What the ....

[Annie M]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

[Rianna Humble]

She may have sincerely thought that she was helping you, but in fact she wasn't.

Part of my period of denial came from being influenced by that sort of religious belief.

BTW, did she understand that you are TS, rather than just a CD?

[Annie M]

The distinction would be lost. And my sense of religious whacks is they are the sick ones.

[Miss Maxine]

The distinction would be lost. And my sense of religious whacks is they are the sick ones.

I second this, completely. My mother thinks I need to be Born-Again to cure my "problem."

[Longing2be-Trisha]

Annie I am so sorry, But I know how you feel. My wife and in-laws are that way even though they love me, can't be married to a TG! Apparently love has boundaries and Satan is attacking you so repent your sins. LOL! The ear plugs go in and lalalalalalala can't hear you. Now we are separated heading for divorce ouch very sad.

Hugs

[Annie M]

Not to worry about me I really quite fine... sorry to hear your problem. I have been in the separated heading also, no fun but life goes on and gets better. Check your heading and sail on!

[Susan_Xdress]

Oh my . . . I could not help laughing at this. Whatever the intent I had this image of being placed in the church basement in shackles and being 'deprogrammed'. Perhaps exorcism is a better term. Max Von Sydow screaming, "I cast you out demon frocks and silky knickers . . .

[Annie M]

I like the Max Von Sydow part... the fact is there is more to the story. The Pastor had claimed to cure homosexuals and transgender people before. It amazed me how tight the church group seemed to be. I never went so I dont know about any chains.......

[Jorja]

You will find those in every walk of life who believe thiers is the only way. Only you know who you are and what you need to be happy, health. Follow your heart and mind. You will be surprised where it will take you. As for crossdressing being cured with the power of prayer, shouldn't we all be cured by now?

[Frances]

I have some Hitchens, Dawkins and Amis titles to recommend if your friend is interested.

[Jonianne]

There is an ex-TS minister that my ex-wife had counseling with. After she started seeing him, she started giving me ultimatums, and said he told her to throw my cloths in the trash, and to tell everyone in my life about my cd'ing, as a means of tough-love to get me to repent and stop.

I will always be very angry with this person for pushing our marriage into destruction. I wonder how many others he destroyed.

[lynnhaven]

wow! I sure dont see it as any kind of sin...remove the plank from your own eye before you try and judge others...sorry you were subjected to that...

[jillleanne]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

and if you join my flock and donate regularly, I can increase your breast size 3 fold, slim your waist and increase your hips and buttocks. For a little more I can ............well, you get the idea. How ridiculous to tell someone such a thing. What's his name, Earnest Ainsley???

[Jenny Doolittle]

Perhaps the best answer would have been: If she would join the forum and open her mind perhaps she would be able to become a better person herself, who is more open minded about people being different, but still good people!

[Jenny Doolittle]

I like the Max Von Sydow part... the fact is there is more to the story. The Pastor had claimed to cure homosexuals and transgender people before. It amazed me how tight the church group seemed to be. I never went so I dont know about any chains.......

Isn't that Michelle Bachman's Husband's church?

[Annie M]

After the relationship was over ( when I paid for lunch) I realized just how bigoted she really was.
But she could hide it because she was in the church and so she was justified in her beliefs. They are out there and they are scary!

[Aimee20]

Being am ex pastor (I couldn't deal with the rampant hypocrisy anymore) I can tell you for a fact that the vast majority if religious people will argue tooth and nail if you try to make the point that the most important line in the Bible is Jesus saying to love one another as we would love ourselves. The Bible is not there to condemn us "godless sinners" but to instruct the "godly" on how to behave themselves and act proper. Just my cynical 2 cents....

[ReineD]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

What's so scary is that she actually thought she was doing you a favor. I wonder how many others are like her, who hide their judgments behind their smiles and civility.

[Annie M]

I think in this evangelical Christian group maybe other groups too, you had to pay your way in, you had to have something to offer or you were not automatically accepted. If you happened to be attractive or your making a lot of money or had a high or right profile job you have a better chance at getting into the group. In my mind they are mostly practicing religious elitism nothing else. Just my opinion. Sorry got a bit off track here... never thought about joining or even going, that was another issue... LOL

[docrobbysherry]

I read last week of a university study done on very sick people in hospitals. I believe it may have been done in Sweden? They compared the number of those who were released from hospitals who prayed to get better and those that came out that didn't.

