Blessed Are The Binary Breakers

Eli Rosenberg used to think that being trans was incompatible with faith.  But with help from their rabbi, transtorah.org, and the prophet Elijah, they discovered that Judaism has room for all sorts of people and welcomes questions without answers.   In this interview, Eli talks about conflict and interpretation. They wrestle with various supposed dualisms, from faith vs. science to being disabled vs. being made in the image of God -- and find that these concepts are not so dichotomous after all.  They also discuss the challenges of finding trans-friendly therapists, the pain of dysphoria and the wonders of hrt,  support from loved ones, and autism and EDS.  Eli can be found on twitter at @chronautist Talking Points: - Avery invites YOU to share your story for a special episode on Faith and Violence (for more details, see: https://tinyurl.com/yx8z75et) (0:00 - 3:23) - Introducing Eli -- nonbinary, disabled, autistic, Jewish (3:24 - 4:13) - Psychology and therapist problems (4:14

In a previous episode, Adam Richards talked to us about the United Methodist Church's general conference, but we didn't get to hear much about their own life! Adam has a deep love for Wesleyan theology's focus on good fruits and for their university's campus ministry and activist groups. Adam also talks about the support they find from their partner and some family members, the challenges of finding clothing when nonbinary and autistic, and finding the Spirit of Love in secular spaces. Talking points: - Updates on the UMC general conference (0:00 - 2:19)   - Introducing Adam: studies, church involvement (2:20-4:57)   - Growing up; high school youth group while figuring out sexuality (4:58-7:20) - College: LGBT+ group, activist group (7:21-8:49) - Frank Schaefer: hurt by the UMC, finding hope in campus ministry (8:50-14:40) - The "clobber" passages: trans people and the Bible (14:41-18:35) - Partner -- atheist, but not "unequally yoked" (18:36-20:48) - Family and working through queerphobia (20:49-

Derek Guy has a lot of love to give: for his family, for the youth he's worked with, and for communities where he can fully be himself as a Black trans man.  In this episode, Derek describes how he's been able to transform his traumatic experiences with church hurt and attending a conversion therapy camp into strength he uses to serve youth and adults as a social worker. He talks about identifying more as spiritual than Christian, believing in a higher power and, with his wife, doing what he can to give his son a solid foundation in spirituality.  Derek also talks about the life-giving power of finding communities where he feels supported and welcomed, and the pain and frustration when communities fail to be that -- with concrete advice to communities that want to learn to be more inclusive!  Derek wants listeners to know he can be found on most social media sites if you search DerekJGuy -- check him out!  Talking points: - Introducing Derek: from Atlanta to Louisville  (0:00 - 3:35

From February 23-26, 2019, the United Methodist Church is holding a special general conference specifically for the discussion of "human sexuality." The outcome will impact all members of the UMC, but particularly those within it who are LGBTQ+.   In this special episode, nonbinary Methodist Adam Richards was good enough to walk me through the various possible outcomes of this conference. While doing so, they shared their own story -- their love for Methodism and why they stay despite pain and frustation, their plans to pursue a calling to ordination, and the differences they've noticed between LGB issues and trans issues in Methodist churches.  Talking points: - Introducing Adam and LGBT+ discussions in the UMC (0:00 - 5:14) - M Barclay and LGBT+ resilience (5:15 - 6:34) - Constant conflict at previous General Conferences (6:35 - 8:42) - This February's special General Conference: 3 main plans (8:43 - 10:56) - Possible consequences for congregations and for LGBT+ individuals (10:57 - 12:51)

Join me and Willow Hovingh as she shares her experiences as a trans woman transitioning in her fifties. Coming out has brought Willow an abundance of blessings in her personal well-being, her work life and church life, and in her relationships with friends and family, including her trans son. Talking points: - Willow introduces herself -- a "late bloomer" who came out at 52 (0:00 - 3:20) - Growing up unchurched (3:21 - 4:10) - Joining a church, "searching for something" (4:11 - 4:59) - The "lowest difficulty settings" in the game of life, but still different, "the weird kid" (5:00 - 9:30) - Enrolling at Louisville Seminary, first inklings of being trans put on the shelf for 20 years (9:31 - 16:15) - Willow's "sandpaper suit;" everything uncomfortable (16:16 - 17:20) - "God bless estrogen" -- starting her transition and discovering gender euphoria! (17:21 - 18:49) - Supported by her long-time church, rich in LGBT ministers (18:50 - 23:17) - The power of a recognition of name-change rite (23:18 - 25:27) - Err

In this first episode, Avery discusses what made them start up this podcast. They then explore how genderqueerness is part of the vocation they have been discerning since their childhood days of preaching homilies to stuffed animals, all the way through their present studies at Louisville Seminary. Talking points: - The goal is to be a podcast for trans and nonbinary persons of all faiths and experiences (0:00 - 3:05) - Introducing the interviewer, Leah, and digging into Avery's childhood (3:06-6:15) - Avery's faith practices growing up -- scripture and sermonizing (6:16-11:00) - Avery's journey to recognizing their genderqueerness (11:01-16:09) - Internalized misogyny? Avery's nonbinary femininity and Leah's "tomboyness" (16:10-20:00) - Educating churches on trans issues (20:01-22:03) - Avery's three-branched vocation: pastorhood, genderqueerness, and marriage (22:04-24:03) - Breaking binaries between Catholicism and Protestantism -- Avery holds both traditions in their heart (24:04-27:14) - Avery and Leah