Laurie Lee Hall
I am reminded of the young girl I was, who though not athletic like my sisters, would have given anything to just be included on their team even to just sit on the bench with the chance of maybe having my parents decide in late innings that we had a big enough lead to put me in right field!
Now with the bright red line drawn defining “worthiness” as fully accepting, by way of testimony, all current church leader teachings on LGBTQ issues, even when such teachings have been constantly changing and even reversing (think PoX), I fear that many Queer persons trying to remain in the church, especially transgender members, will become even more marginalized lower-caste souls.
Laurie wrote, “As I return to the leadership of the oldest and largest LGBTQIA-led organization at the Queer/Latter-day Saint intersection, I renew my commitment to help each of you to define your individual journey — rather than being defined by others — including power centers to whom we may have once yielded our authority.”
Each year on November 20th, we remember transgender people, gender-variant individuals, and those perceived to be transgender murdered because of hate. For many left behind, there is a feeling of obligation to speak for those who can speak no more, to tell their stories, and to support one another.
We’ve seen it before. Events occur, but the arc of the history of this painful intersection between the LDS church and their LGBTQ members is bending towards eventual fellowship and perhaps even equity.
The Utah Supreme Court issued an opinion affirming the right of transgender individuals to update their sex on legal documentation. The opinion states, “A person has a common-law right to change facets of their personal legal status, including their sex designation.”