Today's story is written by The Rev. Cn. Meg Wagner, Canon to the Ordinary,
The Episcopal Diocese of Iowa. She graduated Episcopal Divinity School in 2015.

Through our diocesan partnerships with Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and One Iowa, the Diocese of Iowa had been alerted that a bill aimed at erasing gender Identity from the Iowa Civil Rights code would be proposed again this legislative session.

The final version of the bill that was passed was even more devastating than we expected - SF418. It not only has wide-ranging impacts on protections from discrimination in housing, education and more but also erases the phrase “gender identity” in educational contexts and replaces it with the phrase “gender theory,” prohibiting instruction about so-called “gender theory” in schools from kindergarten through sixth grade. It defines “sex” as “the state of being either male or female as observed or clinically verified at birth”, makes it so that can never be changed, and that legal documents must reflect that.

Skylar from St. Luke’s, Cedar Falls giving testimonyThe Diocese of Iowa has 3 volunteer lobbyists registered with the state who keep us informed about bills our legislators are working on that address areas that General Convention or our diocese has official positions on. They register opinions on behalf of the diocese, testify at committee hearings, and organize a yearly “Episcopal Day on the Hill” where Episcopalians from across the state come and learn how the legislative process works and have the opportunity to speak with their representatives on the issues they care about.

This particular bill moved incredibly fast through the process - one week from introduction to passing, and our lobbyists got word out through our diocesan Facebook group, Faith in Action and our diocesan facebook page. Bishop Monnot testified at subcommittees and at the public hearing that was held on Thursday, Feb 27. Transgender members from our churches also testified at several hearings.

Despite only really having about a day and a half notice, I saw over 25 members from at least 11 of our churches at what they are calling the largest protest within the capitol building. Over 2,500 Iowans showed up on Thursday, February 27 to protest the bill. Episcopal clergy joined leaders of other denominations in two lines of locked arms keeping a calm and physical distance between the heavy Iowa State trooper presence and the protestors. We prayed, we sang. And everywhere we went folks thanked us for being present and bearing a Christian witness against what was happening.

The Congregation of St. Andrew's Des Moines at the State HouseAnd we stayed to witness as it ended up passing both houses in simultaneous “debate” meant to divide the crowd’s attention. Other than the bill’s proposer, no republican spoke in favor of the bill, and in fact it was revealed later the Republican senators had a bingo game they were playing mocking the Democrats who spoke against it. All Democrats voted against and all but five Republican House members voted for the bill (even after extreme pressure and threats from their leadership). Afterwards we stayed and provided what pastoral care we could to the remaining devastated and angry protestors and some of the legislators who had really tried their best. The governor signed it into law on Friday.
There will undoubtedly be efforts to stop it in the courts, but there is no telling the damage that has been and will be caused in the meantime. Many of our clergy at services this weekend encountered people angry and sad that it had passed, but also undeterred that our place is to stand where Jesus stood, with the marginalized. The diocese remains committed to working with Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and other partners to fight for the worth and dignity of our trans and genderqueer neighbors, friends and family.
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As Bishop Monnot posted the next day, “In Iowa, we are grieving yesterday’s vote to remove gender identity from the Iowa Civil Rights code. Transgender and genderqueer Iowans, you are beautifully and wonderfully made in God’s image, and God does not make mistakes. I see you, I love you, and I will fight for your right to be free to be the person God made you to be.” And lots of Iowa Episcopalians will be there with her.
Blessings,
Meg+
Pronouns: she/her/hers (why pronouns matter)

Church is sometimes a refuge, a place to hide from the chaos around us. In fact sometimes, when the going gets tough, we use the church as a place to hide. For the most part, my advice to churches is this: don’t hide!

But for some LGBTQ+ people, the danger is significant. For trans youth it is especially awful, and for all trans people the situation is bad. And right now the prospects for a worsening situation seems possible.

For people who are afraid, church should be a refuge.

In one of the more bizarre stories of the New Testament, the Ethiopian Eunuch (Acts 8:26-40) is wondering about what a text in Isaiah means, and Phillip appears to explain. What is bizarre is not that identity as Ethiopian, nor Eunuch, but that Phillip disappears into thin air at the end of the encounter. “The spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away” (v. 39). (Honestly the image of Philip running alongside the chariot is weird as well!)

What is not bizarre in the first century context is that when this person says “what is to keep me from being baptized” (v. 36). Philip doesn’t even ask more questions. He just does the baptism, on the spot. Some ancient authorities have added some reassurance that he believed the good news, but there is nothing asking about his sexuality, his gender identity, nor his views on any number of Christian theologies.

In 1930 the first transgender magazine started in Germany. In 1933 Hitler became Chancellor and began re-enforcing traditional gender roles. Trans organizations were attacked, some people were forced to de-transition, and many were sent to what were to become concentration camps. The government was particularly concerned with people who were identified as male at birth.

Today, our government is again attacking people who are trans. Again, there is a particular obsession with those identified as male at birth. This will hurt real people and is part of intention to enforce traditional gender roles. Both the tirades against trans women in sports, and trans youth getting medical services they need are about very few individuals. This is a set-up for turning our society against a group of people who just want to live their lives as who they really are.

For people who are afraid, church should be a refuge.

Our buildings need to be safe places, and in some circumstances, secret places for people at risk to gather. We should be funding organizations that help trans and other queer people. We need to be public in our support of people who are trans, and yet make space for people to keep their identity private if they choose. Some trans people need help finding a way to move to safer towns or states. Others need a place to meet each other.
For people who are afraid, church should be a refuge.
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What you can do:

If your community is up for community organizing, is our city or town ready to become a sanctuary for Trans people? Worcester Massachusetts is not the first place I expected that to happen, and yet, some people got together to make it happen. 
If you’d like help creating a safe gathering place, you can contact the people at The Lighthouse. They are located in Florida but are helping churches in any state.

If you’d like to help families relocate and/or to make sure people can get the gender affirming care they need, check out Pink Haven.  

The United States was once considered a safe place to immigrate for LGBTQIA+ individuals living in especially dangerous countries. The LGBT Asylum Project in Worcester, MA has been helping those refugees. They especially need your financial help now. 

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