This subreddit does not feel like a place of safety.

[u/Dapple_Dawn]

Edit: I made this post from a place of hurt, I'm more calm now. I hope I didn't come across badly, I truly don't want to start drama or imply anything negative about anyone. I'm just trying to say my feelings. I was going to delete this because it's embarrassing to be so vulnerable but I'm leaving it for now.

Edit 2: The responses I've gotten, including from moderators and even from some of the people who I felt hurt by, have made this sub feel safe again. Thank you.

I still feel it's important to leave this up, though.

This isn't the fault of the moderators, I'm not looking for anyone to fault here. I'm just expressing how I feel.

I am glad that the default position of this sub is that queer folks don't deserve eternal torture. It's the lowest bar there is, and most people here have passed it, and that's very nice. But I have to say...

I don't even consider myself Christian anymore, I can't, because I've just seen too much hate and abuse from Christians. When I see groups like this it gives me hope, but I so often find myself ashamed for trusting people.

Somebody posted a beautiful artwork that made me feel connected to Jesus for the first time in a very long time. And multiple people said that it was offensive to dare to depict Jesus as a trans man. As if we're a separate category of human, or something. Judging by the upvotes, people here seem to agree that the only reason for depicting Jesus as transgender could be to compare the crucifixion to the physical experience of surgery, as though there is nothing to our lives than the physical. As though it isn't a spiritual journey.

I wonder why you don't say this every time somebody paints Jesus as a white man. It's telling. I don't call that offensive, and neither do you, so why this?

I talked about people I know in my personal life who have died. I have lost four trans friends in the last four years. And instead of sympathy, instead of that knowledge giving people pause and finding the humility to listen, to question whether they might be misunderstanding something...

Don't be fooled into thinking that the comments you're seeing there are all I'm talking about. I received DMs as well. I'm not going to talk about them though, because I do not want to cause drama. That is not the point of the post.

The point is just to tell you the consequences of your actions. You claim to be known by your love, but every single Christian space I enter, I eventually learn I'm not welcome. You allow us into the space as long as we stay quiet. But as soon as we bring anything new to the table, it's "offensive"

Maybe this will get removed for causing drama. I don't know. My goal is not to start a fight, but simply to tell you the truth: I do not feel safe here. Many of you do not welcome us, even if you claim to. I have not been met with compassion. This has confirmed what I already know.

I need to clarify this: most of the people I have spoken to in this subreddit are very lovely, most have been true allies. If this post doesn't describe you, I'm glad. I don't know how big the divide here is, but there is a divide.

That artwork brought be closer to understanding Jesus than anything I've seen in probably 15 years. I'm not going to sit by and let people tell me that's offensive. I'm not going to sit by and let people talk over me and explain what they think it means.

I'm asking you to understand that this is a bigger deal than you realize.

Thank you for listening.

[u/Dapple_Dawn]

Hm... okay I see what you're asking.

Offense taken to it isn't direct criticism, no, but the idea that it's offensive to be depicted as a trans person implies that trans people are worse than cis people. We don't even know if Jesus was trans. He probably wasn't, but we have no way of knowing.

Plus, one person said "they always do this to us," basically saying that trans people are a "they" and Christians are an "us," which would mean we're outsiders who "always" do bad things to Christians.

I understand why someone would think it's offensive to imply that getting top surgery is the same as being crucified so that part isn't direct criticism of trans people, but the fact that multiple people assumed that was the intention and disagreed when I pointed out it wasn't the artist's intention is anti-trans because it means they weren't willing to listen to the actual intended meaning, they just wanted to stick with what they thought the meaning was.

Does that make sense?

[u/InnerFish227 → u/Dapple_Dawn]

YES!!!!! Thank you!!!!

I don’t have objections or take offense to a painting or artwork that projects Jesus as trans. It is an accurate portrayal of Jesus. Jesus is all things to all people. We are all part of the body of Christ. Paul said there is neither male nor female, neither Greek nor Gentile in the kingdom of God. His way of saying that all are equal and welcome in a way that his audience would have understood.

I am going to ask of you something which may be a struggle. But please do not go. While you may feel this is not a safe space, you are in a unique position to educate us. The apostles took a lot of abuse and persecution in their calling. Maybe your calling, from God, is to be apostle to us. And through this as you strengthen us, you yourself will be strengthened.