by Emilie K Grosvenor

I am a cisgender feminist Catholic woman and mother. I have also been blessed to have trans people throughout my life who loved me, and I them. Because of who I am and who I have had the blessing of sharing community with, I do not see the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) bill, nor any other progression in trans rights, as a threat to my womanhood, my children, or my ability to express my faith– three concerns brought to the fore in the Bishops’ Conference of Scotland’s recent response to the GRR and in their letter, Called to be Children of God: A Catholic Understanding of Gender Identity, which is addressed to parents and educators.

Despite the bishops’ urging toward compassion toward those with ‘gender dysphoria,’ there is a thread of fear in the document that never bothers to actually engage trans Catholic voices or the readily available research that could address their concerns. Rather, the letter reinforces stigmas against an already vulnerable community, whilst ignoring our Church’s own role in the harm inflicted upon gender-diverse persons. In order to respond as Christ, I would argue that we need to understand the realities behind rises in discussions regarding gender-diversity, rather than simply the fears which shake our worldview.

Dr Emilie K Grosvenor is a St Leonard’s Associate at the University of St Andrews. Her recently accepted thesis explores the Marian devotion of Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity through an enhanced feminist lens. You can find her on twitter @emiliegrosvenor