Though religious institutions are often flanked by anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments, one transgender pastor in California is creating a more accepting and nurturing place of worship.
Pastor Drew Stever preaches at the Hope Lutheran Church, a branch of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, which ordained the first ever transgender priest nearly a decade ago. His journey to his current life, living with his partner Hazel and their three kids, was documented on CBS Mornings series “The State of Spirituality with Lisa Ling.”
Currently, Stever uses his position in the church to champion inclusivity. One of his congregants, Emma Halbert, told CBS “Pastor Drew just brings such a light and life and just encapsulates everything we’ve always believed in learning to really spread a message that is just love.”
Pink News reports Stever grew up in Minnesota’s Twin Cities practicing in a Lutheran church while attending a Catholic school. Stever began seminary school pre-transition, but recalled the summer of 2016 when he felt he couldn’t bear to deny his true identity any longer. “There was a moment where I woke up in the morning…and the words that came to my mind was ‘you don’t have to be angry anymore.’ And I almost felt like God just took a snowball and just threw it at my face.”
He also recalled experiencing a lot of gender dysphoria as a kid. And though he was supported by his friends and family during his transition, the wider church still struggles to embrace LGBTQ+ identities. According to CBS, around 63% of Christian identifying poll takers say they still believe gender is determined by sex assigned at birth.
“I would say specifically to folks of color, to people living with disabilities, people who are LGBTQ+… you are good. Nothing is wrong with you. You are so good. And you don’t need the church to tell you that,” Stever emphasized.
