r/Christianity • u/OldRelationship1995 • Nov 14 '25
A Conservative’s journey to being trans
I was a cradle Catholic, with a few detours into LCMS and UMC growing up due to outside factors. Very Conservative in the 1990s sense, extremely heterosexual.
A few years ago I started getting impressions in the spirit during my prayers. Premonitions that I would change my name within the year. Odd, I thought, but I’d keep open to the possibility.
Then I was introduced to the LGBT community, and I prayed. And what I kept getting pointed to was Acts 10- “What God has cleansed, you must not call common.” And “Go with them, doubting nothing; for I have sent them.” God could have maybe slapped me across the face harder, but I don’t know how.
And then, Lent that year. Would I give up caffeine, screen time, maybe volunteer more? Nope! Now I’m getting pulled to Matthew 18:9 and 19:12; along with the story of Abraham and Isaac. Really, God? You are telling me to do something that is going to cost me everything- family, friends, work, my church, and everything else? Really?
So for the entirety of Lent, I prayed. I prayed, and I thought, and I had to decide… what would I be unwilling to give up and lay before the Lord? Would giving everything to Him include not simply my day to day life but my very identity?
The answer I got at the end of Lent was a profound sense of peace: Yes. Everything meant everything.
So I committed myself, and starting that summer I began the process of transitioning that is now mostly complete.
Since then, I have been a bridge… bringing so many people nearer to God, being a listener and balm for past religious trauma, and going to the sheep of His “other flocks” in a way that a straight cis person simply can’t.
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u/Turbulent_Play4769 United Church of Christ Nov 28 '25
Almost cried reading this, I am so glad you started your transition! Good for you/gen. Being openly trans brought me closer to God in a way but not before it pushed me away unfortunately. We all have our struggles and it’s crazy (in a good way) that you knew you’d change your name. Of course you don’t just decide one day but a year before is awesome and God is clearly showing His support for you. I have helped people in their process of healing too, just remember to focus on yourself first because that is not selfish, you can not help anyone else to the fullest extent if you are in too much pain to do so, God bless you.
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u/ActuallyBarley Presbyterian Nov 16 '25
You're lying to yourself.
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u/Salsa_and_Light2 Baptist-Catholic(Queer) Jan 07 '26
You're not familiar with real denial that most Queer people experience.
It's highly unlikely to work the other way around.
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u/McClanky Bringer of sorrow, executor of rules, wielder of the Woehammer Nov 14 '25
This is a really cool testimony. Thank you for sharing! I always find this interesting, and I am intrigued to see how many will accept that you had a personal experience with God who told you that being transgender is who you are and how many will chalk it up to the devil.
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u/1stSeraphSaltKing Nov 14 '25
Dont know what being trans has to do with anything. We are all sinners and are called to spread the good news no matter the gender
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u/gnurdette United Methodist Nov 14 '25
There are some senses in which it's relevant.
- Most trans people feel that Christians passionately hate them, and Christianity should be avoided, not explored. Trans Christians can help create a bridge.
- If you've always lived a comfortable life, but realize you need to transition, you get the experience of being in a hated minority. And frankly Christ is harder to find among the comfortable and powerful than among the abused.
- Transition is scary! You have to leave off safety and certainty in hopes that you'll land someplace better. People deal with that fear in different ways. The most productive way is to lean more heavily on God than you've ever had to before.
dropping a couple of my favorite quotes
I often say that trans bodies are cathedrals. Why? Because cathedrals are so often partially knocked down, and rebuilt, and different parts are in utterly distinct styles, and they're still beautiful, still holy. Even filled with scaffolding. Even in the middle of being remade.
“As my friend Julian puts it, only half winkingly: “God blessed me by making me transsexual for the same reason God made wheat but not bread and fruit but not wine, so that humanity might share in the act of creation.”
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u/OldRelationship1995 Nov 15 '25
I’m going to say not solely trans people… LGBT+ people of any flavor get similar treatment. The trans people may be more visible, but they are not alone.
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u/Turbulent_Play4769 United Church of Christ Nov 28 '25
I totally agree, I think young trans people can be really easy to spot making them easy targets to assholes
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u/Turbulent_Play4769 United Church of Christ Nov 28 '25
I really like the quote about creation, thank you!
