Transfigured Hearts Blog

You Can Stop Condemning Yourself Now

July 10, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

Growing up in a conservative environment when you’re transgender can really mess you up. When I say that, I mean you may be told by people directly if they know you’re transgender or you just may pick it up based on how they react to what they see on the news and in social media or perhaps even hear in church. And here is what you’re being told or inferring from what others say: “God didn’t make you to be that way”, therefore you’re sinning if you decide to transition to the gender you really are or if you’ve already transitioned, continue to live as who you are. I felt that way growing up, and I felt that way as a grownup. I even got married hoping that would help somehow take away what it was that I felt inside. Read more “You Can Stop Condemning Yourself Now” →

For Transgender

You DO Understand You’re Not Normal Don’t You?

July 4, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

Now don’t freak out. There are plenty of things in the world that aren’t normal. Being left-handed is not normal. Having red hair is not normal. Being double-jointed isn’t normal. And that’s ok. People may say “oh, I didn’t know you were left-handed” or “you’re double-jointed? Cool!” These are all common enough (and non-threatening) that most people just forget about it and never cared one way or the other.

Then there are those who perhaps were born with physical or mental disabilities, autism, down syndrome, stuttering. Others may later develop symptoms from MS or Parkinson’s. These can sometimes make people in the general population a little uncomfortable. Maybe they feel like they shouldn’t look or they don’t know what to do or say so they tend to avoid those people. Read more “You DO Understand You’re Not Normal Don’t You?” →

For Transgender

Being KNOWN is a Blessing from God

June 25, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

It’s been a tough question for me, and maybe for you. “Why can’t you just leave it alone? Why do you feel the need to tell people about your past?” Well, for the clients in my business, casual acquaintances and 99% of my church – I don’t. But I can’t disagree with the fact that I do feel better when people I love, care about and have a close relationship with understand my WHOLE history. I would hate for them to somehow discover my past later through a 3^rd party and to feel a sense of total dishonesty on my part – as if they didn’t know me at all.

My best friend at church knew (I later learned) there was something “off” about me at church the day before I told her my WHOLE history. She didn’t know it at the time, but I was looking around inside the building that Sunday and just taking it all in because it might have been my last Sunday at that church – and it made sad and just a little weepy. THAT is someone who knows you and why I wanted her to know my FULL history, because then it all made sense to her. Read more “Being KNOWN is a Blessing from God” →

For Transgender

Why Do I Not Give Personal Details?

June 20, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

The nature of what I do, who I want to reach makes it a little complicated at this point in time. Primarily because a big part of what I feel called to do is help provide a way for what would be called “conservative evangelical” churches to be able to open up their hearts for Christians who are transgender. Well – I GO to a church like this and I LOVE it. My Pastor knows who I am and he knows my heart. At the same time, he has a large church to shepherd and navigate through these difficult waters. This is NOT an easy job. My heart goes out to him. I’m sure there are many who not knowing me would have an issue with me being a member of the church. Read more “Why Do I Not Give Personal Details?” →

For Transgender

Then God Said, “Let Us Make Lemonade”

June 15, 2016August 2, 2020
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

Yep, I’m pretty sure He said it. My guess is right after Eve and Adam took that bite from the fruit. If you haven’t read why I believe God Doesn’t Make Mistakes, that might help what I say here make better sense.

God’s perfect plan was that Adam and Eve would stay away from the tree – they didn’t. They invited Sin into the world, and here we are. Because I was born transgender, I never felt I could be a worthy representative for our Lord. I always felt that if I talked to someone about Jesus and somehow they later found out that I was transgender, it would invalidate anything I said. Read more “Then God Said, “Let Us Make Lemonade”” →

For Transgender

Rejected By Your Family? Go Get a New One!

June 14, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

It’s NOT an unusual story to be shunned by your family when you tell them that you are transgender. The very concept is just so impossible to comprehend that unfortunately, they think you must be wrong and have turned your back on God. They beg you to pray, they have their Pastor pray for you, NOTHING you say really gets listened to – and when you decide to live out your life as the person you really are they reject you. They kick you out of the house or perhaps refuse to see you ever again – in my case my parents and brothers have never seen me since I transitioned 25 years ago. Read more “Rejected By Your Family? Go Get a New One!” →

For Non-Transgender

When Christians Think They’re God

June 6, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

It saddens me to see Christians who come out with absolute certainty and a sense of righteousness tell another person who professes Christ that they are NOT a Christian because they see something in that person’s life that they don’t like or agree with.

I remember when I was a kid I would see somebody smoke outside of a church and I couldn’t imagine how that person could be a Christian. I mean, how could that even be possible? I was taught our body is a temple (but apparently sweet tea, fried chicken, pizza and chocolate chip cookies are allowed in “the temple”.) The same was true for alcohol. Even in high school I didn’t understand how a Christian could drink beer or wine, only non-Christians did that, right? Read more “When Christians Think They’re God” →

For All

My Heart for the Church

May 28, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

I’d like to introduce you to my brother (whom I’ve never met) from another mother in New York, Andy Hill. He attends a church called Forefront, and recently they made a video of him telling his story about the church. What he shared about feeling unconditionally loved AND unconditionally accepted at his church is my goal for shall we say the more conservative evangelical churches and their Christian brothers and sisters who are transgender. I share a similar story with him, and totally identify when he talks about how he wouldn’t have been able to share his pain with churches he had attended in the past. That should make Christians at those churches and all churches like that pause and beg God for forgiveness, that someone – a Christian brother who was hurting didn’t feel safe or welcomed enough to come to them. Many in the church are uncomfortable with the subject – I get it. But that doesn’t mean it’s right or ok, and part of my goal with this site is to gently and lovingly get people to think about what they believe to be from God, and does it line up with what we as Christians are supposed to do, love and accept one another. Replace gay with transgender in the video and there you have my heart. Well said Andy!

https://vimeo.com/163753976

For All

Christians Opposed to Transgender People Don’t Automatically HATE!

May 22, 2016June 1, 2021
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

I read an article by a Pastor in Michigan who used that word in describing other Christians who didn’t accept their transgender brothers and sisters. She accused them of CHOOSING fear and hate rather than love and compassion. In my eye, she’s just as ignorant as those Christians she accuses of fear and hate.

It’s ignorance about WHY someone is transgender that makes people uncomfortable Read more “Christians Opposed to Transgender People Don’t Automatically HATE!” →

For Transgender

“Testing the Water” at Your Church

May 20, 2016August 21, 2017
by Laurie Suzanne Scott

If you attend a church that is not (or as far as you can tell) affirming of transgender folks in their midst, Austen Hartke (AKA Austen Lionheart) has posted a great video on various ways of testing the water at your church. He has several wonderful ideas you can try to get a feel for just how sensitive a subject it is among others at your church, from the very subtle to having THE conversation with your Pastor (something I have some experience with myself).

So go check it out – I recommend you subscribe to his channel so you get notified when a new post is up (once a week.) He has very good material presented thoughtfully and in a very friendly, non-confrontational manner. You can’t help but like him.