The Meaning of “Side B” to Conventionally Religious Transgender Christians - Abstract
There is very little research on the experiences of transgender and gender-diverse Christians. We report data from a convenience sample of 13 Side B transgender Christians. Side B refers to a typology first developed by Bridges Across the Divide to foster dialogue among sexual minority Christians. While Side A referred to those Christians who believe same-sex behavior may be morally permissible in certain contexts (e.g., marriage), Side B viewed such behavior as morally impermissible. This distinction has been extended to and adopted by some Christians who identify as transgender, and this study was intended to help us understand the meaning of “Side B” to those who identify with it, including views of social and medical transition, the use of preferred name and pronouns, and other commonly reported behaviors. Purposeful sampling was used to reach participants identified through a religious ministry serving transgender Christians. Thirteen transgender Christians participated in the study. Consensual Qualitative Research (CQR) was utilized for data analysis, and major themes reported included Multiple Valid Pathways, Divine Guidance, and Identity Acknowledgement. Additional themes were also identified.