Throughout the weekend I have been reading posts asserting that the transgender community has it in for Christianity. That the transgender community is mocking Christianity and thumbing their noses at it by asserting that March 31st is International Day of Transgender Visibility. The premise is that since Easter and the Transgender Day of Visibility are both on March 31st, it is certainly part of the lgbtq+ community’s conspiracy to bash and even vilify Christianity.

Whoahhhh Nelly! Let’s take a step back and check this out, I mean conspiring to compete with Christianity’s holiest and most important observance seems a bit, shall we say, counter-intuitive to put it mildly! So, buckle up and hang on y’all, it may be a bumpy ride today!!!!

First, let’s unravel some confusion surrounding Easter and why the date varies yearly. Easter is a principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his Crucifixion. The earliest recorded observance of an Easter celebration comes from the 2nd century, though the commemoration of Jesus’ Resurrection probably occurred earlier.

Fixing the date on which the Resurrection of Jesus was to be observed and celebrated triggered a major controversy in early Christianity in which an Eastern and a Western position can be distinguished. The dispute, known as the Paschal controversies, was not definitively resolved until the 8th century. In Asia Minor, Christians observed the day of the Crucifixion on the same day that Jews celebrated the Passover offering—that is, on the 14th day of the first full moon of spring, 14 Nisan. The Resurrection, then, was observed two days later, on 16 Nisan, regardless of the day of the week. In the West, the Resurrection of Jesus was celebrated on the first day of the week, Sunday, when Jesus had risen from the dead. Consequently, Easter was always celebrated on the first Sunday after the 14th day of the month of Nisan (Jewish calendar).

Increasingly, the churches opted for the Sunday celebration, and the Quartodecimans (“14th day” proponents) remained a minority. The Council of Nicaea in 325 decreed that Easter should be observed on the first Sunday following the first full moon after the spring equinox (March 21). Easter, therefore, can fall on any Sunday between March 22 and April 25. Confusing isn’t it??

International Transgender Day of Visibility is all about giving transgender people the spotlight on this day and at the same time, educating others about what it means to be transgender and to try and remove transphobia as a result. The Trans Student Educational Resources website has educational videos that detail stories about trans people and how they experience life.

This day encourages people to talk about the issues facing transgender people and why it’s important to talk about those issues. It’s a day of recognition, allowing people to learn about the history of transgender people in the world, and a day all about building acceptance for a minority group that longs for safety, understanding, and well-being.

In what world would it make any sense whatsoever for any facet of the LGBTQ+ community to take on Christianity over one of the most important Christian observances on the calendar? This question is magnified when you take into consideration the fact that rarely do Easter and Trans Day of Visibility fall on the same date.

To the folks espousing that the President of the United States is blaspheming Christianity by issuing a proclamation asserting that March 31, 2024 is International Transgender Visibility Day, please read the proclamation. It invites others to observe the day and learn about the transgender community. It does not mandate nor command participation. Nor does it command acceptance of the community. Is this really any different than extending an invitation to a neighbor to attend church? Not Demand. Not setting an expectation. Simply an invitation.

To each of you celebrating Easter – Happy Easter! As you celebrate with family and friends, take a moment to reflect upon the reason we celebrate. Easter is the single most important holy day of the Christian Church. It celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the central event in Christianity. To Christians, the resurrection backs up Jesus’ claim that he had the authority to die for the sins of the world and the power to come back to life again.

For those observing International Day of Transgender Visibility, please reflect upon why we are observing this day. It was created to be an observance of the positive contributions transgender individuals have made in our world. It is a time to take a deep breathe and recognize that in a world that often overlooks the amazing contributions transgendered folks have made. Do not allow others who do not share this understanding turn it into something negative!

As we enter spring, remember it is a time of renewal and growth, and it is often said spring is a good time for personal growth and development. Spring can bring a renewed sense of energy and optimism after the long winter, and it can be an opportunity to set new goals and try new things – so set a few new goals! Let’s ALL try something new this spring!