E90: From Small Town to Self-Acceptance; Being Trans & Ex-Religious w/ Sarah & Becca Ray

24/09/2021 1h 15min

Listen "E90: From Small Town to Self-Acceptance; Being Trans & Ex-Religious w/ Sarah & Becca Ray"

Episode Synopsis

Religion’s influence on socially-accepted gender identity, expression, and roles isn’t always overt.  Sarah’s journey out of religion ultimately led to authenticity, but being transgender in a broadly cis-het society is still made difficult by religion and dogmatic thinking.
Sarah is a transgender woman who grew up in a small rural town in Illinois.  After leaving her Christian God belief and moving to Florida, she was finally able to address her gender identity and dysphoria. Sarah is a newly-minted RFR Support Group Leader, Endorsed Humanist Celebrant and recently joined The Humanist Society Board of Directors.
Becca is a former Jehovah’s Witness who, with her wife Sarah, co-founded the Atheist Community of Polk County in Florida.  Becca is an Assistant State Director with American Atheists.  They’re responsible for two energetic little humanists, ages 10 and 5.
Hosted by Amaia Perez, the RfR Online Programming Director.
Recorded on February 1st, 2021
Discussion resources:
National Center for Transgender Equality - Resources to learn about trans and nonbinary people, how to interact and be a good ally https://transequality.org/
TransLifeline - Peer support line staffed by trans people for trans people https://translifeline.org/
Human Rights Campaign - Resource on trans youth https://www.hrc.org/resources/transgender-children-and-youth-understanding-the-basics
Learn more about Sarah & Becca Ray Atheist Community of Polk County: https://polkatheists.org
Freethought in Florida (YouTube & Podcast): https://polkatheists.org/fif

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