The study showed more of those that didn't pray, came out of the hospital!:eek:
However, a number of experts dismissed the results because they expected at least some placibo effect from prayer. :straightface:

Whenever they test a new drug, a number of patients receive a pill that does nothing. No one can tell who gets the real meds. There's always a small percentage whose symptoms improve after taking the placibo!

[Kelsy]

I have yet had a single Christian friend explain to me how being transsexual is a sin. Coming from evangelical back ground myself I was concerned about where I stood so I studied all of the texts and have found nothing of substance that condemns transsexual people. you can make the bible say anything you want it to. Religious extremism is dangerous be it Islamic, Christian or Secular.

[arbon]

I think they are usually confusing it with homosexuality or as a type of homosexuality. Often they think that you are what you were born and no matter what you have done to your body you are the sex you were born - so even a post op woman it may still be considered a homosexual act if they are with men. We had a couple baptist ministers show up for our small TDOR gathering last week, reading us scripture, talking to us about homosexuality is a sin, and telling we could be saved through Jesus. I considered it rather inappropriate and rather offensive considering what we were gathered for.

[Senneca]

Perhaps these so-called "friends" need to just read the following 2 parts of the bible...."Judas hung himself. Go thou and do likewise.

[LIKETODRESS2]

I work with this the jerk off HIs stepson was caught dressing and they think he is gay. THe step son is in his twentys . HE make the comment that his step son neeed to grow out of it. I freekd on him did not say I was a cd my slef but told him HE is the one that need to grow the **** up.,.AND accept him for who he is

[noeleena]

Hi,

One of the things that comes out of this is the fact we who are I S they still cant handle that difference yet if they opned just one eye & had a .....look .....at one of us who have both sets of sexual parts,

what would they say then... i can tell you that they are scared witless to even look so you can not get the blinded to look let alone understand we are different. & even nature has some thing to say on that.

same again oh no that cant happen..

...noeleena...

[LeaP]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing...

Now how could you possibly believe that when it didn't cure her of being a nosy, interfering, presumptuous gossip?

Lea

[Gina X]

Quite honestly if I could be "cured" of being TS I really wouldn't want to be, I really enjoy who I am and I don't want to change. As for religion it is the cause of most wars of all denominations, and they call themseves men of peace, nuff said !!!

[*Vanessa*]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

Apparently, besides the boys you have the girls also and good on ya for it !!

There are people out there that scare the crap out of me. Thank goodness or whoever for this DOTcom.

[Miss Maxine]

If people like that are going to Heaven, why would I wanna be "saved" and go there, with them? It sounds totally lame. Besides, all my friends are gonna be in Hell. I'm bringing whiskey to the party. ^_^

[Jessica86]

I have yet had a single Christian friend explain to me how being transsexual is a sin. Coming from evangelical back ground myself I was concerned about where I stood so I studied all of the texts and have found nothing of substance that condemns transsexual people.

Bingo. There's the answer, and it doesn't matter who is preaching. Sometimes people listen too much to WHO is preaching rather than WHAT is being preached.

[Starling]

The Bible is a collection of metaphors through which just about anybody can express their highest aspirations, deepest fears and worst prejudices. That is why it, and other religious scriptures, have lasted so long. It is pointless to argue about anything on biblical grounds, except as mental exercise, because it's impossible to win.

There's always another verse to the contrary--so it is written.

:heehee: Lallie

[DebbieL]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

I can't help but wonder how many parishioners' children will commit suicide because they are now terrorized by their own church. Not the ones go go in for the "Cure", the ones who hear how evil and terrible it is and assume that they are going to hell - and now they can't even talk to their parents or pastor, meaning that they are even MORE likely to commit suicide.

It's a bit like saying you can "Cure" being Gay. You might be able to convince or coerce some bisexuals to focus their attention entirely on heterosexual partners who are capable of giving them the same level of satisfaction as they would get with a gay partner, but you can't get a man who finds even attractive women sexually undesirable and is ONLY attracted to men, to suddenly start wanting to be exclusively active with women. It would be like forcing a man who had zero desire for men to have sex exclusively with men, on a regular basis. In prison, they call that RAPE!

There may be some casual fetish dressers who want to dress a few times a year as a little treat - to stop cross-dressing because his partner is more than willing to do things that are much higher on his top 10 favorite things list. If someone is only aroused when they are cross-dressed, or they are transgendered, then you have effectively CASTRATED them. Some fanatical fundamental Christian religions believe that a man has the right to rape his wife if she won't voluntarily have sex with him. Some feel that couples should NEVER have sex with each other, EXCEPT for procreation, and even then the only pleasure should be limited to the minimal amount necessary for the man to ejaculate for the purpose of procreation, and they should do pennance for enjoying it afterward. Which if you think about it, could be it's on version of kinky.

