Shout out to everyone helping to protect transgender and non-binary people! In the midst of the rise of transphobic hate-filled legislation, we are here.
Special shout out to TRUUsT members Rev. Ali KC Bell for xer presence in Maryland (https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/governor-moore-proclaims-today-international-transgender-day-of-visibility-in-maryland) and Rev. Jami Yandle for their witness in Texas.
TRUUsT has begun holding twice monthly social Zoom calls on the first Friday and Second Wednesday of every month. These calls are informal spaces for members to connect with one another and be together. So needed right now.
Zoom information for these calls can be found in emails to membership and the TRUUsT Facebook group.
Image text reads: TRUUsT Social Space. Join the group Second Wednesdays at 5pm PT, 6pm MT, 7pm CT, or 8pm ET for social and spiritual connections in a community of trans UU religious professionals.
Image text reads: Better Together TRUUST Social Space. Meets First Fridays at 2pm ET, 1pm CT, noon MT, or 11am PT.
CONGRATULATIONS to our members:
Rev. Paul Langston-Daley – celebrating 25 years in the ministry!
Arran Morton and Steven Leigh Williams – completing their MFC interviews and being welcomed into fellowship with the UUA!
2020. It’s been a long three years, and as we wind our way out of the silence, we wanted to say hello and give you a bit of an update.
First, we’re growing! We expect to be close to 150 members when all is said and done. We are pleased and honored and excited and humbled by the number of trans religious professionals who have joined us in the last few years, and grateful for everyone’s patience as we have moved through the onboarding backlog. If you are, or know someone who has not applied for membership and wishes to do so, now is a good time. If you did apply and you haven’t heard from us by April 15, check your spam folder, and if there’s nothing there, send an email to sky at admin@transuu.org and we’ll get you in process.
Second: we’re restructuring! Or maybe structuring-the-first-time is more accurate. As we grow, we need more structure and systems, so we’re putting them in. Longtime members will have seen evidence of this in things like setting up a better email system, revitalizing this blog, setting up regular online social events to supplement our regular retreats, and creating other backend improvements. If you’re a member, check your email for more details.
Third: as part of that restructuring, we have (very part-time) staff! Rev. Leela Sinha (ze/zim) is our interim director, and Rev. Sky Williams Tao (they/them) is our administrator. Please welcome them as they support us in moving forward into our future form. If you need to contact us, start with admin@transuu.org and you’ll get routed to the right person.
We have so many exciting ideas and possibilities ahead of us, and we’re so glad you’re reading along here as we pick up steam. Check back for more updates as we go!
Thank you so much for being here. We’re truly glad you’re with us.
Nothing We Do Will Be Perfect. The irony of the cover of the print issue of the spring 2019 UU World has not been lost on the membership of TRUUsT and our greater trans* community.
The UU World’s article titled “After L, G, and B” frames the trans experience by centering a white, heterosexual, cisgender woman’s experience. By doing so, it reduces trans people to objects—something that happens far too often in society and in our UU communities. The use of harmful slurs, the conflation of intersex and trans experience, and a repeated focus on surgery, hormones, and pronouns perpetuates stereotypes around trans experiences that devalues the gifts we have to bring to the world and Unitarian Universalism.
The impact of this article will have long-lasting effects. While the UU World has a vital role in communicating issues of importance to Unitarian Universalists around the world, often representing the leading edge and the best in our UU faith, it is that trust and faith in this magazine which makes this article all the more harmful. Well-meaning people who have no other known relationship to or interaction with trans lives will now believe that these words and actions are acceptable. They are not! Continue reading
Today, TRUUsT has released a report that provides an unprecedented look at the the experiences of trans Unitarian Universalists, based on a survey of hundreds of trans UUs conducted in spring 2018 by TRUUsT and the Unitarian Universalist Association’s Multicultural Ministries office.
The report provides a portrait of who trans UUs are, shares trends in their experiences of inclusion and marginalization in UU congregations, gives a snapshot of the particular experiences of trans religious professionals, and offers actions that all Unitarian Universalists can take to improve the experiences of trans people within Unitarian Universalism. Continue reading
TRUUsT is excited to announce the launch of a new service directory of trans and/or people of color Unitarian Universalist community ministers, religious educators, and other religious professionals who are available to do consultations, trainings, guest preaching, and other work with UU congregations, regions, and other groups. Continue reading
Today, November 20, we mourn, along with trans people and our loved ones all over the world. In the words of Monica Roberts:
“It’s been 20 years since Gwen Smith created the TDOR to remember the people that we have lost due to anti-trans violence. And it’s also been 20 years since Rita Hester was murdered, and her killer not being brought to justice. We have another 22 people who were murdered in 2018 [in the USA], and as per usual in the States, they are disproportionately African American trans people. Internationally Brazil depressingly leads the pack in being the most dangerous nation to be trans.
“Say their names. Their trans lives mattered.”
As trans Unitarian Universalist leaders, we grieve our fallen kindred, we offer care to each other and our communities, and we vow to keep fighting. Below are three prayers offered by TRUUsT members, trans Unitarian Universalist leaders. Continue reading
Unitarian Universalism is a faith that values gender diversity and affirms the sacredness of all genders. We strive to be a religion where trans people can find a spiritual home and bring forward spiritual gifts born of a unique and valuable perspective on the world. We support our trans and gender creative children and youth, we offer rituals of healing and validation to trans people in transition, and we honor our trans leaders and religious professionals.
In the wake of recent events and the Trump administration’s continued assault on trans lives, TRUUsT calls on Unitarian Universalists everywhere to take immediate action to live out the above truths and directly support trans UUs. Unitarian Universalism’s commitment to trans lives is all too often aspirational rather than true today. According to a recent survey, only 28% of trans UUs feel that their congregation is fully inclusive of them as trans people. We need this to change, because trans lives are at stake.
Will you take action to care for the trans people within Unitarian Universalism who need the support of our faith community right now? Below are five actions that TRUUsT calls on UUs everywhere to take. We hope we can count on you to act and share this call. Continue reading
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