There have been several nationally reported shootings in recent days, with the third one coming just this morning.  We pray for victims and their families, trusting in God’s love and mercy to provide them with comfort in these dark days. Two of the three incidents, one at The University of Virginia, and another at a Wal Mart in Chesapeake, Virginia, involved gunmen who knew their victims (or most of them – the Wal Mart shooting is still being investigated and hasn’t determined if all the victims were fellow employees). 

The third shooting, which took place at Club Q in Colorado Springs, may be more of a random tragedy, although that investigation is still taking shape as well. It is reported that the Colorado Springs gunman may have been bullied earlier in life, may have had an abusive father, and according to thier attorneys identifies is non-binary. As more details are confirmed, the questions about motive will probably change, so I don’t wish to speculate about their particular motive for committing this heinous act.  Prosecutors have not said they will be pursuing hate crimes charges, but that potential motive is on many people’s minds.

My first thought was a flashback to the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando about six years ago.  At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in our history, with forty-nine dead and fifty-three wounded. There is still speculation about whether that was a hate crime; it was a confirmed terrorist attack (the shooter publicly aligned himself with the Islamic State), but the FBI has never been able to determine without a doubt that the gunman even knew he was targeting a gay nightclub. The best their investigation can offer was that it appeared the shooter chose the location at the last minute after scouting out another nearby nightclub.  Regardless, the Pulse shooting was devastating for the LGBTQ+ community and highlighted a history of violence against that community.

The Club Q shooting has raised similar concerns, in part because the day the shooting took place, November 20, is known as Transgender Day of Remembrance, and the attack took place during a drag show in the club.  The day of remembrance acknowledges that transgendered persons, women in particular, are the victims of hate-driven violence at a staggering rate.  Every year dozens of transgendered persons are murdered, and no one knows how many are assaulted but not killed as a direct result of their transgendered identity – in both cases we’re talking about rates much higher than the general population. Such figures can be hard to come by because of challenges in reporting, but it’s ultimately not the numbers that matter, but what even the incomplete picture tells us.

Aside from violence against transgendered persons, they also face rampant discrimination in workplaces, when seeking medical care, in housing, and in general everyday situations.  Some states protect the rights of transgendered persons, while others have laws that specify ways in which discrimination is legal.  Earlier this year the well-known polling firm PRRI published a report indicating that support for anti-discrimination laws for LGBTQ+ persons continues to rise (80% of Americans favor such laws as of 2021).  It’s rare that 80% of Americans agree on anything, yet this year has also seen an explosion of state-level legislation across the country to limit rights for LGBTQ+ persons, especially transgendered persons. 

As Christians we are called to love those on the margins and to make sure that we reach out in love and concern for them.  One aspect of living out our faith in this regard means we must condemn violence and discrimination against transgendered persons (or anyone else).  We also recognize the need to make sure transgendered persons hear that they are loved by God, and are welcome to be a part of the life of the Church.  They need love and support, not hatred and discrimination.  Our efforts to include and care can have a dramatic, positive influence. 

We know that the messages “the church” sends about LGTBQ+ young persons can have a dramatic impact on their self-worth and likelihood of suicide, according to multiple studies. If you’re taught that God thinks your identity is wrong or that you are an abomination, it doesn’t always lead to very good outcomes. For followers of Jesus, the first move is always one of love. We are not called upon to play moral judge and jury; quite the opposite.  We are called upon to live into our baptismal covenant, which demands that we respect the dignity of every human being. 

All this being said, I know this is a difficult topic for some.  Many of us don’t know what to make of the shifting landscape around gender and identity.  I have trouble keeping up with it at times.  In January and February, we are offering a lecture/discussion series we’ve titled: A Mile in My Shoes: Meeting our Neighbors.  Over six sessions we will look at three groups of neighbors we might not know as well as we might: Persons with disabilities, LGTBQ+ persons, and persons of color. We will probably offer learning about other groups in the future.  While two Sundays spent on any group of people is woefully insufficient, this series will represent a starting place to learn what challenges are faced by those who are different than us. We will also address how the Church (and us as individuals) can be faithful to the command to love our neighbors and their unique needs.  Stay tuned for more details in the coming weeks.

The final comment for me in this Rambling is also to acknowledge that this issue is personal for me.  I only have one sibling, and she is a transgendered woman.  Some of you know that, but many of you don’t.  It’s amazing how your thinking and your acting changes when someone you love is affected by what can otherwise be an arms-length discussion.  I love my sister deeply, and I am proud of her work and her advocacy around LGBTQ+ rights and issues. I am very aware of her vulnerability, and she is often in my prayers for safety as a result. I also know that it takes a lot of bravery to just be who she is and try to live a normal life.  I know quite a bit about what she faces, but I’ve still never walked a mile in her shoes.  I still have a lot to learn.

Tom+

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.