Rights Campaign confirms that 30.5% of the U.S. population of high school aged youth live in states that have passed bans on gender affirming care.
In the state of Michigan, where our congregation is, there are four anti-LGBTQ bills advancing in the state legislature, including one that would criminalize medical assistance (including use of hormonal medications) in transitioning or maintaining a transition to persons under the age of 18.
Statement and Call to Action
Laws that forbid medical care for transgender youth inflict mental, physical, and emotional suffering. Such laws are acts that Jesus decries in Matthew 25:41-46. Jesus reminds us that we must not ignore the needs of the vulnerable, and that we are judged for our inaction in such situations.
Therefore, we implore all those committed to the PC(USA) Matthew 25 initiative, as well as all our siblings in the Christian faith, and all those who seek to love their neighbors regardless of religious beliefs to:
- Contact your legislative representatives at all government levels to oppose these proposed repressive laws and to rescind such laws that already exist.
In addition to this urgent action, we invite consideration to:
- Reduce your personal or institutional financial support of states that have enacted harmful laws. For example, consider changing vacation plans; if you are able, contact businesses and chambers of commerce and legislators to let them know the reason why you are taking your business, investments, and financial spending elsewhere.
For communities of faith that seek to provide positive actions as well as cease harm, we encourage congregations to:
- Offer public witness that shows trans youth that they are loved and supported by your community of faith.
- Continue to provide or start seeking educational opportunities for deepening your understanding of LGBTQIA+ identities.
- Support national and your local organizations that provide care and services to LGBTQIA+ youth.
We believe that these actions affirm the love of God for all persons and are expressions of the faith to which we are called in Jesus Christ.
Faithfully,
The Session of Northside Presbyterian Church,
Ann Arbor, Michigan,
May 18, 2023
LINKS AND SUGGESTED RESOURCES – See Endnotes
National
Suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ youth and ally-training resources: the Trevor Project https://www.thetrevorproject.org/
Regional to Southeast Michigan
The Jim Toy Community Center: Supporting the Washtenaw County LGBTQIA+ Community since 1993.
Ozone House — the only agency in Washtenaw County (Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and the surrounding areas) that provides free, confidential, and voluntary shelter and support services to homeless youth including runaways and high-risk youth ages 10-20 and their families.
https://ozonehouse.org/how-we-help/lgbtq-support/
Denominational
More Light Presbyterians: Following the risen Christ, and seeking to make the Church a true community of hospitality, the mission of More Light Presbyterians is to work for the full participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people in the life, ministry and witness of the Presbyterian Church (USA) and in society.
Covenant Network of Presbyterians: Confident in God’s hopeful future and grateful for the ever-widening welcome of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), the Covenant Network of Presbyterians seeks an equity still not fully realized for LGBTQIA+ people in church and society, by: Engaging the church to invite all of God’s children into safe and welcoming congregational spaces of affirmation, healing, dignity and purpose; Educating the church to expand our welcome of LGBTQIA+ people, to affirm their gifts for ordained office, and to uphold marriage equality for all; and Equipping the church to bear witness to justice through advocacy and activism at the international, national and local church levels; speaking a prophetic word in anxious and divided times; and standing with others in fighting hate and oppression against any of God’s children. The Covenant Network of Presbyterians calls the church to bear a unified witness to generous hospitality and faithful justice.
