Dispatch: From the Trans Unity Coalition's "Trans Solidarity Rally" at the Michigan State Capitol

On Thursday, January 30, 2025, Deacon Beck attended and spoke at a Trans Solidarity Rally organized by The Transgender Unity Coalition at the Michigan State Capitol, one of several organized at state capitols across the country. He was one of several clergy there. You can view his full remarks here. 

This gathering of transgender folks and their allies featured a wonderful diversity of folks from all walks of life who joined together to express support for people who are marginalized in our communities.

This sign from the crowd stood out to Deacon Beck. “JESUS LOVED EVERYONE. WHY DON’T YOU?” It's a reminder that the Gospel is for everyone.

There's been a lot of discourse online, especially in Christian circles, about the "sin of empathy." Sin "[distorts] our relationship with God, with people, and with all creation." (The Catechism, BCP 848) Empathy is "feeling with" people, and in so doing, serves to help us better understand the perspectives of those around us. Its role is in bringing us closer to one another and helping us to be more loving and understanding. Empathy, therefore, cannot be a sin.

The transgender experience is one of transformational joy, something many Christians, regardless of their experience of their own gender, can understand and appreciate. God often calls us to change in radical, counter-cultural ways in order to live into the selves that God has created us to be and express more fully the gifts we've been given. During yesterday's rally, many of the speakers expressed how life-giving their transitions had been, how deep their sense of peace and joy was when they stopped trying to force themselves to conform to gender identities which for them were unnatural and caused immense pain and suffering.

We hope that, wherever you are, whatever you're going through, you know that there are Christians who can recognize your blessings for what they are: blessings. And we pray for a day when everybody can live in freedom and peace to walk their own roads. Until then, we'll keep showing up in solidarity.

If you, or someone you know, is looking for community and support during these difficult times for the LGBTQ+ community, the AuSable Inclusion Center currently offers three peer support groups:

The Kolke Reading Room on site also has an abundance of books and other materials to help resource marginalized folks and their allies to better understand themselves and one another, to build skills for their own advocacy and community engagement, and to explore spirituality. There’s also a section of children’s and middle reader books featuring diverse voices and perspectives. There is plenty of comfy space to read, and honor system book borrowing is allowed. If you’re looking for something in there and can’t find it, Deacon Beck will see if he can find a high quality resource for you. Given the movement to ban books meant to empower marginalized people and center their voices, including in our neck of the woods, we’re committed to providing access to materials that public libraries and schools may be pressured to remove from their collections.

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