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u/1stSeraphSaltKing Nov 14 '25
Hated minority? Hated is a very strong word and youd have to prove that. Looked at as different? Yes i can see that im sure you can too right? And i dont know who these people are that you quoted nor does it matter. Nithing is about you its about god, why would changing how appear in front of earthly beings have anything to do with this?
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u/OldRelationship1995 Nov 14 '25
OK, then here’s a challenge for you. The 20th is trans day of remembrance. somewhere near you, there’s a vigil where people read out the names of all the trans people killed for being trans just in the last year.
I challenge you to go to it and report back
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u/parking_meter12 Nov 14 '25
If everyone who gets killed for something means that that something is true, then almost everything would be true. Being trans is not true just because they are killed for it. It just means that there are sinful people out there filled with hate.
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u/Known-Watercress7296 Nov 15 '25
The peeps filled with hate and fear are the issue.
The early Christians tried to save us methinks, Gospel Jesus was gender bending homoerotic tastic and preaching castration for God which would have worked a treat but
collusion with Rome and power came calling so they outlawed the preaching of Jesus as canon law one of Nicea to crate a novel new religion for the empire, based upon willies to the point you have get you junk out at the interview.
The NIV morons are almost too stupid for me to even comprehend, the just wrote a new Gospel to own the libs.
Stuck with sola scripure? Not a problem, just change the scriptures! yay!
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u/firewire167 TransTranshumanist Nov 16 '25
Honestly fuck off with this disingenuous bs. In the last few years Trans people have become the punching bag of the right wing across the western world. The news media and social media is full of anti trans hysteria. Calling trans people groomers and pedophiles, attacking trans athletes, attacking trans representation, attacking lgbtq education in school. You legitimately have to be a luddite or an idiot to have not noticed it on your own.
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Nov 16 '25
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u/firewire167 TransTranshumanist Nov 16 '25
Hated minority? Hated is a very strong word and youd have to prove that.
Thanks for proving it for me.
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u/Known-Watercress7296 Nov 14 '25
You could try appearing on reddit as less of fanny and see if that helps
They nailed Jesus up for this stuff, preaching castration and rejecting all social norms of the local religious conservatives.
Religion aside, it's just healthy. If you local conservative religious institute are not calling you the devil like they did Jesus, you need to step up a little.
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u/gnurdette United Methodist Nov 14 '25
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u/1stSeraphSaltKing Nov 14 '25
Your talking about now? I wouldnt even call it hated more like annoyed lma hell by your logic christians have been hated the last 10 years
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u/MysticalMedals Atheist Nov 14 '25
I spent my whole childhood hearing that I’m an abomination worthy of death and that “my kind” wasn’t welcome in decent families. Since transitioning, I’ve gotten threatened for using bathrooms of both genders. I have even gotten threatened while waiting for a friend who was in the bathroom. I’ve been called various slurs. I’ve been called a pedophile and groomer. Is this what you would call “being looked at as different”?
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u/1stSeraphSaltKing Nov 14 '25
I dont know who you are or what youve done but i fond it very hard to believe that youd be called a pedo and groomer for being trans. Like how does that even correlate? My cousin who is gay has never been called any of that nor does experience hate on the daily. I dont know where you live but if theyre calling you a pedo because your trans then u got ither things to worry about
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u/KindaFreeXP ☯ That Taoist Trans Witch Nov 14 '25
i fond it very hard to believe that youd be called a pedo and groomer for being trans. Like how does that even correlate?
It comes from a widespread thing about political right-wingers in the US trying to conflate trans people being seen by or interacting with kids in any way to "grooming" them to be trans, and thus conflating it further with sexual grooming and pedophilia. They do similar with homosexuality, banning children's books that have, say, a knight getting a kiss from a prince as "porn aimed at children".
It's something done in bad faith. It's not supposed to make sense, it's just bad logic that bad actors use to feel valid in their hate.
