Transgender: Resources with a significant focus on transgender people.

Answers to Your Questions About Transgender Individuals and Gender Identity

American Psychological Association (format: Free Download)

This pamphlet from the American Psychological Association explains the meaning of the term transgender and provides information about transgender people and their experiences.

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Benediction written for a Transgender Day of Remembrance

Sonny Graves (format: free-download)

A benediction written for a Transgender Day of Remembrance service.

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Call Me Malcom

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(format: On-line Video)

Call Me Malcolm is the story of a young transgender man, his struggle with faith, family, and identity, and overcoming shame and fear with grace, compassion, and knowledge. It is an excellent video from the UCC. Click the more information link for a discussion guide.

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Gender Identity Sermon

Rev. Dr. Katy Valentine and Rev. Jesse Kearns, 2016 (format: on-line-video)

This is a sermon for a mostly Anglo, mostly straight congregation that explores the concept of gender identity, Scripture and the love of Christ.

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Gender Outlaw: On Men, Women and the Rest of Us

Kate Bornstein, 1995 (format: Book)

A thoughtful challenge to gender ideology that continually asks difficult questions about identity, orientation, and desire. Bornstein cleverly incorporates cultural criticism, dramatic writing, and autobiography to make her point that gender is a cultural rather than a natural phenomenon.

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Gender Spectrum

(format: website)

Gender Spectrum’s mission is to create a gender-inclusive world for all children and youth. To accomplish this, we help families, organizations, and institutions increase understandings of gender and consider the implications that evolving views have for each of us.

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Guide to Being a Trans Ally

Straight for Equality, PFLAG National, 2016 (format: free-download)

This booklet from Straight for Equality (a program of PFLAG) provides guidance and education on how to be allies to our trans neighbors and siblings.

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In from the Wilderness: She-r-man

David E. Weekley, 2011 (format: Book)

This is the story of a transgender man who has been an ordained elder in The United Methodist Church since 1984 and has quietly served his congregations for twenty-eight years before sharing his story and spiritual journey with his congregation, denomination, and the world.

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Journeys Through Trans Masculinity

BuzzFeed, 2015 (format: on-line-video)

A quick introduction to the journeys of trans-men.

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Laura’s Playground

(format: website)

Laura’s Playground is a support and resource site for those on the transgender spectrum and their friends, family members, and allies. Laura’s Playground offers discussion forums covering a broad range of topics as well as a live chat room staffed by moderators trained in crisis resolution and suicide prevention.

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LGBTQIA+: Deciphering the Alphabet Soup (especially if you’re too embarrassed to ask!)

(format: book)

A replay of a webinar co-hosted by AllianceQ and the Disciples Seminary Foundation exploring the meaning of words used to describe LGBTQIA people.

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Living at the Intersection of Transgender Street and Black Boulevard

Carla Robinson, 2019 (format: on-line-video)

A sermon about the intersectional justice issues at for black transgender women. The preacher, Carla Robinson, also appears in the video “Out of the Box.”

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Lutheran Introduction To Our Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, And Queer Neighbors

ReconcilingWokrs: Lutherans for Full Participation, 2016 (format: website)

A quick but thorough introduction to concepts and terms used when talking with and about LGTBQ people from our Lutheran friends at ReconcilingWorks.

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Made in God’s Image: A Resource for Dialogue about Gender Diversity

Ann Thompson Cook (format: Book)

Answers basic questions about gender variance as well as transgender and intersex people and their experiences

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Opening the Door to the Inclusion of Transgender People: The Nine Keys to Making LGBT Organizations Fully Transgender-Inclusive

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, 2008 (format: Free Download)

A publication from The National Center for Transgender Equality and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Opening the Door covers practical ways to include transgender people in a fully inclusive community.

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Our Trans Loved Ones: Questions and Answers for Parents, Families, and Friends of People who are Transgender and Gender Expansive

(format: free-download)

A booklet from PFLAG full of information and support for families and friends of transgender people.

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Raising Ryland: Parenting a transgender child

CNN, 2015 (format: on-line-video)

Ryland’s parents realized, “Do I want a living son or a dead daughter? That’s pretty much what it comes down to.” This 13 minute film from CNN tells the story of Ryland and his two parents, Jeff and Hillary, and the challenges, joys and triumphs that have come with raising a transgender child and learning to affirm his gender identity.

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The Bible and the Transgender Experience: How Scripture Supports Gender Variance

Linda Tatro Herzer, 2016 (format: book)

The author, a nontransgender pastor, spent three years serving a church where ten percent of the congregation identified as trans men, trans women, cross-dressers, or genderqueer. This motivated her to learn about gender variant people and put her in situations where her previous understanding of the Bible was greatly expanded.

In this scholarly yet easy-to-read book Herzer gives clear, insightful accounts of what she has learned.

