The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has tightened its policies regarding the participation of transvestites in social and medical life. While the church stresses the importance of compassion for those who deny reality and suffer from gender dysphoria, LGBT activists have nevertheless expressed outrage at the church’s apparent unwillingness to subordinate its beliefs to the current views of LGBT activists.
Last week, the Mormon Church made several updates to its digital General Handbook, which provides instruction for both leaders and members on the subject of social and medical transvestism.
The handbook, prepared under the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, maintains that gender is reducible to biological sex assigned at birth and that “worthy persons who do not seek surgical, medical, or social reassignment of their biological sex assigned at birth may enjoy all the privileges of Church membership.”
The handbook also advises Mormons against “seeking surgical, medical, or social reassignment from their birth sex,” and cautions that those who do so may face certain restrictions on membership.
For example, persons who undergo gender reassignment or “social transition” will be prohibited from “receiving or exercising the priesthood, obtaining or using a temple recommend, and holding certain Church offices.”
According to the updates, transvestites are now also prohibited from being baptized and confirmed in the church. While the guidelines allow for possible exceptions, they note that baptized transvestites still cannot seek the priesthood, receive a temple recommend, or accept other callings.
The church noted in its guidelines for local leaders that under the new changes, transvestites will no longer be allowed to participate in co-ed overnight activities such as youth camps. In addition, they are “not called or assigned to (1) perform gender-specific roles, (2) serve as teachers, or (3) work with children or youth.”
Anyone who reverses their sex change and accepts their biological sex and shows that they are “worthy and committed to obeying God’s commandments” can once again enjoy all the privileges of membership.
Regarding toilet use, the guidelines state that transvestites should use the facility corresponding to their biological sex, a private toilet or their preferred bathroom, on the condition that a “trusted person” ensures that no one else is in it.
While the Church excludes medical transvestites from various church activities and denies them some privileges, it simultaneously emphasizes that people with gender dysphoria and their family members should be treated with kindness, compassion and Christian love.
Doug Anderson, a spokesman for the church, told the New York Times that the guidelines updates are intended to “help Latter-day Saints follow the example of Jesus Christ and minister with love, patience and respect.”
“The messages conveyed in these guidelines concern everyone.”
LGBT activists are outraged by the changes, and some are surprised that the church – which rejects homosexual “marriage” and homosexual sexual activity – continues to oppose gender ideology.
For example, LGBTQ Mormons, Families & Friends said in a statement on August 20: “We mourn with our transgender brothers and sisters as we wrestle with the painful impact of recent policy changes and policies of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.”
“Instead of seeking to better understand, include and empower transgender individuals who are also Latter-day Saints, Church leaders have chosen to further limit these members’ opportunities to participate,” the advocacy group said. “Although these changes specifically affect individuals who have undergone social or medical gender transition, everyone is impacted by the messages conveyed in these policies that reject authentic experiences and identity.”
Laurie Lee Hall, a transvestite who left the church in 2017 after undergoing gender reassignment surgery, told the Associated Press that the guidelines, particularly the ban on transvestites working with children, “imply that a trans member is somehow a danger to others.”
“It’s dehumanizing and far too damaging to members who are still trying to reconcile their gender identity with their faith,” said the father of four. “It will take a while for legitimate sociopolitical change to occur in the church.”
The Utah Pride Center, which has received donations from the church in the past, said: “This policy creates unnecessary barriers for transgender youth and adults who simply want to stand in places they consider sacred,” Axios reported.
“The new rules create enormous shame among people who have chosen to live authentic, vulnerable and honest lives,” the activist group added.
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