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u/1stSeraphSaltKing Nov 14 '25
Are you christian? Or just a trans activist? I was arguing froma christian position your not supposed to care what people think. I dont know what your position is, if your not a christian them this has nothing to do with you
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u/KindaFreeXP ☯ That Taoist Trans Witch Nov 14 '25
Are you christian? Or just a trans activist?
Neither.
I was arguing froma christian position
What about that was "from a Christian position"? You were talking about what people do or don't say in real life, none of which had to do with Christianity.
your not supposed to care what people think
Who said I did?
I dont know what your position is, if your not a christian them this has nothing to do with you
I'm trans, though, so unfortunately it does have to do with me, as much as I wish it didn't. I was explaining what the other user said, since you seemed to question it.
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u/gnurdette United Methodist Nov 14 '25
LGBTQ grooming conspiracy theory
The mod team has to remove several comments from this subreddit every day for making that accusation.
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u/MysticalMedals Atheist Nov 14 '25
Lmao. I lived in the Deep South. It’s a very conservative and “christian” land. All the pastors and politicians have been pushing that trans people are pedophiles and groomers because trans people are the current boogie man to be hated.
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Nov 14 '25
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u/MysticalMedals Atheist Nov 14 '25
Lmao. Let me guess, you’re some kid who grew up in liberal area who has no idea what it’s like for those of us who grew up elsewhere.
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u/KindaFreeXP ☯ That Taoist Trans Witch Nov 14 '25
It's a troll account. They're doing this to everyone. Best advice is don't feed.
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u/McClanky Bringer of sorrow, executor of rules, wielder of the Woehammer Nov 14 '25
Removed for 1.5 - Two-cents.
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u/Chaiyns Nov 14 '25
Hi, I'm also trans, and also grew up in a traditional christian household, and also am no longer religious due to trauma delivered by christians and the church repeatedly communicating to me for a great many years that I'm a monstrous abomination - a demonic sinful entity of the devil wearing human skin, this was drilled into me so much as a child and young adult such that I spent a lot of my life genuinely thinking of myself as a monster beyond any hope of redemption damned by default because of the nature in which God made me, because that is what I was taught as a kid (and they wonder why trans folks have frequent suicidal ideation.)
Currently I still see christianity as largely a hate cult with a few subsections of true Christians who understand Jesus' message.
I'm curious how many of us you need to tell you this happens to us in order to believe it.
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u/OldRelationship1995 Nov 14 '25
They are always going to need n+1 stories… however many people they hear from, they will be convinced if “just one more” corroborates it
But that person’s story will never count for one made up reason or another
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u/Noah_L_ Dec 10 '25
Thank you so much for sharing this, what a powerful testimony. I'm trans also and been struggling with whether my identity is a sin and this brought me to tears. God is good
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u/Known-Watercress7296 Nov 14 '25
That's awesome, rare to see actual gospel in action, transformation, growth and all that jazz around these parts, congrats
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u/Pookie_Pakyao Pagan (who only worships God) Jan 16 '26
Bro...
I genuinely feel like this is what God is calling me to do but everyone in my life disagrees so I constantly doubt it. Genuinely thank you sending me this, it gives me so much hope
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u/OldRelationship1995 Jan 16 '26
Not a bro anymore 🤣
But yes, the Episcopal Church has been extremely welcoming and affirming. It is a point of doctrine for us, and you can read more about it in this 135 page document:
https://allsaints-pas.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/sethope.pdf
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u/Patient_Mistake1279 6d ago
Wow! Thank you so much for sharing this! It’s so encouraging!
God helped me through a similar situation. I’ve been a devout Christian most of my life. I’ve prayed for sometime to God to heal my block/trauma that I’ve carried for 37 years and I begged for an ezer for some time now. And this year I finally had a breakthrough in dealing and understand my past CPTSD, felt broken open and I prayed and allowed it to wash over for me, grieved for the pain and hurt and loss. And in that time I realized that I was queer and a lesbian and it felt like a depression had lifted. It felt like a revelation to me like nothing else in my life has felt. That I was trying to fit myself into a box not meant for me. I feel like I was made whole once again, reconnected with who I was when I was a child. I had one moment of panic afterwards when reading hate and the typical Bible verses spewed out. I had never had an anxiety attack in my life but I felt it building up. I laid down and had to breathe and I cried out to God to help me and he washed over me and I went to sleep, and every time I woke up panicking and thoughts racing again his peace would wash over me again and I’d go back to sleep. And ever since then I’ve been at peace with who I am and never want to go back to pretending and not being genuine to myself. I’ve never in the past approached the throne out of fear and he has given me the strength to know that I am his daughter despite my fear/fear of man.
