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A Nation’s Tipping Point: A Time to Talk

By James and Evelyn Whitehead

Time Magazine provided the official announcement: the cover story, with a picture of Laverne Cox, transgender member of the Orange is the New Black series, declared: “The Nation’s Transition.” (June 9, 2014) In the previous months citizens of many vocations—scientists and novelists, priests and professors—were coming out as trans- gender members of society. Old prejudices were dissolving; laws of non-discrimination were multiplying. Many Christian denominations, United Methodists, Church of Christ, Lutherans among them, were turning with a compassionate response to this long-neglected part of the body of Christ. Only the Catholic Church remained officially quiet, a reputed “secret document” only deepening the silence. Under the radar more and more Catholic ministers—sisters, counselors, teachers, chaplains—were speaking in healing tones about transgender persons, bringing light to this margin of the community.

It is in this context of rapid cultural change that DignityUSA is producing these essays on Christian spirituality and transgender lives. ▼