LGBTQ advocates say LDS church’s new transgender policies marginalize trans members

Deepa Bharath, The Associated Press

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has disheartened LGBTQ+ activists aft issuing a slew of caller policies this week that would importantly restrict nan domiciled of its transgender members.

The guidelines were released Monday arsenic portion of updates to nan General Handbook of nan denomination known wide arsenic nan Mormon church. Its caller rules, successful summation to expanding connected an existing norm that prevents transgender group from being baptized, besides prohibit transgender group from moving pinch children aliases serving arsenic priests aliases teachers.

The church’s handbook states that those “who modulation distant from their biologic activity astatine commencement are invited to be sacrament meetings” and participate successful “many different ways”. It besides encourages these individuals and their families to confer pinch section leaders regarding their religion participation. The caller guidelines, however, importantly limit specified participation.

The argumentation now states that members who person transitioned successful immoderate measurement — whether that modulation is social, aesculapian aliases surgical — cannot enactment astatine younker camps overnight and whitethorn only usage single-occupancy restrooms astatine religion meetinghouses. Alternatively, a “trusted person” must beryllium stationed extracurricular nan restroom to support others from entering erstwhile a transgender personification uses a restroom that aligns pinch their individual gender identity.

The latest version of nan General Handbook while defining and reaffirming gender arsenic one’s biologic activity astatine birth, besides states that nan religion does not “take a position connected nan causes of” gender dysphoria.

Previously, nan mentation of nan church’s policies connected this matter were near unfastened to section congregations, their bishops and laic leaders. These caller guidelines explain astir of those grey areas.

A spokesperson for nan denomination declined remark Friday.

LGBTQ+ advocates wrong nan religion opportunity these stringent guidelines further marginalize transgender group who already consciousness for illustration outsiders successful church. Laurie Lee Hall, a transgender female who was excommunicated successful 2017 aft she transitioned, said nan caller guidelines make it challenging for group for illustration her to support nan faith.

“The doorway seems unopen and bolted,” she said Friday.

Hall, who lives adjacent Louisville, Kentucky, said she has been participating successful a section LDS religion that has been welcoming and inclusive by moreover allowing her to participate successful classes and activities pinch women.

“While I’ve had immoderate separation from nan religion successful position of my rank and beliefs, I’ve enjoyed astatine slightest a societal relationship pinch nan women astatine church,” Hall said. “Now, nary of that is going to beryllium possible.”

The caller guidelines would require her to be classes pinch men.

“I’d be religion successful dress, shoes and constitution and beryllium required to tract pinch a bunch of men wearing suits,” Hall said. “It would put a target connected maine arsenic personification who is severely off-script.”

What offends Hall much than that is nan church’s argumentation that transgender group won’t beryllium allowed to activity pinch children aliases youth, aliases that they request chaperones to usage a bath of their choice.

“It implies that a trans personnel is someway a threat to others,” she said. “It’s dehumanizing and acold excessively toxic to grip for members who are still successful nan process of reconciling their gender personality pinch their faith.”

The caller guidelines surfaced moreover arsenic nan denomination, complete nan past decade-plus, has tried to liking retired a much compassionate attack connected LGBTQ+ issues while reaffirming its doctrinal guidance to intimacy betwixt group successful same-sex relationships. The 1 detour from that way was successful 2015 erstwhile nan religion issued rules that banned baptisms for children of cheery parents and that branded same-sex couples arsenic sinners eligible for expulsion. Those were repealed successful 2019.

Matthew Bowman, who is nan Howard W. Hunter Chair of Mormon Studies astatine Claremont Graduate University successful Claremont, California, said nan caller transgender guidelines are “unsurprising” and person been a agelong clip coming.

“This has been a existent struggle for members for a agelong clip since nan 1970s and 1980s erstwhile nan religion took a blimpish stance connected homosexuality,” he said. “Those members are accustomed to nan religion being unwilling to accommodate and being reluctant to adapt. But, having it spelled retired for illustration this is painful.”

Hall says she still hopes nan religion will alteration guidance arsenic it did erstwhile it rescinded a prohibition connected ordination of African Americans. She besides worries that if this trajectory of removal continues, much group could time off nan faith.

“It’s going to beryllium a while earlier a morganatic societal argumentation alteration occurs successful nan church,” she said. “If that continues, location is going to beryllium generational nonaccomplishment because young group are not going to judge these draconian policies. All of this is wholly avoidable if only nan religion tin simply opportunity we emotion you and we’ll find ways to see you.”