Despite what some might tell you, the Bible does NOT condemn transgender people. Rather, its deepest truths support them.
"So God created humankind in His own image…” - This verse is often misused as a weapon against trans and nonbinary people. But what does it really mean to be created in God’s image? It means that each of us reflects the divine in our own unique way. Transgender people are not “mistakes” or “confused”—they are living, breathing reflections of God’s creativity and diversity. When we affirm our internal gender identity, we affirm the image of God within us. Ignoring who we know ourselves to be is
"The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” - The Bible explicitly denounces determining a person's gender based on outward appearances, clothing, or even the labels we attach to gender. Rather, the Holy Spirt looks at our hearts. As only oneself can truly know their own internal thoughts, feelings, and "heart," the Bible compels us all to define ourselves the way we know we were created and live in truth.
"Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will surely exclude me’… to them I will give a name better than sons and daughters.” - Through this passage, God powerfully declares that He includes those the world tries to exclude. In biblical times, people whose gender and sexual identities did not fit the norm were considered outsiders. Yet God says they are fully welcome and will be given “a name better than sons and daughters.”
"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” - Paul is not saying that gender doesn’t exist—he’s saying that our worth is not defined by gender (or race, class, or any other human category). In God’s kingdom, these divisions fall away. What remains is love, equality, and shared dignity. Transgender people are equally beloved, equally called, and equally part of the body of Christ.
When we want to know if something is of God, Jesus tells us to look at the fruit. What is the fruit of affirming transgender identities? Peace, joy, authenticity, healing. What is the fruit of rejecting them? Depression, shame, alienation, and sometimes even death. If the “truth” we’re clinging to brings harm, it’s not from God. True love always brings life and freedom.
"For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." - This verse explains that God creates people intentionally, and that includes creating people with diverse experiences of gender. The verse speaks to the idea that God's creation is “wonderful” and “fearfully” made, which is an affirmation of the uniqueness and validity of each person’s gender identity.
"For there are eunuchs who were born that way, and there are eunuchs who have been made eunuchs by others; and there are those who choose to live like eunuchs for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. The one who can accept this should accept it." - The term "eunuch" in biblical times describes individuals whose gender identity did not fit into traditional male or female roles. This verse acknowledges that gender identity is not always binary but should always be accepted.
"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." - This verse reminds believers that God transcends physical, earthly distinctions. Some interpret it as a call to move beyond rigid gender categories and embrace the truth of a person’s spirit, which may not always align with traditional gender roles.