The Transgender community has voiced a certain dissonance when discussing an affiliation to religion. While many people in the Transgender community voice that they feel they are spiritual, many have also voiced a refrain from belonging to  a church or a synagogue. There seems to be  a persistent trial when attempting to conform to the views of Religions. One that accounts for more repression, more guilt, and more shame. Many Transgenders feel that these places of worship are too restrictive, since they call for a special adherence, and accommodation made for the community to which they may ascribe to.

Transitioning for Transgenders is a choice based on sexual diversity. In speaking to a reason to practice worship as  a life long choice and decision. A Transgender may feel they would like to abandon the sexual politics involved with it’s denomination. However, many Churches and Synagogues still teach the literal interpretation of the bible. Which in fact may limit the more liberal views that a Transgender may have. Sex that is out of wedlock, and pre-marital sex are among many of the conflicts that arise when discussing one’s position on what they personally feel is their own prerogative.

Religion teaches morality, ethics, and helps to reinforce self knowledge by ascribing to these beliefs a sense of virtue and humanity. Many people in the Transgender community feel religion helps them to process the often dysphoric confusion related to themselves. That worship for personal incentives is the only reason they attend services. Transgenders who choose a life long commitment to faith, may do so from a touchstone of feeling the dismissal of their character that had haunted them in the past, and may choose to follow a path that brings them closer to their understanding of humanity.

Spirituality runs deep in the Transgender community. Buddhist Meditation, Yoga, Vegetarianism are all outlets where a Transgender may feel more like opening up outwardly, or coming out with their pre conceived questions as to why morality must be taught as such a high ideal. Many people in the Transgender community practice  a spiritual life to a greater or lesser degree. What implications these paths may have to offer a Transgender in a house of worship may or may not be clearly defined.

What the Transgender population is searching for is a quality of their faith and belief. In themselves and the world around them. The sexual dichotomy, which may be seen as an ambiguity to Christianity and Judaism, is one that if welcoming would reconcile that quality of faith as a threshold which could relieve us from feeling outcast, and the confusion that may imply. The sexual implications of testifying all that a Transgender has been exposed to, may or may not be in the interest of Christianity and Judaism. Yet the reconciliation to the fact that religious axioms, and religious fervor run deep in the population, may help ascribe to a more interpersonal pursuit of religious teachings, rather than a conflict one has with implied moral behavior. This turning away based on moral grounds leads to a rationalization, and fear based motive to isolate the Transgender community and our calling, as we have seen fail so often in attempts at conversion therapy.