The Bible and the Transgender Experience includes practical suggestions from the author on how to make your congregation or group trans friendly. Don’t miss the discussion guide that can be used with a book group or as part of a four- to five-week Bible study.

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The Transgender Child: A Handbook for Families and Professionals

Stephanie A. Brill, 2008 (format: Book)

Brill explores the unique challenges that thousands of families face every day raising their children in every city and state. Through extensive research and interviews, as well as years of experience working in the field, the authors cover gender variance from birth through college.

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Tomgirl

Jeremy Asher Lynch and Stephen Przybylowski, 2015 (format: on-line-video)

A short video about Jake, a gender non-conforming child, and the adults who support him.

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Trans 101: A Brief Guide

Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests (format: free-download)

Despite its name, “A Brief Guide” this Trans 101 introduction to understanding transgender people contains almost 40 pages of clear and insightful information about trans people and the needs and issues facing the trans community.

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Trans Lifeline

(format: website)

Trans Lifeline is dedicated to the well being of transgender people.

Trans Lifeline runs a hotline staffed by transgender people for transgender people; Trans Lifeline volunteers are ready to respond to whatever support needs members of the trans community might have.

US: (877) 565-8860
Canada: (877) 330-6366

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Trans-Gendered: Theology, Ministry and Community

Justin Edward Tanis, 2003 (format: Book)

Dr. Tanis, through the use of personal stories and the journey of others, as well as scriptural and theological discussion, provides the reader with an insightful and knowledgeable discussion about gender variant people in the church.

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transACTION: A Transgender Curriculum For Churches and Religious Institutions

(format: book)

transACTION is designed to help churches address this issue of understanding and welcoming transgender persons by providing step-by-step training about the needs, apprehensions and fears of transgender people – as well as the wealth of gifts and graces they bring – while responding to the concerns of the church or religious institution.

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Transfaith Institute

(format: website)

The Transfaith Institute is a learning community which equips and empowers community members to provide care and support for people of transgender experience.

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Transgender Basics

(more information)

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center, NYC, 2009 (format: book)

Transgender Basics is a 20 minute video that gives a quick overview of what you need to know to understand transgender people and their issues.

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Transgender Children & Youth

Human Rights Campaign (format: book)

This web page from the Human Rights Campaign focuses on information and resources about transgender children and youth.

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Transgender College Student Resource Guide

(format: website)

This website provides information and resources for trans youth heading for college.

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Transgender Day of Remembrance Sermon

Sonny Graves, 2015 (format: on-line-video)

Each year on November 20, a memorial is held called Transgender Day of Remembrance when the lives of transgender people who have been killed over the past year are recognized and mourned. For the first time, First Church Berkeley observed this day in worship. Emerging Leader Sonny Graves reads a message to a young transgender person in the future describing the current challenges facing transgender people in the world.

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Transgender Explained For Those Who Are Not

Joanne Herman, 2009 (format: Book)

Joanne Herman, a transgender woman who read everything in sight to understand her own gender incongruity, has been helping others with her non-complicated explanations of transgender for almost a decade.

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Transgender Visibility Guide

Human Rights Campaign, 2013 (format: Free Download)

The Transgender Visibility Guide aims to help transgender people and their loved ones through the process of disclosure in realistic and practical terms. Whether you’ve just come to understand yourself as a transgender person, or you’ve waited years to share what you know to be true about your gender identity with the people around you, this guide will help you take the next step into the kind of wholeness and fulfillment so many transgender people have discovered.

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Transgendered Suicide Support

(format: website)

This Yahoo Group is a peer support email list, led by two transwomen for the support of transgender adults of all sorts. The group welcomes anyone who may need, now or in the future, support when they may be feeling suicidal. Also welcome are those who want to do all you can to stop the loss of another transgender life.

Subscribe by sending an email to: TGSuicidalSuppport-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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Transitioning to Inclusion

Kelsey Pacha, 2014 (format: free-download)

Transitioning to Inclusion from the Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies at Pacific School of Religion is exactly what it’s subtitle names: A guide to welcoming trangender children and their families in your community of faith.

The four sections in this guide include suggestions for allowing a child room to explore coming out, developing community values that support inclusivity, practical logistical suggestions, and notes on how to be a resource and support so that children and families thrive.

Transitioning to Inclusion also includes a glossary of useful terms and a valuable resource list.

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Transparent: Love, Family, and Living the T with Transgender Teenagers

Cris Beam, 2007 (format: Book)

Beam writes of her volunteer activities at Eagles, a small high school for gay and transgender teens in Los Angeles, by focusing on first one, then another, of the young people she encountered.

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Voices of Witness: Out of the Box

(more information)

Integrity USA (format: book)

This documentary from Integrity, the Episcopal Church’s welcoming program, gives voice to the witness of transgender people of faith. Inviting the viewer into their journeys, the film is ultimately a celebration of hope and the power of God’s love to transcend even seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Click the more information link for a discussion guide.

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