Transvox - Can Religious Belief be Compatabile with being Trans+

This week Jenny and Gillian answer a listener question around whether it is possible to reconcile being religious as well as being trans+.

Jenny suggests that faith and religion are separate, but most organised religions have a poor track record of supporting the trans community. They both agree on the idea that trans people can exist within religious communities, but that the religious doctrine itself often opposes trans identities.

Gillian expresses her belief that one's sense of spirituality doesn't necessarily require an organised religion or specific belief system, while Jenny agreed and noted that many trans and non-binary people exist within various religions, including Hinduism. Both agreed that the incompatibility between religion and trans identity might be more of a societal perception than a reality, and that the challenges arise when religions do not accept trans people.

Jenny brought up the contrasting hierarchies in various religions, using Iran's recent legislation on gender change as an example. They acknowledge the existence of inclusive and exclusive spaces within religions, with Jenny emphasising the importance of individual interpretations and fundamentalist adherence.

They also touch upon the idea of Taoism and its approach to gender identity, as a contrast to Western concepts. Both agree on the importance of having faith in oneself to navigate the challenges of being true to one's identity.

They conclude that there is compatibility between spirituality, faith and being trans+, but that certain religions could have different interpretations that might challenge trans people.

Hope you enjoy and find this useful.

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