Sunday, June 13, 2010

"Gender Identity" with Rev. Sharon Dittmar on 06/13/10

Pride Sunday is always a great day at our church.  Today was no different.  From the rainbow balloons in the entry, to our private accessible restroom on the second floor, to the rainbow sherbet served after the service, it is clear that this church takes PRIDE in welcoming and celebrating the gay community.  

This year's Pride Sunday service focused on issues of gender identity.  Rev. Dittmar taught us so much about the experience of GLBQT (gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, and transgendered) people.  Some vocabulary, some etiquette, some popular culture.

Sharon mentioned Leslie Feinberg's Beacon Press book Transgender WarriorsThis sounds like an excellent book to enhance understanding of the social justice issues that surround our gender expression.  Feinberg's own life experience reminds me of the courage these warriors must summon in order to walk about in a world that prefers direct answer to "Is that a man or a woman?"  Sharon also mentioned Jeffrey Eugenides's fictional Middlesex, which I can highly recommend.    The movie "Boys Don't Cry" and the production notes here also illuminate the violent death that Brandon Teena suffered because others were afraid of his gender expression.   


Can a boy wear a skirt to school?  Can a girl wear a tux to the prom?  This sermon reminds me that our teens, puzzling out their own sexual and gender identities, often lead us into clearer thinking on the issues with their willingness to question our standard ways of thinking.  As Sharon reminded us, to them gender is something to play with.  Boys with eyeliner.  Girls in boxer shorts.  Appreciate the difference.  Children at our church and, hopefully, in our world will be accepted, embraced, protected no matter how they identify. 

The Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing  offers resources for faith communities working in our own church, the community, and the world to celebrate and support GLBTQ people and to take a stand on issues of injustice related to sexuality.  Our own UUA, has started the Standing on the Side of Love campaign, led by our own RE graduate, Adam Gerhardstein. Adam's parents, Mimi Gingold and Al Gerhardstein, are rightfully proud of the ministry he has taken up, as we all are.  The effort encourages using the power of love to conquer discrimination of all sorts, including advocacy to end unfair marriage discrimination for gay couples.  (By the way, Standing on the Side of Love takes its name from our closing hymn today that was written in honor of another of our own RE graduates, former UUA president Rev. Bill Sinkford.)

The problem of how to label, identify, and classify people is not their problem.  Sharon reminds us, "The problem is ours and that's a good problem to have because we can change. . . Find your love and give it."

And take a peek at Bret Michaels' hair extensions.

Go out into the world. . .
G.