Mormon church issues new restrictions on transgender members
NBCAug 23
LDS Church Handbook Adds Restrictions on Transgender Members
Above: A statue of the founder of the Mormon Church Joesph Smith and his wife Emma sit on the grounds at the world headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on April 4, 2020 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Image copyright: George Frey/Stringer/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
In the August 2024 update of their General Handbook, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) has added new provisions that restrict the activities that transgender church members may take part in.
The guidance says that those who undertake "surgical, medical, or social transition" will be barred from participation in activities that include teaching, entering the priesthood, or working with children. The prohibition on baptism for individuals who have medically transitioned was also expanded.
The Spin
Narrative A
There are wide swaths of LGBTQ+ Mormons who want nothing more than to be accepted into the fold of the church they hold so dear. By grouping trans people with child abusers and fraudsters in terms of how they are categorized by church bureaucracy, the church is taking a step backward and stigmatizing transgender members. These regressive policies spread false stereotypes regarding trans people and expose them to ostracism.
Narrative B
These updated guidelines should merely reaffirm the God-given, Biblical understanding of sex and gender that devoted Mormons are expected to uphold. The church is free to enforce this standard on members while recognizing the inherent humanity and worth of all people, regardless of gender identity. These standards now ensure that churches treat trans issues in a consistent, compassionate, and godly way.