Why We Must Keep the "T" in LGBT: A Sacred Call to Solidarity
As people of faith, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, to stand with the marginalized, and to resist the forces of division and oppression. In the Episcopal tradition, we believe that every human being is created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and love. This is why we must speak out against the deliberate attempts to erase the "T" from LGBT—a move that seeks to divide the LGBTQ+ community and deny the sacred worth of transgender individuals. The Trump administration’s attacks on transgender rights, including the removal of the "T" from the Stonewall LGBT National Monument, are not just political maneuvers; they are acts of spiritual violence. As followers of Christ, we cannot remain silent. The "T" is not disposable. It is not negotiable. It is essential.
The Sacred Worth of Transgender People
Transgender people have always been part of God’s creation, fearfully and wonderfully made in divine image. Yet, throughout history, they have been pushed to the margins, denied their humanity, and forced to fight for their right to exist. The Stonewall Riots of 1969, a pivotal moment in the LGBTQ+ rights movement, were led by transgender women of color like Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera. These women, often overlooked in the retelling of our shared history, were prophets of liberation, demanding justice not just for themselves but for all who are oppressed.
The Trump administration’s attempt to erase transgender people from the Stonewall National Monument is not just a historical revision; it is a denial of their sacred role in the struggle for equality. As Christians, we are called to remember and honor those who have fought for justice, especially when their stories are silenced. To erase the "T" is to erase the image of God in transgender people, and that is something we cannot abide.
We Are One Body
The Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:26 that "if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it." The LGBTQ+ community is one body, bound together by shared struggles and shared hopes. When transgender people are targeted by discriminatory laws, denied healthcare, or subjected to violence, it is not just their suffering—it is ours. When the Trump administration seeks to divide us, we must respond with the radical solidarity that is at the heart of our faith.
This solidarity is not new. During the AIDS crisis of the 1980s, lesbians in the LGBTQ+ community stepped forward to care for gay men who were dying in staggering numbers. They organized food drives, provided hospice care, and fought for medical research and government action when the rest of the world looked away. Their actions were a living testament to the Christian call to love one another as Christ has loved us. In recognition of this solidarity, the acronym evolved from "GLB" to "LGBT," with the "L" moved to the front to honor the lesbians who had shown up when so many gay men literally could not. This shift was not just symbolic; it was a reflection of our shared humanity and interconnectedness.
Today, we are called to extend that same solidarity to transgender people. Just as lesbians stood with gay men during the AIDS crisis, we must stand with transgender people as they face relentless attacks on their rights and their very existence.
A Faithful Response to Division
The forces that seek to divide the LGBTQ+ community are the same forces that seek to divide the Body of Christ. They thrive on fear, hatred, and exclusion. But as followers of Jesus, we are called to a different way—a way of love, inclusion, and radical hospitality. Jesus himself reached out to those on the margins, affirming their worth and dignity. He dined with outcasts, healed the sick, and welcomed the stranger. In doing so, he showed us what it means to live out God’s love in the world.
The Trump administration’s attempts to erase transgender people from our national narrative and our shared movement are antithetical to the Gospel. They are an affront to the God who created us all in divine image and called us good. As people of faith, we must resist these attempts with every fiber of our being. We must declare, unequivocally, that the "T" belongs in LGBT.
A Pledge to Protect and Celebrate
In this moment of crisis, we must reaffirm our commitment to solidarity. We must see transgender people, celebrate their contributions, and protect their rights. We must honor the legacy of Marsha P. Johnson and Sylvia Rivera by ensuring that transgender people are not erased from our movement or our society. We must stand against the Trump administration's attempts to divide us and declare, unequivocally, that the "T" belongs in LGBT.
Our faith calls us to this work. It calls us to love boldly, to resist injustice, and to stand with those who are marginalized. It calls us to remember that we are all part of one body, bound together by the love of God.
The "T" stays. Because we are stronger together. Because we are bound together. Because it is right. And because it is holy.