At one time, a woman who had an orgasm could be burned at the stake as a witch.

Imagine what would happen to that church if the pastor demanded that women should stop having orgasms, that men should go years without sex, and once they have two children, should stop having sex entirely for the rest of their lives. Do you think the congregation would become a MegaChurch?

If this were anyone other than a Pastor, a member of a religious organization, they would probably charge him for practicing medicine without a license.

[Starling]

Quite honestly if I could be "cured" of being TS I really wouldn't want to be...

I would, if it would save me from having to hurt people I love, and to endure some serious penalties, rejections and humiliations. But the only treatment that is available is the one I must take, and it has those unfortunate side effects.

:) Lallie

[DebbieL]

I would, if it would save me from having to hurt people I love, and to endure some serious penalties, rejections and humiliations. But the only treatment that is available is the one I must take, and it has those unfortunate side effects.

:) Lallie


That really is the point, isn't it? I think there are many of us, especially on those days when we were young and getting verbally and physically abused, would have given anything to stop being what we were, and this may be one of the reasons so many of us kept it a secret for as long as we did.

The arrogance of some preacher who obviously has no idea what it means to be truly transgendered, claiming that he has a "Cure" for the "Sin" of being transgendered, whether it expresses itself as cross-dressing, or the intense desire for hormone therapy and reassignment.

Most of those who are transgendered experience persecution, verbal abuse, physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, from parents, other children, siblings, grandparents, wives, and even their own children. They often have to deal with harassment on the job from coworkers and even from management. Many transgender men have tried to repress their desires, and ended up so conflicted that they ended up experiencing severe depression, isolation, and paranoia (fear of being caught or discovered as TG). They end up turning to alcohol, drugs, promiscuous sex, or worse, Suicide. The suicide rate is so high among transgendered compared to the rest of the population, that it could be that as much as 80% of all suicides may be related to gender identity issues and/or related sexual preference issues.

And each of those suicides is somebody's son, grandchild, nephew, classmate, even husband or father.

All this as result of the persecution of Transgendered, including Ministers and fundamentalist Christians who have no idea what they are talking about, promising a "Cure" for the issue, and forcing hundreds of those they don't "Cure" deeper into hiding and even more afraid to reach out for REAL HELP!

If a minister told people suffering from acute depression to get off their medication and pray and that if they didn't turn to God to remove their affliction, they would go to hell and be in eternal torment, I many would say he was practicing medicine without a license. When Ministers told parents to stop giving their diabetic children insulin and then feed them sugar to prove that God had held them, only to have the children die, were charged with medical malpractice.

[Kathi Lake]

Yes, there certainly are people who believe you can wish - even pray it away. Some of them can be religious, and some can certainly be smug in their demeanor. But you know what? I'm seeing quite a lot of the same biased, holier-than-thou, smug, self-righteous behavior right here in this thread. Can we agree that people are different? Can we agree that not all 'religious' people are Bible-thumpin' bigoted zealots? I mean, not all transgendered people are perverted, sick freaks, right? :)

Kathi

[Miss Maxine]

Yes, there certainly are people who believe you can wish - even pray it away. Some of them can be religious, and some can certainly be smug in their demeanor. But you know what? I'm seeing quite a lot of the same biased, holier-than-thou, smug, self-righteous behavior right here in this thread. Can we agree that people are different? Can we agree that not all 'religious' people are Bible-thumpin' bigoted zealots? I mean, not all transgendered people are perverted, sick freaks, right? :)
Kathi
Wait...we're not? Uh oh...

[Traci Elizabeth]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

The funny thing is that her pastor probably wears black lacy panties but hates competition. That is when he is not wearing his long trench coat with his shoes!

[Annie M]

A little follow up, I received a Christmas card from her, rather from them. It was signed by several people who are all praying for my redemption. I guess I have become a group project! It must be working because I have been thinking about taking the pink bra back and exchanging it for the blue one...

[Frances]

A little follow up, I received a Christmas card from her, rather from them. It was signed by several people who are all praying for my redemption.

Redemption from what or for what? Coming from an aregligious culture, I don't know what that means. Is being trans against some religion's precepts?

[Joann Smith]

Over the top Religious folk crack me up ....They be some of the most out right meanist people you ever want to come across...I have to admit that i do know the bible all that good ...but i do not think heaven has a dress code.

