Episode 82: Trans and Christian- Alex Clare-Young, URC Minister
Alex Clare-Young (pronouns: they/them) is a minister in the United Reformed Church, with a passion for Scripture, inclusion and social justice. They identify as Jesus-follower, trans and non-binary.
Alex joins Laura, Malky and Jonty to discuss young people transitioning, the theology of being trans, living outside of gender binaries and the pain and prejudice trans people face right now. On the way, we wonder if Malky was a fateful pizza guy in Alex's university, whether Laura counts as a millennial and if conservative churches are doing damage to their own missions by excluding queer people from the start.
What does someone with identities so regularly weaponised by culture warriors actually think about Scripture, the Church and faith?
Alex is passionate about engaging with both gender identity and how Christian spaces can be safer, and they graciously offered some advice on what Christians can do to make things better for their trans siblings. (They also taught us that 'brothers and sisters' can feel excluding and irritating to people who feel like neither a brother nor a sister - siyafunda, we are learning!)
On the episode, you'll also hear Alex's suggestions for media that might help you understand the trans and non-binary experience better.
You can find out more about Alex and their journey at Beyond Binaries (alexclareyoung.co.uk)
Beer Christianity explores Christian trans identity, a life blessed beyond gender binaries and whether it’s time we called it ‘Theybrew’.
You can listen to Episode 82 anywhere: in the shower as you repeatedly practice saying the correct pronouns so you don’t screw up later; in bed later as you relive the moment you did, indeed, screw up; or right here…
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