Yesterday, I
watched a five-minute video clip which had been posted on Facebook. It was
disturbing. So much so that I only watched the first minute or so then switched
it off.
It was a male
pastor calling for a boycott of Target (a nationwide chain store). His tone was
full of bigotry and hatred. The offence that had been committed was that a statement
from their corporate headquarters about bathrooms had been put out.
This is what
Target said,
“In our stores, we demonstrate our commitment to an
inclusive experience in many ways. Most relevant for the conversations
currently underway, we welcome transgender team members and guests to use the
restroom or fitting room facility that corresponds with their gender identity.”
(https://corporate.target.com/article/2016/04/target-stands-inclusivity)
The
male pastor talked about opening the door to perverts. But listening to the bit
I heard of his tirade, it seemed that he was unconcerned about those who are
biologically female using a designated male restroom or fitting room. His
concern was all about a biological male using a female bathroom. He seemed to
think this was going to put everyone else in the restroom at risk of a sexual
attack!
First
a definition as in the various reports I have read and heard there seems to be
a good deal of confusion about gender and sex. (Certainly, the above mentioned male
pastor was confused about it.)
"Sex refers to the biological and
physiological characteristics that define
men and women. Gender refers to
the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes that a
given society considers appropriate for men and women." Oct 21,
2011 World Health Organisation
So
second, a few facts about sexual abuse . . .
•
An estimated 60% of perpetrators of sexual abuse are known to
the child but are not family members, e.g., family friends, babysitters, child
care providers, neighbors.
•
About 30% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are family
members.
•
Only about 10% of perpetrators of child sexual abuse are
strangers to the child.
(https://www.nsopw.gov/en-US/Education/FactsStatistics?AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1)
Now a few more statistics . . .
•
3.4% of U.S. Adults self identify as LGBT (http://www.gallup.com/poll/158066/special-report-adults-identify-lgbt.aspx)
•
Of that 3.4% only 5% identify as transgender (http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2013/06/SDT_LGBT-Americans_06-2013.pdf)
The
next question that I needed to ask was how many sexual attacks were perpetrated
by transgender people in restrooms?
In
the U.S. the answer is zero. Brynn Tannehill writes:
“Over
the 35 year history of NDO [Non-Discrimination Ordinances]s protecting
transgender people all over the world, only one case of a person abusing an NDO
and committing sexual assault (in Canada) has ever been found, even by those
most interested in demonizing transgender people.”
The
current debate is sparked by North Carolina House Bill 2, the Public Facilities Privacy
& Security Act, voting into effect on March 24th.
Of
course, no one knows how anyone can police such a bill.
I
would add that I can only think of two transgender people I know amongst my
friends. But I may know more, to be quite honest I have never checked anyone’s biological
sex! No that is a lie . . . I have done it three times, when each of my
children was born over thirty years ago so pre-scans.
Personally,
if I ever have to use a public restroom I go into a stall and lock the door! I
am really very unaware of most of the other people in there apart from common
curtesy demands.
So
I wondered why the male pastor was so upset. What was the prejudice that caused
such a strong reaction in the light of no evidence to back up his claims?
How
is this sort of hatred generated? What is the obsession and fear associated
with the male organ?
Then
I read the lectionary passage. Sometimes, unbeknown to the compilers of the
lectionary the verses they picked so many years ago are relevant to
contemporary times and issues. Today was one of those days.
The
passage in Acts was about the male organ! It was all about who was circumcised
and who wasn’t. The story was that Peter was criticized for eating with uncircumcised
believers (Acts 11:1-18). This was something the Jewish believers had avoided
doing.
Peter
explained how his prejudice was overcome. He had a heavenly vision which was
repeated three times he saw a basket of animals, reptiles and birds which were
unclean by Jewish law lowered to him. He was commanded to take them and eat
them. He argued that they were unclean then a voice told him, “What God has
made clean you shall not call profane.”
So
today, as the bathroom debate continues to rage, this can be a message for us
all. In the book of Acts, Peter talked about “them and us”. Is that still the
case today?
Is there any person or group of people we call unclean? Are there reasons to exclude any? Or can we accept all people as being made in the image of God and afford them the respect that deserves?
