Thread by @CarlosAlett

Why the Family Proclamation is actually pro-trans, a 🧵 in honor of #Mormon #PRIDE

If you're someone who thinks trans identity isn't of God, please read this—I hope to provide a framework to understand trans folks and their place within our currently revealed doctrine.

The Family Proclamation, in its second paragraph, states that sex is an essential, eternal part of our identity.

(The Proclamation calls it "gender", but church authorities have since clarified that what they meant is "biological sex", which is how I'll be referring to it)

The doctrine of a physical, sexed God is a key part of Mormon theology—it's central to the plan of salvation, which lays out our understanding of the narrative and purpose of eternity.

God being a literal parent is a distinguishing part of our theology, and we're proud of it.

That belief in God informs our own understanding of our bodies—that *sexed* bodies are IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.

Our biological sex is a reflection of the divine.

And that is a beautiful, sexually affirming doctrine. It's one of the things that makes me glad to be a Mormon.

But how is that pro-trans? Well, because sexual identity is such an integral part of us, that it stands to reason that there would be *severe* dysphoria if your earthly body differed from your spiritual one.

And this isn't something new—earthly bodies being formed with spiritually incongruous traits isn't anything we don't already believe.

We don't say someone born without a limb is that way spiritually—it's just that we live in an imperfect world with imperfect bodies.

Similarly, someone who has an extra chromosome isn't believed to be that way eternally—it's just that there is an incongruity between their eternal, spiritual reality (body) and their earthly body.

This isn't some existential threat to our children—just a reality of mortal life.

So, when trans folks say they are the wrong sex, BELIEVE THEM.

After all, "[sex] is an essential characteristic of individual premortal, mortal, and eternal identity and purpose", so imagine how hard it would be for an essential characteristic to be entirely wrong.

If church members really want to defend the Family Proclamation, we can start by taking gender dysphoria seriously, and realizing it's something our unique theology elegantly and beautifully addresses.

We should affirm the importance of sexed bodies by affirming trans folks.

Trans children of God deserve all our respect, trust, and love.

It is our duty as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints not only to welcome and love them, but to affirm their correct sex, and to allow them the full blessings of tthe Restored Church.

/fin

Bonus tweet:

If anyone wants to bring up any issues with what I wrote, please argue the points I make and use scriptural/theological sources.

But you won't find them, because the scriptures won't contradict what I say—because trans identity is about finding your godly identity