The Sisters of Saint Joseph Federation in the state of New York, along with several other Catholic organisations, have published an open letter on Transgender Day of Visibility that wholeheartedly supports the Queer and Trans community. The letter also criticises the recent horrifying, oppressive and discriminatory legislation sweeping the USA.
The Trans supportive letter read, “As vowed Catholic religious and our partners in mission, we wholeheartedly affirm that transgender, nonbinary and gender-expansive individuals are beloved and cherished by God... We mark 31 March — 'International Day of Transgender Visibility', as a time to celebrate, acknowledge and uplift folks who identify as transgender, nonbinary and/or gender-expansive. We know our actions and commitments must extend beyond this day’s observance.”
The nuns’ letter also added that transgender people in the US and other countries are “experiencing harm and erasure” due to anti-LGBTIQ+ legislation, discrimination and “harmful rhetoric” from some Christian institutions, which is unacceptable.
PRESS RELEASE
Vowed Catholic Religious Honor Trans Day of Visibility
The undersigned religious communities represent over 6,000 vowed Catholic religious and partners in mission in over 18 states.
As vowed Catholic religious and our partners in mission, we wholeheartedly affirm that transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals are beloved and cherished by God. We mark March 31, International Day of Transgender Visibility, as a time to celebrate, acknowledge, and uplift folks who identify as transgender, nonbinary, and/or gender-expansive. We know our actions and commitments must extend beyond this day’s observance.
As members of the body of Christ, we cannot be whole without the full inclusion of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive individuals. At this moment in the United States, transgender people are experiencing harm and erasure due to:
- The introduction and approval of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across several states
- Harmful rhetoric from some Christian institutions and their leaders, including the Catholic Church
- Daily discrimination and violence
The Gospel call of unifying love compels us to actively interrupt harmful interactions in daily life and dismantle the systems that reinforce this rhetoric and violence in society, particularly for Black, Indigenous, and other folks of color. We will remain oppressors until we — as vowed Catholic religious — acknowledge the existence of LGBTQ+ people in our own congregations. We seek to cultivate a faith community where all, especially our transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive siblings, experience a deep belonging.
May we act to transform our hearts, our church, our politics, and our country to ensure that the dignity of our trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive siblings are acknowledged, boldly accepted, and celebrated.
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