Galatians 5:22-23 reads, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”  

This verse was written on my favorite childhood pillowcase, a mosaic of waterproof marker colors done in shaky, 6-year-old handwriting. 

It was part of an assignment for class: write your favorite Bible verse on your pillow and sleep on it every night. That way, it sticks with you, worms its way inside your soul and burrows there, where you’ll remember it forever.  

And I do. More than ever, I remember it now because of how the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints continues to target the trans community. My community.

New regulations in the LDS church’s handbook forbids transgender members from working with children or youth and makes them face possible “annotations” on its membership records. These regulations put trans members on the same level as child abusers, thieves and sexual predators.

The LDS church causes continuous danger for trans people. It must withdraw its new regulations regarding the trans community. Members of the church must put pressure on leadership and stop paying tithing until the regulations are overturned.

The History and Harm

The church counsels against gender-affirming surgeries. Gender-affirming care saves lives.

In encouraging transgender members not to pursue these surgeries, the church denies its members the happiness being yourself brings. Prior to 2020, anyone considering receiving gender affirming surgeries could not be baptized or confirmed.

More policies updated in 2024 restrict trans members from participating in activities which do not align with their biological sex. Any members who pursue social or physical transitions away from their biological sex are not allowed to attend co-ed activities overnight. 

As if all of this is not bad enough, to use a restroom that aligns with their gender, trans people must have someone else confirm there is no one in that restroom first.

These policies paint trans members as a threat to children and their peers. 

Personhood 

Feeding on parental fears of child predators and claiming gender-affirming care is body mutilation are just a few of the ways transphobes poison society against trans people.  

But there are always those who have hated people who are different. We look back on that hate now with guilt and shame. I truly hope one day the U.S. will look back on “transgender panic” with the same guilt and shame.  

I want to push back against this fear that conservatives imbue among scared parents and communities. You have nothing to fear from the trans community.  

We are people just like you. We have families, friends, pets and partners.  

I grew up praying, like many of you did, every night before bed. I stay up late studying for my exams. I play video games with my younger brother. On the grounds of my Lutheran private school, I learned to read with my best friend of 15 years. I am nonbinary. I am trans.  

Do not let alt-right transphobes blind you to humanity. Try to learn about the intricate lives of trans people. Do not let them dehumanize us. I’m terrified it will result in unimaginable violence, as hate has before.

Love the Sinner, Not the Sin 

The fruit of the spirit outlines what is expected of a person in perfect accordance with the Holy Spirit.

But lumping trans people in the same group as child predators is not goodness, kindness or love.

Religion is often used as a way for alt-right conservatives to claim traditional values to criminalize the identities of those they deem wrong.

We must reject the idea of “loving the sinner but hating the sin.” Queerness and transness are not sins. Love and identity are not sins.

In 2021, a study found 1 in 4 Gen Z members of the church identify as LGBTQ+. The trans and queer community is not outside of the church. It is within it.

Trans people are not monsters sneaking in the night to steal your children. We’re your coworkers, classmates and friends. Some of us may want to sit side by side with you in church. We’re your neighbors.

The commandment “love thy neighbor” doesn’t end with an “unless they’re transgender.”

The Power of Tithing 

Members of the church give one-tenth of their income to the church in a process called tithing. Tithing is not optional but expected of all members.  

The church uses millions of dollars of tithing on building temples. The money of tithing pours into the church’s many programs.

Latter Gay Stories argue that to make a difference, members must oppose church leadership. Standing and voting in opposition is noble.  

But we must go further. We need to hit the church where it hurts. We must boycott tithing.  

Money is power.  

To my LDS friends and family, I ask: Do you love me? You claim to. But you cannot genuinely love me if you continue to stand by while the system you are an active participant in attempts to lump me with predators and abusers.  

If that is what love is, I want no part in it.  

To a younger me, God was love. God represented a strengthening of the soul. An inherent value of kindness. Now, the word “god” is poison in my mouth. Religion is wielded against me like a flaming sword.  

The God I grew up with would never forsake my community.  

To all LDS church members, I beg your goodness. Your fruit of the spirit. I beg you not to forsake us.  

Boycott tithing. Fight for the trans community.  

[email protected]

@MorganChampine