I think about my parents every now and then. I wouldn’t say often – maybe a few times a month.

Fortunately I often FORGET that I’m getting pretty close to 60 years old. I certainly don’t feel it and HOPE I don’t look it.

But thank God for public education in the 60’s I CAN DO MATH! My parents are just about 80. All my grandparents passed away in their early 80’s. I sometimes cry (ok – yes like now) when I think about the possibility of either of them passing away and never ever speaking again. It’s always been a hope of mine that we could at some time reunite in some way – in ANY way. Once they pass that’s it – my chance is gone. If I’m crying now (which I am) I can’t imagine how that will hurt if it ever actually happens.

(So after a few minutes composing myself) If someone is transgender and is a conservative, evangelical Christian, then WHO do they turn to at their church with that pain? How do they say WHY they’re not going to the funeral? How do they answer WHY they “weren’t close for several years”? If that is NOT a time in life when one can turn to their church family for love and support, then when?

As a Christian who is transgender, I hope that Christians and churches “out there” understand that we can live with perhaps ONE friend to start with – but we hope that one day the entire Church will be there for us. For now… ONE person to hug us, ONE person to understand just how much it would hurt to lose a parent because they couldn’t accept us for who we are (OK, more crying.) ONE person to see us our first week back at church and when they ask us “how are you doing” we know that they know that we UNDERSTAND the full meaning of their question and the depth of our hurt.  ONE person to share the pain of their Christian brother or sister.

Just ONE person.