“American Teenager” book discussion

The use of the trans community–particularly trans youth–as political pawns by the current administration is disgraceful. The health and well-being of these young people and their families is being threatened for the sake of political theater, to distract from economic and political realities the administration finds inconvenient.

Taking a page from the autocratic playbook, the president and his health secretary are targeting a minority group about whom it is easy to foment suspicion in a void of wider understanding. Even as many families of trans youth have been relocating to states where care is still available, just before Christmas the health secretary announced plans to remove access to this care nationwide. The cruelty and callousness of this timing was not related to any new development or basis in fact, but rather was calculated to steal attention in the press.

Jesus teaches us to look to the margins to find those who are to be our priority for compassion and care. The marginalization of the trans community, therefore, calls for our caring response. This begins with understanding the real stories of trans people so that we can dispel the myths surrounding them, and effectively ally ourselves to push back against the injustice they are facing.

Beginning on January 7 at 6 pm, we’ll look together at the stories of trans teenagers compiled by journalist Nico Lang in his book, American Teenager. Join in person in the sanctuary at 6 West 96th or onZoom (link in Rev. Thia’s weekly email).