Trans religious leaders say scripture should inspire inclusive congregations

Officiants face an empty sanctuary during a live streamed Easter service at Saint Mark's Episcopal Cathedral Sunday, April 12, 2020, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

Something as small as signs that say “men” and “women” on the bathrooms in a house of worship can shut the door to trans people.

“For me as a non-binary person, I’ve been to so many churches where they don’t have a bathroom that I feel like I can use,” says AJ Buckley, an Episcopal priest in Portland, Ore. “And so I’ll just not go to the bathroom there.”

Churches are tasked with living out the Bible’s message both from the pulpit and in the pews.