Instead, we should think of LGBT believers as part of our community. Yarhouse stressed how important it is for Christians not to use isolating language. “No matter where you stand,” Yarhouse said, “we can agree this is a tragic loss of life.” We need to rise above cultural wars and think deeply.” Yarhouse referenced Leelah Alcorn, a transgender teen raised in a conservative Christian home who made national headlines when she took her own life last December. “But the Christian community can’t afford to take that posture. Yarhouse pointed out in his presentation that the church’s position in topics related to sexuality often leads to “culture wars.” “This is such a great opportunity for us in the Calvin community to listen and learn, for the safety of our transgender students,” she said. Julia Smith, director of the Sexuality Series, was excited to have Yarhouse come to Calvin. He defined gender dysphoria as, “the experience of distress related to having a psychological and emotional gender identity that does not match one’s biological/birth sex.” Last Thursday, the Sexuality Series presented a talk by Mark Yarhouse called “Understanding Gender Dysphoria.” Yarhouse, a Calvin alumnus and director of Regent University’s Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity, spoke about the experience of gender dysphoria and how it relates to Christians and the church.
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