Article from the SLC Tribune

I don’t know that “gender performance” was a part of the message that Jesus Christ talked about at all – but it was peripherally a part of the conversations that JS and BY were having when setting up and transporting the early Mormon community.

I’d say that in the 1950’s or so, “performance expectations” defined by gender became a point that the church had conversations and teachings about. It’s easy if you present as a gender and think and act as that gender – but that is a very narrow box that doesn’t fit individuals at church as nearly as well as it was assumed to do so in the past.

And in reality, it’s a “who decides one’s gender and how they present?” question – if Biology is seen as “the will of God” (and reinforced for those it works for) – then unclear Biology is a threat against God. And if a person lives their life in that undefined uncertainty – the whole “that’s a cross they must bear” way of thinking literally does nothing to help them figure it out, connect them to God, or connect them to a church community (innately – broad strokes here).

As church activities were regulated into a patriarchal organizational structure, “gender” defined the “lane the sub-organization (and individuals) were assigned to and their power/authority in that lane” – and that hasn’t changed much.

Those who “blur the cultural lanes” aka the feminists (who recognize the power and authority of women), the intellectuals (including scientists who are sorting out that “gender” and “gender identity” are more complex and biologically based in specific catalysts instead of spiritual stuff), and those who want to cross those gender performance lines for whatever reason are perceived as threats primarily for this issue. And sometimes the parents of these individuals wind up in the firing line too and have to “pick a side”.

I have a lot of friends from over the decades who are not strictly heterosexual. I have quite a few who identify as transgender, including extended family members. The most difficult aspect of it for many of them is that they are living the Law of Chastity, the Word of Wisdom, etc. completely and faithfully – and still cannot do everything they would be able to do if they were classically heterosexual and struggling with some aspect of those and others commandments.

This is one issue where I hope deeply the general movement I have seen recently continues, allowing people who are truly faithful in every way imaginable but just don’t feel completely themselves in binary categories can be seen as fully faithful and righteous and worthy.