Transgender Pagans – Take A Deep Breath

Last updated on: June 21, 2012 at 12:51 pm by Peter Dybing

Transgender Pagans – Take A Deep Breath 2012-06-21T12:51:00-06:00 Peter Dybing

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Yes, this morning at PSG a member of the Pagan community shared her pain at being excluded from the main woman’s ritual. Yet this should not spark the kind of firestorm that resulted from the same issue at Pantheacon. Frankly PSG is different, this brave woman’s actions were different and the communities’ reception was clearly different.

PSG is a family atmosphere where individual community members are regarded with love and respect, a low-key event where individuals feel free to express themselves in a warm and loving climate. While Pantheacon is an incredible event, its’ nature is clearly different than PSG

When this issue was expressed at morning meeting it was intentionally done after the ritual, called for no protest, and requested nothing from the community other than an attempt to see her pain, it was a profound, insightful and emotional moment.

Among the crowd there were looks of compassion from many, even those who may find themselves conflicted over the core issue. As a member of this community, I found myself felling pride in how differently this manifested at PSG.

There is still much work to do. Later in the week Selena Fox has scheduled a discussion of this issue that is intended to address transgendered inclusion respectfully, with individuals from interested parties. This is quite a challenge that is worth a try.

In conversations this week with a prominent Dianic leader it became clear this individual has poor insight into the issue resulting in what seems to be unintentional discrimination. Frankly I view this person like my Grandmother who was challenged in letting go of a bigoted term that she grew up with. I feel the need to confront the damaging beliefs and at the same time have compassion for the individual and feel no need to make a judgment about them personally.

By all reports the woman’s ritual this year was deep and meaningful and it seems clear that the issue brought forth by the transgendered community is not with the ritual its self, but with the scheduling of an exclusive event as the main woman’s ritual at PSG. Woman who want this kind of ritual have a right to it in their own space; that space should not be the main women’s ritual at a large public Pagan event.

So please my friends in the blogging community, take a breath, give the process a chance to work, resist the creation of a “Big blow up”, maybe, just maybe, now is the time for a new drawing of the lines of acceptance and tolerance in our community. Please give Selena and this community a chance to deal with this without the distraction of a firestorm of misinformation and unsolicited opinion on the Internet.

Join me, take a deep breath and let us see if the process works.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

June 16, 2012

From Disaster to Solace, One Days Journey

Next Post

June 29, 2012 Pagans Lead The Way on Civil Rights

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category 2016 election Activisim America American Pride Antifa Antifa Fire Chief Black Lives Matter Dallas Violence Democratic left Homeless Denver Homophobia July Fourth Orlando Violence Peter Dybing Social Justice TERF Transgender rights Trauma Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2017 February 2017 January 2017 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 March 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 May 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which book of the Bible has a talking tree?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Proverbs Genesis Judges Ezekiel