http://www.thewestgeorgian.com/media/paper523/news/2005/11/16/News/Transgender.Reverend.Speaks.About.Gender.Identity-1058402.shtml?page=1

 

 

The West Georgian - News

State University of West Georgia,

Carrollton, GA 30118

Issue: 11/16/05



Transgender reverend speaks about gender identity
By Brett Miles

Erin Swenson is a Presbyterian reverend. She is also a transgender female. This unusual combination brought many UWG students and faculty to attend the Responsible Sexuality Committee's presentation last Tuesday: Transgender Experience; Deconstructing Stereotypes, Constructing Identities.

Before Swenson began her story, she encouraged the audience to join in on her rendition of "This Little Light of Mine," a well known children's Christian song. Swenson learned this song when she was very young as she attended church and church camp regularly.

Swenson grew up near Buffalo, NY and moved to Georgia at the age of ten. It was then, as a ten year old boy, that Swenson knew she was different from his peers.

"I discovered that what I really wanted in life was not to grow up to be a man, but to be a woman."

Swenson felt that she had "invented sin" and hid his desires. She said that she was smart enough not to tell her parents that she wished to be a girl, yet her secret made her feel "isolated, alone, and helpless."

Swenson vowed to herself to keep the secret forever, as she felt that she would not be accepted by her family, friends, teachers, or pastor.

Yet one day at church, Swenson's secret became less of a burden: "Something saved my life," she said.

Swenson heard her Presbyterian preacher say that God knew people to the marrow of their bones. Although this was terrifying for Swenson, it changed her outlook on her secret.

"I realized that God knew me that well and God loved me to the very marrow of those same bones. It changed my life."

Swenson had many theories as to why she wished to be female. She believed that she may be the subject of an international scam. She also thought that one day she would fall in love with a woman.

And she did.

In 1967, when Swenson was only 20 years old and still a man, she met her future wife at church camp. They married within six months and later had two daughters. Swenson was happy and thought his desires to be female were gone for good.

Until the day Swenson found himself in their apartment alone in his wife's clothes.

"I was devastated, destroyed. Within months, I became depressed."

Swenson tried to solve his problems by submerging himself in his work. For the next 25 years, he worked full-time and attended school full-time. He obtained four colleges degrees, three of which were graduate degrees. He went to seminary school and was ordained as a minister.

Swenson was a chaplain at the state hospital, a pastor, and a marriage and family counselor. He built his family's first house by herself, learned to fly an aircraft, built a sailboat in his basement, and sailed on the Atlantic Ocean. Yet the constant work did not alleviate Swenson's painful secret.

"I was like an alcoholic on his tenth drink-no enjoyment, just oblivion."

Swenson grew more and more depressed and finally decided that she had to do something. She visited a therapist in Maryland who was experienced in transgender experienced. After seeing the therapist for three weeks, Swenson knew that she had to be honest with herself and her family.

Three months later, she told the world the secret that she had kept for almost 40 years-Swenson desperately wanted to become a woman.

At first, no one understood Swenson's secret-her family or her church. But they slowly began to. For two years, Swenson received angry, confused letters from the members of the Presbyterian Church. But in October 1996, the church voted in Swenson's favor, and she was able to sustain her ordination.

Swenson underwent a sex change operation and legally became a woman.

Swenson explained to the UWG audience that her gender has always been female, but it was just her sex that was male. She also stated that one's sex is the physical aspect of sexual identity, while gender is the social aspect of sexual identity.

"I didn't change my gender-it is internally held. I have always been just as you see me now. My operation doesn't change my gender at all...it just makes me more comfortable," Swenson said.

Swenson has told her story to audiences many times and believes that people can learn from this story:

"God has called me to use me as a tool to change how the world views stereotypes. I am a part of God's amazing plan."

p2.

 

Erin Swenson is a Presbyterian reverend. She is also a transgender female. This unusual combination brought many UWG students and faculty to attend the Responsible Sexuality Committee's presentation last Tuesday: Transgender Experience; Deconstructing Stereotypes, Constructing Identities.

Before Swenson began her story, she encouraged the audience to join in on her rendition of "This Little Light of Mine," a well known children's Christian song. Swenson learned this song when she was very young as she attended church and church camp regularly.

Swenson grew up near Buffalo, NY and moved to Georgia at the age of ten. It was then, as a ten year old boy, that Swenson knew she was different from his peers.

"I discovered that what I really wanted in life was not to grow up to be a man, but to be a woman."

Swenson felt that she had "invented sin" and hid his desires. She said that she was smart enough not to tell her parents that she wished to be a girl, yet her secret made her feel "isolated, alone, and helpless."

Swenson vowed to herself to keep the secret forever, as she felt that she would not be accepted by her family, friends, teachers, or pastor.

Yet one day at church, Swenson's secret became less of a burden: "Something saved my life," she said.

Swenson heard her Presbyterian preacher say that God knew people to the marrow of their bones. Although this was terrifying for Swenson, it changed her outlook on her secret.

"I realized that God knew me that well and God loved me to the very marrow of those same bones. It changed my life."

Swenson had many theories as to why she wished to be female. She believed that she may be the subject of an international scam. She also thought that one day she would fall in love with a woman.

And she did.

In 1967, when Swenson was only 20 years old and still a man, she met her future wife at church camp. They married within six months and later had two daughters. Swenson was happy and thought his desires to be female were gone for good.

Until the day Swenson found himself in their apartment alone in his wife's clothes.

"I was devastated, destroyed. Within months, I became depressed."

Swenson tried to solve his problems by submerging himself in his work. For the next 25 years, he worked full-time and attended school full-time. He obtained four colleges degrees, three of which were graduate degrees. He went to seminary school and was ordained as a minister.

Swenson was a chaplain at the state hospital, a pastor, and a marriage and family counselor. He built his family's first house by herself, learned to fly an aircraft, built a sailboat in his basement, and sailed on the Atlantic Ocean. Yet the constant work did not alleviate Swenson's painful secret.

"I was like an alcoholic on his tenth drink-no enjoyment, just oblivion."

Swenson grew more and more depressed and finally decided that she had to do something. She visited a therapist in Maryland who was experienced in transgender experienced. After seeing the therapist for three weeks, Swenson knew that she had to be honest with herself and her family.

Three months later, she told the world the secret that she had kept for almost 40 years-Swenson desperately wanted to become a woman.

At first, no one understood Swenson's secret-her family or her church. But they slowly began to. For two years, Swenson received angry, confused letters from the members of the Presbyterian Church. But in October 1996, the church voted in Swenson's favor, and she was able to sustain her ordination.

Swenson underwent a sex change operation and legally became a woman.

Swenson explained to the UWG audience that her gender has always been female, but it was just her sex that was male. She also stated that one's sex is the physical aspect of sexual identity, while gender is the social aspect of sexual identity.

"I didn't change my gender-it is internally held. I have always been just as you see me now. My operation doesn't change my gender at all...it just makes me more comfortable," Swenson said.

Swenson has told her story to audiences many times and believes that people can learn from this story:

"God has called me to use me as a tool to change how the world views stereotypes. I am a part of God's amazing plan."