[Hope]

I was recently told by an ex new friend on a lunch date that she had talked with her pastor and that if I joined the church and with prayer I could be cured of crossdressing... YA THINK!!!! I though I had the balls... I gave her $20 bucks for my copay and left.

Fu(# everything about this.

There are real problems in the world, there are homeless everywhere, there are people who go hungry every night of the week, the innocent are regularly imprisoned and abused, there are sick people who cannot afford care, and these walking bags of feces are trying to fix LGBT people?

FU(# Them in the a$$ with a big rubber dick.

Nit wits like them are why I left ministry. Well, that and transition.

You are a much bigger person than I am. I would have stuck her with the bill, after making a scene about what a bunch of bigots her and her church are.

[Amber99]

The Pastor had claimed to cure homosexuals and transgender people before.

This is a big problem because they aren't simply lying. They have just pushed some people so far in denial that they thought they had cured them, which of course perpetuates the idea that it's curable. This reinforces their resolve to "help" people and it just gets worse.

Most Christians need to get their priorities straight. Their heart is in the right place(usually) but they are very misled.

[Annie M]

I have found it actually rather amusing, maybe because I have run into their ilk before not for the same reasons but with similar verve. No amount of intervention will change my gender proclivity. At times I wish it could one way or the other.... mostly the other... I would hate to give up underdressing...and shoes...hair styles... breasts... or the new skirt I want to fit into in 2012.,

[Beth Wilde]

Someone sent me this a while ago, I often use lines from it when talking to religious fanatics.....

I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some other elements
of God's Laws and how to follow them.

1. Leviticus 25:44 states that I may possess slaves, both male and
female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine
claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why
can't I own Canadians?

2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in
Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?

3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in
her period of Menstrual uncleanliness - Lev.15: 19-24. The problem is how do I
tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offence.

4. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odour for the Lord - Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They claim
the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?

5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus
35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him
myself, or should I ask the police to do it?

6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an
abomination, Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't
agree. Can you settle this? Are there 'degrees' of abomination?

7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I
have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does
my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle-room here?

8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair
around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27.
How should they die?

9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me
unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?

10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev.19:19 by planting two
different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two
different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and
blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting
the whole town together to stone them? Lev.24:10-16. Couldn't we just burn
them to death at a private family affair, like we do with people who sleep
with their in-laws? (Lev. 20:14)

I know you have studied these things extensively and thus enjoy
considerable expertise in such matters, so I'm confident you can help.

Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and
unchanging.

[Annie M]

Awesome. Thanks, this puts everything in the proper perspective.

[Melissa Jill]

Redemption from what or for what? Coming from an aregligious culture, I don't know what that means. Is being trans against some religion's precepts?

They think that being our birth gender is all a part of Gods plan and to get a sex change is to go against Gods wishes.

[Tara Bordeaux]

Great thread girls. There's nothing worse than fundamentalist holier-than-thou types with their inherent Righteousness determine whether you are Hell or Heaven bound.

I'd never confront or assault anybody's choice on religion. However when your religion dictates to you that you have a duty to point out other people's "sins" to them and "save" or "cure" them, well,
that's a major problem for me and I have no use for these types.


Judas hung himself. Go thou and do likewise.


FU(# Them in the a$$ with a big rubber dick

:devil::devil::devil:

you girls are a riot. That's funny.

[Frances]

They think that being our birth gender is all a part of Gods plan and to get a sex change is to go against Gods wishes.

Which god though? Thor, Zeus or Yahwe? Did they mention? Because Hindus alone have over 300,000 of them. Maybe some are pro-trans and some are against-trans, and maybe some are trans. I don't believe in deities, so the whole thing is ridiculous to me. All the same though, I have no intention of curing anyone from believing in them. I respect what's in someone's head. I have no patience, however, for people making decisions or imposing viewpoints based in what's inside their head. Deities exist if you believe in them, but they sure don't otherwise.

[Brynn_A]

@ Beth Thank you so much for that! I hope you don't mind that I copied for later use?
Ladies, one thing to remember, many will "cherry-pick" the Bible to suit their particular cause. I have often tripped them up using the very next verse of the same book to run them into the ground.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Thank goodness my church is a welcoming church for everyone.

[Brynn_A]

Yes, according to the word..shouldn't they all be?

