Supporting our Trans Siblings in Texas
Collective Church's co-pastors Megan and Courtney wanted to formally acknowledge and reaffirm our support of the trans community. Since we were founded, Collective Church has repeatedly said every single person is welcome. Not just accepted, but truly welcome into a community striving to be as inclusive as possible.
States across the country continue to bring forward or vote into law legislation actively targeting the trans community, and Texas's Governor Abbott has issued a directive calling on the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services to investigate gender-affirming care as child abuse. At the same time, conversion therapy, a practice proven to increase the rates of depression and attempted suicide by LGBTQ+ youth, is still very legal in Texas.
Every member of this marginalized community was made in the image of the divine. Whether you are transgender, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming - whatever your gender, gender expression, or sexuality - you were created in the image of perfection. You are loved. And you are always welcome at Collective Church.
We encourage you to support our transgender siblings as you are able.
Ways to practically support the trans community:
Donate to OUTreach Denton, a nonprofit organization in Denton founded by and serving the LGBTQ+ community: http://outreachdenton.org/give/
Donate to DFW Trans Kids and Families, a nonprofit organization created to support transgender or gender expansive children of all ages in the DFW area: https://dfwtkf.com/donate/
Donate to Equality Texas, a nonprofit organization working to secure full equality for LGBTQ+ Texans through political action, education, community organizing, and collaboration: https://www.equalitytexas.org/take-action/donate/give/
Donate to the Trevor Project, a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth: https://give.thetrevorproject.org/give/63307
You can also support the trans community by contacting Governor Abbott's office directly through the office's official contact form or by calling (512) 463-2000. The National Center for Transgender Equality has a great resource for educating government officials on transgender rights.
You can click here find sample language for writing to Texas State legislators, Texas's members of Congress in DC, and Governor Abbott.
Local resources to share:
Resources for transgender youth in Texas: https://www.txtranskids.org/
TransFamilies, a membership website for families with transgender, non-binary, or gender-diverse kids of any age: https://transfamilies.org/
Resources provided by OUTreach Denton: http://outreachdenton.org/resources/
