An Open Letter for Easter and Trans Day of Visibility

Yesterday (March 31st) marked both the Trans Day of Visibility (an opportunity to celebrate transgender voices and raise awareness of issues facing trans folks) and Easter Sunday (a Christian holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus). As someone who is both transgender and a Christian, I found this to be a particularly profound pairing – particularly when we consider narratives of resurrection, oppression, and liberation. 

Jesus was a radical activist. He challenged the comfortable. He challenged the religious norms, and the beliefs people had. He asked people to become uncomfortable to make space for those who had been marginalized. For those who were oppressed. For those who were forgotten and ignored. He challenged those in power. 

Jesus, a radical activist, who was killed by the politicians, policies and enraged mobs of privileged people, died for living his truth. For being courageous enough to stand for what was right, despite the fact that it challenged how the vast majority of people lived and believed at the time. He stood with those on the margins and loudly declared “We ALL deserve to be here. We ALL deserve love and support and belonging. We are ALL children of God.”

The Easter story is powerful. In it, we are reminded that Jesus died for all people. More importantly, Jesus broke binaries, challenged systems of oppression, and stood with those who were most vulnerable. Jesus left a powerful new commandment – to love one another as Jesus loved us. 

It is time for a new resurrection – the resurrection of Jesus’ teaching. Far too often, the message coming from churches is one of hatred and oppression – the exact thing that Jesus fought against. Allied churches and people of faith need to be LOUDER. To be willing to take risks in the name of justice, to stand up for those who are vulnerable, and to fight against oppressive societal structures. 

This Easter and Trans Day of Visibility, we are called to celebrate the bravery and beauty of each person who commits to being visible, even in a world that does not accept them. We are called to affirm the dignity of every person. We are called to challenge violence of every kind. And we are called to be radical activists for justice, following in Jesus’ footsteps, overturning tables, holding those who do harm accountable, and working to create safer spaces for all to live as their full selves. 

In honour of this day of resurrection and liberation, let us take the words of the reverse St. Francis prayer (author unknown) to heart.

Lord, make me a channel of disturbance. 

Where there is apathy, let me provoke; where there is compliance, let me bring questioning; where there is silence, may I be a voice. Where there is too much comfort and too little action, grant disruption; where there are doors closed and hearts locked, grant the willingness to listen. When laws dictate and pain is overlooked, when tradition speaks louder than need, grant that I may seek rather to do justice than to talk about it. 

Disturb us, O Lord. To be with, as well as for, the alienated; to love the unloveable as well as the lovely; Lord, make me a channel of disturbance. Amen.