Reflecting on the Transgender Day of Visibility and Easter

Today is the day after Easter, which was also the Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV). Many schools are celebrating the TDOV today since March 31 fell on a weekend this year. That means this article might be a day or two late to be particularly helpful but I believe it’s important to write anyways. 

There are lots of heated voices on the issue, especially since TDOV fell on Easter Sunday. This was inflamed all the more by President Biden’s multiple comments in support of TDOV beforehand and on the day. Even further, he wrote “Today, on Transgender Day of Visibility, I have a simple message to all trans Americans: I see you. You are made in the image of God, and you’re worthy of respect and dignity.” Meanwhile, his message regarding Easter only mentioned “Jesus’ sacrifice” and nothing about the resurrection. 

I hope to offer some reflections about how to discuss Easter and the Transgender Day of Visibility with your students this week as you gather and reconnect. 

Cooling Down the Heat

It’s likely that teenagers were around their family for Easter. For many of them, that means they overheard parents, grandparents, and other adults discussing the TDOV. It’s no secret that teenagers are much more affirming than older generations. At the same time, many non-affirming teenagers are simply accustomed to being around trans people. The TDOV is representative of something that is simply normal to our teenagers, whether they are affirming or non-affirming. 

So when they hear adults ranting and raving about (or openly mocking) the evils of transgenderism and about how horrible it is for the TDOV to be on Easter this year, it can make teenagers either angry or to roll their eyes in a, “they just don’t get it” kind of way. Again, this is a generation who has grown up with the TDOV and other “walk out days” to advocate for their LGBTQ+ peers. When adults talk about trans people they are often viewed as people outside of their personal circles; but for teenagers, trans people are their friends and peers whom they’ve grown up with. 

And that’s not considering the number of teenagers listening in on these Easter conversations who are personally struggling with their own gender or sexual identity. We need to cool down the heat when talking about LGBTQ+ issues with teenagers if we want to have meaningful conversations, especially if any of those youth are themselves struggling. When adults talk about gender and sexuality issues in a way that is angry or dismissive, it only pushes these beloved teenagers further to the margins and into the affirming community. 

The Image of God and the Trans Community

One thing President Biden did get right is this: “You are made in the image of God, and you’re worthy of respect and dignity.” That is entirely true! However, it doesn’t mean what he thinks it means. 

Let us be clear: God created people in his image, as male and female, and he called it “very good.” Transgender ideology turns this upside-down. It is a rejection of the goodness of our physical gender, and turns our human identity into a self-identified thing rather than as God-given. Whereas homosexuality rejects the biblical image of “Christ and the church”, transgenderism rejects the biblical teaching about what it means to be created in God’s image by affirming one’s own authority to determine their nature and identity. 

Yes, the effects of the fall have brought corruption into the created order, but there is no place in Scripture that supports a self-constructed identity whereby someone’s physical body and their “true self” are at odds. That is a gnostic philosophy that separates the body and spirit which the Bible opposes (especially in Colossians and 2 Corinthians). 

And yet, our worthiness of dignity and respect is God-given. This should never be debated or questioned. Regardless of however sinful or depraved any other person has become, it remains true. This is why Christians can joyfully agree with President Biden’s affirmation that trans people are created in the image of God. 

The Transgender Day of Visibility and Easter

In the end, I wonder if it’s strangely appropriate for these two days to align. If there is going to be a Transgender Day of Visibility, celebrating it on the weekend when Jesus died for sinners and rose from the grave to give them new life might be the perfect day to have it! Is this not our prayer for transgender men and women? Do we not desire them to find peace and joy and life through Christ Jesus? Of course we do! 

Here at Youth Pastor Theologian, we recognize that some of us may have differences of opinions regarding “pronoun hospitality” and other particulars of how we minister to trans students. But let’s be united around the conviction and prayer that the gospel is good news of great joy for trans youth. We are committed to calling them to Jesus, and that includes calling them away from their trans-identity in order that they would experience the joy of fellowship with God. 

Of course, this is a prayer we have for all youth, regardless of the particular sins and temptations they experience. Trans youth don’t need a different gospel than anyone else. As ministers, we call teenagers to repent of sin and to believe on Christ Jesus, and we love them with pastoral care as they learn what it means to live as his disciple. This is the call of Easter. This is the call of the Church. This is the mission of youth ministry. 

Instead of ranting about the TDOV and Easter falling on the same day, remember the mission. Don’t get pulled off-mission by debating the celebration of particular days. Take this opportunity to talk with teenagers about how the two aligned this weekend, conversations it sparked, and celebrate the new life we all can have through Jesus’ resurrection.