In the News – Light in the Closet

Editors Note:

The following posts are intended as informational and not a declaration of support or condemnation of the news, articles, or events listed. It is important to understand the world we liive in in order to make sound personal and biblical choices. These few articles are gleened from the website to help educate. Always take any information offered with “a grain of salt” understanding that stories, or news items, are always presented from an individual’s world view and received through the filters of our own personal world views. The challenge is to find nuggets of truth by sifting through the editorializing. If you completely agree with a story, ask yourself why? If you find a story offensive, again ask why? One of the blessings of being transgender is to understand the middle ground; to attempt to be a healer of a world that is increasingly polarized.

– Light in the Closet

Take a Stand Against Christian Nationalism

By Randi Klein

March 11, 2025

It has been disheartening to see how so many Christian congregations have strayed away for the teachings of Jesus. The litmus test for a Christian has been, and should always be, the fruits of the Spirit cited in Galatians: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The greatest of these being Love.” Yet so many of our churches are pushing agendas of intolerance based upon a worldview they believe to be Christian that does not reflect the fruits of the spirit. A spirit of fear, division, and hate predominates the thinking of what it means to be a Christian. They teach that some of God’s children, God’s own creation, are deemed to be sinful and unworthy — even seen as the enemy. Creating an enemy to attack is a trick of a leadership that wants to control an agenda. It gives congregants a singular objective that unifies them around a common hate, usually one that promotes their own worldview while feeding their fears. Since they are not like “those people” these “pew-warmers” can, by contrast, feel better about themselves. This has the unfortunate result of validating their own lifestyle choices and so lowering the Christian standard of love Jesus calls us to. Love turns into hate and this hate is directed at those whose lifestyles, life-choices, or challenges they don’t understand.

Lately the transgender community has been under unprecedented and vicious attacks. Trans people have been ridiculed and held up as the new target of hate and exclusion by many fundamental Christians. One must ask the question, “Why the transgender?” Most of those who see trans people as the enemy had only heard the word “transgender” just a few short years ago. How does such a small group of people, who simply want to exist, become the target of so much hatred and opposition? The fact that the group is small is the reason they make such a desirable target. This has always been the game plan of the bully: find the weakest person (or group) to attack. The attack ads against Kamala Harris in the 2024 election focused specifically on the transgender community with the assumption that a trans person does not have the right to exist, and that their very existence is somehow a threat to Christian morality. (See the article on this website “Nurture, Nature, Choice”) Unfortunately hate feeds on hate and the more the Christian Nationalists promote an agenda of fear and hate, the more it will take hold. Below is an excerpt from a website that deals with Christian Nationalism: “Evangelicals for Democracy”.

“The Bill of Rights guarantees the same freedom of religion for all people, and the Christian faith must affirm those democratic principles. These mutual rights are the essence of the Golden Rule of civic life. Christian nationalism threatens both the Christian faith and our country. It’s time to learn what Christian nationalism is and how you can stand up for democracy.” – Find out more

IN THE NEWS…

There is a lot of political activity surrounding the trans community. It can (and does) feel overwhelming. The temptation to hide and binge-watch Netflix’s is very real and compelling. Although our future may look bleak and those opposing our very existence appear to be in control, we cannot give up hope. For there is hope. We have the hope born from our loving and accepting community. We have the hope of the undeniable truth and reality that we do exist. We have existed for thousands of years and will continue to do so. Jesus understood this. He equated nature, nurture, and choice as being ALL valid. He even elevates choice above “nature” (born that way) and “nurture” (made that way). Jesus declares, “Some have chosen to be that way (outside of polarized gender model) for the purposes of the Kingdom of Heaven.” (paraphrased)

So hang in there baby! We need to be here, and we need to support each other. Check out the events page for ways to connect with community. Below are some links to articles that we need to know about, so we can give a response worthy of our calling.

ARTICLES POSTED MARCH 2025:

Transgender People Applying for Jobs Could Face Jail Time Under Texas Bill – LINK

Bill proposed in Texas could charge transgender people with ‘gender identity fraud’ – LINK

Trump Agencies Deny Threatening Transgender Care-Related Funding – LINK

200-Foot Transgender Flag to Make Its Debut at Utah State Capitol – LINK

I’m a transgender veteran. Trump’s military order is reckless and dangerous – LINK

Protesters rip into second S.F. spa over transgender policy – LINK

Dems’ growing divide over trans rights, DEI – LINK

Trump Doubles Down on Lie, Says Government Funded ‘Transgender Surgery on Mice’ – LINK

South Dakota: Bill policing transgender people’s bathroom choice passes state Senate – LINK

Two Transgender Girls, Six Federal Agencies. How Trump Is Trying to Pressure Maine Into Obedience. – LINK

Transgender Women Pray for Pope Francis’ Recovery – LINK

Pauli Murray Center denounces removal of queer, transgender references from Murray’s federal website – LINK

Judge to hear arguments on Pentagon’s transgender service member ban – LINK

Texas Republican bill would make simply being transgender a felony – LINK

All the ways Donald Trump wants to exclude transgender people from public life – LINK

Public hearing largely draws criticism of GOP bills focused on transgender students – LINK

By Trans Legislation Tracker

November 2024

In 2024, anti-trans bills continue to be introduced across the country. We track legislation that seeks to block trans people from receiving basic healthcare, education, legal recognition, and the right to publicly exist. We’re tracking 662 bills in 2024, more than any other year on record. That makes this the fifth consecutive record-breaking year for total number of anti-trans bills considered in the U.S.

An unprecedented 80 bills are being considered at the federal level as the targeting of trans people increasingly moves to the national stage. Read more…

READ HERE

Megan Rohrer Lawsuit

Posted on Reddit

July, 2023

Megan Rohrer, PhD and DMin, is a social justice influencer known for their advocacy with the homeless and LGBTQ communities who has been featured on Netflix’s Queer Eye, Cosmo, People and publications around the globe. His latest book, Trans Theology Without Apology won the International Impact Book Award.

The lawsuit brought by Megan Rohrer (former bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod) against the ELCA and the Sierra Pacific Synod (SPS) was settled out of court a number of months ago. While the SPS did announce the existence of the lawsuit when it was first filed, we haven’t heard anything about it from the Synod since that time, and certainly nothing about the fact that the lawsuit was settled or how much the SPS had to pay and/or how much was covered by insurance.. Read more…