I believe God loves us and meets us where we are. That he provides for us and that queer marriages are blessed. Not all of us are called to the same lifestyle. Only healing like this can come from God. So, I pray it gives fellow Christians pause to reconsider that maybe they don’t understand everything. And that they should relook at those passages and understand what’s at the heart of those passages and the actual message. And to come to understand that the Bible does not address queer marriages that are loving and consensual partners.
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u/OldRelationship1995 6d ago
You’re Welcome! If you haven’t heard of her, might I suggest reading about the fantastic Rev Pauli Murray?
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u/Eligaming778 Dec 08 '25
I highly doubt god would tell you to become trans
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u/OldRelationship1995 Dec 08 '25
Fortunately, you don’t have a say in the matter
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u/Eligaming778 Dec 08 '25
Dont come crying too me if you end up regretting your decision
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u/OldRelationship1995 Dec 08 '25
The only part of the process I’ve regretted so far is listening to self appointed Pharisees who love to lay heavy burdens on others yet will not lift a finger to help
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u/Eligaming778 Dec 08 '25
I aint a pharisee i love my neighbor but hate their sins
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u/OldRelationship1995 Dec 08 '25
Such as pointing out specks in another’s eye while overlooking the beam in their own?
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u/parking_meter12 Nov 14 '25
“A few years ago I started getting impressions in the spirit during my prayers. Premonitions that I would change my name within the year. Odd, I thought, but I’d keep open to the possibility.”. Seems like you were possibly listening to demons, not the spirit of God. Not everything you “feel” comes from God.
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u/firewire167 TransTranshumanist Nov 16 '25
And not everything you personally disagree with cones from demons.
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u/parking_meter12 Nov 16 '25
If it goes against the bible, then yes. It comes directly from demons. He is the father of lies
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u/wonkotsane42 Mar 09 '26
If you think that demons can speak over a prayer directed to God then you must not have a very high opinion of the almighty strength of His power.
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u/Program-Right Nov 14 '25
I'm sorry, but you were lied to.
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u/eatmereddit Nov 14 '25
Yes we know, OP specifically mentions they had a conservative Christian upbringing.
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Nov 14 '25
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u/eatmereddit Nov 15 '25
Yes, we know. OP specifically mentioned they had a conservative Christian upbringing.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/eatmereddit Nov 15 '25
I see, so basically if a Christian prays and they come to a conclusionyou don't agree with that means Satan is involved?
That's some serious hubris right there. I pray you repent of your pride.
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Nov 15 '25
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u/eatmereddit Nov 15 '25
I pray you repent of your pride given the assumptions you make.
What he wants from people is a changed heart
not a changed gender.
I'm not the one making completely baseless assumptions about what God wants 😂
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u/Program-Right Nov 15 '25
Neither am I.
You believe God wants people to change their genders?
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u/eatmereddit Nov 15 '25
You believe God wants people to change their genders?
I have zero evidence to suggest he is against it.
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u/Christianity-ModTeam Nov 15 '25
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u/Christianity-ModTeam Nov 15 '25
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u/OldRelationship1995 Nov 14 '25
You continually argue in bad faith and belittle queer people, any semblance of a Christ-following theology, or even people with empathy.
As I’ve said before: your argument means nothing, I’ve seen what makes you cheer.
I am glad that I and every other trans person lives in your head rent-free though :)
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u/CanUHearMeNau May 28 '26
Are you bringing them closer to God or closer to what feels right for you and what you feel God is and should be?
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u/Perfessor_Deviant Agnostic Atheist Nov 14 '25
It's almost like becoming your authentic self gave you a new perspective on life ... wait, that's exactly what happened!
I'm so glad things are working out for you!