[Melissa Jill]

Which god though? Thor, Zeus or Yahwe? Did they mention? Because Hindus alone have over 300,000 of them. Maybe some are pro-trans and some are against-trans, and maybe some are trans. I don't believe in deities, so the whole thing is ridiculous to me. All the same though, I have no intention of curing anyone from believing in them. I respect what's in someone's head. I have no patience, however, for people making decisions or imposing viewpoints based in what's inside their head. Deities exist if you believe in them, but they sure don't otherwise.

The TC is American, so probably the Christian God.

[DanaR]

I had a GG friend that told me if I left my wife, she could cure me of this. I told her I wasn't interested.

[Frances]

The TC is American, so probably the Christian God.

I got that. I was trying to make a point.

[Melissa Jill]

I got that. I was trying to make a point.

ok, what was it? I can probably hazard a guess, but really debating it here is futile. No one is going to see our arguments and think "hey, they're right, what have we been thinking all this time!". It'll just turn into religion bashing and frankly I would hope people here were better than that after what they sometimes have to endure.

[Frances]

ok, what was it? I can probably hazard a guess, but really debating it here is futile. No one is going to see our arguments and think "hey, they're right, what have we been thinking all this time!". It'll just turn into religion bashing and frankly I would hope people here were better than that after what they sometimes have to endure.

That the religion of one person does not apply to next person. My therapist used to hammer this idea that my SO was not stopping me from anything, but that I was letting her. Same here with the OP. I am doing the opposite of bashing one's beliefs. People are free to believe anything they want, but I find it immoral to impose these beliefs on someone else. I am actually being better than that.

[Melissa Jill]

That the religion of one person does not apply to next person. My therapist used to hammer this idea that my SO was not stopping me from anything, but that I was letting her. Same here with the OP. I doing the opposite of bashing one's beliefs. People are free to believe anything they want, but I find it immoral to impose these beliefs on someone else. I am actually being better than that.

Sorry, I thought you were implying something else.

[Amber99]

but I find it immoral to impose these beliefs on someone else. I am actually being better than that.

Wouldn't that make it immoral to impose the belief that it's immoral to impose moral beliefs? I'm quite curious :3.

[Traci Elizabeth]

Does anyone have a dime?







Just thought I would change the subject.

[Annie M]

Getting a LOT stranger ... I received a Christmas card?? Friday and the note inside said "Jesus hates homosexuals" Then they wrote: What would stop you from dressing up as a woman and entering a woman's bathroom or any place that is strictly for women and assaulting a woman?
There was no return address. But it has to be from the church group.These people are much more frightening than I thought! And they don't understand anything...Im not even gay!!! Although a bit rattled now.

[DanaR]

If I ask someone for help in a particular situation, any advice would be welcome and I would sift through it and make my own decision. What has always been scary to me, is anyone that just decides on their own to fix me and offer unsolicited advice. WTF, is that all about. Don't people have anything else to do other getting into others' lives. Most of these people have a lot of issues of their own.

[Amber99]

Getting a LOT stranger ... I received a Christmas card?? Friday and the note inside said "Jesus hates homosexuals" Then they wrote: What would stop you from dressing up as a woman and entering a woman's bathroom or any place that is strictly for women and assaulting a woman?
There was no return address. But it has to be from the church group.These people are much more frightening than I thought! And they don't understand anything...Im not even gay!!! Although a bit rattled now.

Holy shit I would report this to the police because that would scare the shit out of me. I'm sure they wouldn't do anything but if they have that report on record and something bigger happened it would be easier to get their involvement.

Also I'm pretty sure Jesus never hated anyone, especially not sinners(not saying I think this is a sin but from their point of view.) I REALLY don't get the logic of radical Christians. I guess they are just hateful people hiding behind Christianity.

[ReineD]

Getting a LOT stranger ... I received a Christmas card?? Friday and the note inside said "Jesus hates homosexuals" Then they wrote: What would stop you from dressing up as a woman and entering a woman's bathroom or any place that is strictly for women and assaulting a woman?
There was no return address. But it has to be from the church group.These people are much more frightening than I thought! And they don't understand anything...Im not even gay!!! Although a bit rattled now.

Honestly, I'd bring that letter to the pastor or minister of the church, relate your conversation with your friend, tell him or her you believe the originator is a member of the church group, and strongly recommend that he or she have a talk with his or her brethren about tolerance and compassion, or at the very least, absence of bias, ignorance, hatred, and threatening behavior. :Angry3:

The rest is up to you, but you also may want to consider telling him or her that you view this as a threat and you are taking it to the police with your suspicions of where it came from ... just in case you receive bodily harm in the future. This way they'll know where to look for suspects.