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A Historical Argument Against Transgender Suicide
A Historical Argument Concerning Transgender Suicide
A friend had a friend who commited suicide via hanging. Before doing so her friend asked, “Have you ever known an old drag queen?” The implication is no, and according to statistics, suicide among transgenders is much higher than the average. Here are some stats according to one survey:
• More than 50% transgender male teens attempted suicide.
• 29.9% of transgender female attempted suicide.
• 41.8 percent of non-binary respondents stated that they had attempted suicide.
Our first response must be one of sadness. Our second reaction should be to help. The question becomes, how can we best help? Asking how implies not all “help” is helpful.
Regardless of where you fall conceptually within this discussion, please understand all must have the same main goal. That is, not being judgmental on either side to the point of rejecting help from any who can provide escape from suicide and other connected suffering. Regardless of whether you support it or not, we can love people with whom we disagree on whether it should be supported or not.
People supportive of this lifestyle suggest if they had more societal support such statistics would not be the case.
There is a historical argument against societal rejection, or even familial rejection, being the impetus to suicide. If I can prove that premise, then wouldn’t that be helpful?
Historically there was another minority group not accepted by society and often family members. They were chided, derided, ridiculed, and affirmed to be dangerous to the norm of society. This minority group was Christians.
“Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by everyone because of my name, but the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (CSB’17 Mark 13:12-13)
History proves this forewarning prophetic. In some places Christians are still persecuted, along with those not fitting societal or religious norm.
So why did followers of Jesus thrive even when marginalized?
1. Unlike alternative lifestyles, Christians were not denying their physical reality, but instead accepted it and fulfilled themselves with the hope of a bodily resurrection. Persecution to death is the ultimate rejection of our physical reality which was overcome by the assurance found in Jesus’s resurrection (1 Corinthians 15).
2. Anthropological evidence overwhelmimgly implies humans are designed to worship. Christians found the ultimate spiritual reality through Jesus and His resurrection.
3. Approval from society is not as powerful as approval from God. Knowing God accepts us is the most inwardly affirming stabilization against self doubt, or societal rejection! Jesus’s resurrection affirmed His true identity (Romans 1:1-6).
I hope this helps us see from a historical perspective and reality that familial and social rejection do not necessarily lead to the tragedy of suicide.
Consequently, the argument which suggests that transgenders not being accepted by society is damaging to their identity, is not a valid argument. Suicide among these people is not society’s fault. That does not diminish its tragedy.
If it is not society’s rejection, could it be that transgenderism itself is a rejection of one’s true identity instead of it being an affirmation?
In contrast to a denial of self-reality, we should embrace the idea that Christians are moving from an errant view of themselves to a view of themselves that reaches for the natural or created view of themselves as designed and defined by God.
Here is where, surprisingly, those confused by their identity can learn from the historical example of Christians. Not accepting God’s norm for us – whether seen as needing to worship or as in being male or female – is moving toward a view that creates mental, emotional, and spiritual dissonance. Being a Christian is moving toward a greater harmony. Likewise denying the confusion caused by bodily dysphoria as our reality can lead to harmony too.
Accepting how our God and our bodies define us is accepting wholeness despite social rejection or acceptance. Th is is because we allow God to define our true identity.
I pray this helps and know you are loved.
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