In his first week in office, President Trump signed executive orders that set the United States back on issues affecting immigrants, health care, climate change and, for my purposes today, transgender people. 

One of the orders said the U.S. government will only recognize two sexes, male and female. The term “gender” is now banned for use by federal agencies; the only term permitted is “sex.” (“Sex” is biological; “gender” is sociological.) The order reduced transgender people to an ideology while claiming to restore “biological truth to the federal government.”

Trump’s oppressive executive order doesn’t, in fact, erase trans people from public life. It merely forces them into the closet, which still has deadly repercussions: Closeted trans people and those without access to needed health care have an increased rate of suicide.

Regardless of whether you affirm trans people, this executive order, among others by the new president, should alarm us as Christians. We must show mercy to vulnerable people regardless of our views about them. 

The call for mercy by Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde — who offered a homily during the prayer service at the Washington National Cathedral that the president attended on the day after his inauguration — is simply Christian and, in my view, hardly progressive at all. 

“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now,” Budde said. “There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in both Democratic, Republican and independent families who fear for their lives.”

Amen, dear bishop. I’m with you, and I hope my Anabaptist brothers and sisters are, too. Oppression of vulnerable people, especially by the state, is something all Christians must unite against.

One way to do this is simply to raise awareness of trans people’s plight under the Trump administration. We need to make it clear to our churches, families and community that Trump’s promises are real and that he will do all he can to make trans people’s lives miserable. He campaigned on this and is quickly proving effective.

If you are moved to do so, call or write your local elected officials and ask them to acknowledge and affirm trans people in public places, in schools and on sports teams. Many of us live in areas where a single call or letter can make a difference. 

Beyond that, call your state and federal representatives. Let them know Trump’s executive orders make us all less safe. In fact, if you care for the well-being of the planet, migrants and the elderly, tell your elected officials you oppose the transphobic executive order and other orders, too.

Another way to address this matter is in our churches. I am aware that Christians have diverse views on trans people. For my part, I want to say to trans folks reading this: I hope we can create safe places for you to be dignified and loved. 

But even if you aren’t affirming of LGBTQ+ people (if you’re a pastor, I invite you to call me, and we can talk about why I am affirming and believe the gospel demands it), you can still do your part. You can acknowledge trans people exist and accommodate them in simple ways, like labeling restrooms sensitively and asking people to use one another’s preferred pronouns. (If your church uses name tags, ask people to put their pronouns on them.) Acting like trans people don’t exist only harms them.

More than just advocating for and protecting trans people, I believe those of us who affirm them should also celebrate them. That’s why I am a proud participant in the Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests. BMC’s mission is “to cultivate an inclusive church and society and to care for the Mennonite and Brethren lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied community.” 

My congregation, West Philadelphia Mennonite Fellowship, is a member of the Supportive Communities Network, a “network of Mennonite and Church of the Brethren communities who are publicly affirming of gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual members.”

With others in BMC and SCN, I am on the planning committee for the “Fierce, Fabulous and Sacred” conference May 2-4 in Philadelphia (bmclgbt.org/ffs). It’s a time where “queer and trans joy will ring out in a weekend rooted in the sacred work of liberation.” Allies and queer folks of all ages are welcome.

In a time when trans people are under attack, I believe it is our Christian calling to protect and celebrate them.