A prominent United Methodist agency has released a statement expressing its full support for sex-change surgeries for children, which it affirmed is the position of the United Methodist Church.
The missive was penned by Bishop Julius C. Trimble, the General Secretary of the General Board of Church and Society, which is one of several official agencies of the United Methodist Church.
From the authority of the United Methodist Church, he oversees the agency’s vision, mission and mandate for witness and action on issues of human well-being, justice, peace and the integrity of creation. He leads the agency in responding to critical social issues, facilitates the church’s legislative advocacy, and coordinates its priorities for the U.S. Congress.
In a statement on the denomination’s website titled ‘Protecting Transgender Civil and Human Rights, ‘ he laments that “state, local and other governmental bodies in the United States have already enacted anti-transgender legislation,” which he describes as ‘discriminatory, harmful and unjust.’
As United Methodists, we are called to stand with transgender people, rejecting laws that allow politicians to dictate their health care decisions, take away their basic freedoms like access to facilities, and pursue discriminatory practices against transgender and non-binary people in the workplace or places of business.
Trimble points out that several Democratic congressmen and women have introduced a Transgender Bill of Rights, which he lauds as important and needed legislation that will “protect and codify the rights of transgender and nonbinary people under the law and ensure their access to medical care, shelter, safety, and economic security.’ and seeks to spur them to action.
This includes the rights of minors to seek ‘gender-affirming care’ and surgical intervention, codifying that children be given the right to take puberty blockers, cut off healthy breast tissue, and invert penises into grotesque approximations of vaginas.
He closes with a call to action:
Call your federal senator or representative and let them know you support the Transgender Bill of Rights. The main U.S. Capitol Switchboard number to leave a message or ask for a specific congressional office is 202-224-3121.
