At 01:14 AM 8/4/2000 +0100, Gemma wrote: Since I personally hold >religion in absolute contempt it would be helpful to have a spiritual >member of the transsexual community who possesses strong religious beliefs >to present a more balanced outlook (and to prise my hands of their necks >should it be necessary). The meeting will probably take place in North >London (I am currently living in Bristol) and the date has yet to be set. ............................ response...................................... Yes it is true, some of us lurk on this list and never post. Since I represent Transsexuals on discrimination issues under the only law which currently protects them around here, the NYC Human Rights Law, I read this list and usually click it away, because while I have great respect and admiration for transsexuals, academics are quite another story....... <g> However it saddens me to see someone as smart as GEMMA fall for the old Madeleine Murray O'Hair atheist bullshit. ( she was, by the by, crazier than a bedbug, but then again so was Joan of Arc and look what SHE accomplished. .... ) This is a war, people.....and there are no atheists in foxholes. Your evangelical buddies out there, if they are honest Christians can only do one thing..... welcome you with open arms. That is what the Boss would do. None in the history of humankind was, is or ever will be as inclusive and non judgmental on issues of human sexuality as Jesus. It is a pity that biblical literalists cannot see the forest for the trees. If you have not got the background, get someone from a Gay and Lesbian and Bi and Transgender Church, like our Metropolitan Churches, to discuss the religious aspects with them. And don't give up on God. She never gave up on you, and hasn't till this day. Pick up the New Zealand Book of Prayer and look at the ALTERNATIVE Lord's Prayer and you will see what I mean. ( I am also a Lay Eucharistic Minister in the Episcopal Church, USA as well as a civil rights lawyer. ) +=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=+ | Hal Weiner, COLES & WEINER, P.C + Members of the National Employment | Lawyers Association / New York Chapter + 342 Madison Avenue New York, NY 10173 | (212)856-9530 vox (212)682-3770 fax + For free useful legal research on the Web, | visit and use the Links at our website, + placed as a public service for the use of | the WWW and Internet community. + | http://www.1goodlawfirm.com + E-mail: [log in to unmask] | + | =<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=<>=+ %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%