 A Blessed Easter and Very Happy Transgender Day of Visibility to everyone!
- with a little scribble of my own, re-rendering the colours of the trans flag (with black - the womb of colour - at the centre), the (an alternate - and my own preferred - trans colour) of violet for the mystery (amid suffering), in which we are all caught up, and the gold of (resurrection) life beyond and underneath. #TransDayOfVisibility #Easter #resurrection #transformation
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This year, the #TransDayOfVisibility falls on the date of Easter (in the Western Church), which is a happy connection for some of us, in light of what trans folk can bring to understanding resurrection, not least as transformation. One of the powerful and deeply poignant creative projects to transform trans struggles and help strengthen trans life and resilience has been Project 42 - taking its name from what was calculated to be trans life expectancy in the USA. Resonating with aspects of the Holy Week story, and using dance and art (not least with clothing as so important to trans identities) it remembers those trans folk (typically black and female) who are murdered, but who, in our remembrance, live afresh in the transformed and transforming lives of others. I may touch on this as one element in my Easter Reflection, for resurrection is not just a past event, but always now and arriving in new forms, out of pain and crucified bodies which may yet be raised up in other glorious bodies. We may only see ‘folded grave clothes’ but their Spirit lives . #transvisibility #HolyWeek2024
 This photo was taken, earlier this year, from my bed of healing in a delightful unit in St Kilda (Melbourne), I had just had genital reconstruction surgery, thanks to the excellent skills of Andy Ives and his wonderful team at the nearby Masada Hospital, and I was in my first stages of recovery 'at home'. When the night's darkness began to lift, the new light of day brought this beautiful dawn. My eyes opened to the glorious gift of nature's renewal, and, with it, to the wonder of human participation in the joy of existence and work of re-creation. For across the sky, just above the treeline, floated a series of hot air balloons, beautiful expressions of fresh lightness and delight (you may just be able to spot two of them in the photo - as small circles to the left of the centre of the light, adjacent to the word alleluia).. At the same time, the sunrise further gorgeously illuminated the cranes working on the building of the exciting development of the Victorian Pride Centre, visible a couple of streets away across the rooftops.
This experience was, as might be imagined, for me, a vision and harbinger of resurrection. It did not take away the struggles I was going through. The surgery itself was very successful, and there was not a subsequent shred of regret (so much the reverse), the days to come also saw pain and discomfort, particularly with an awkward infection and slow completion of healing due to sensitive skin (part of the joy of being a particular kind of natural redhead?!). The struggles of gender & sexually diverse people are also hardly over, despite such welcome living symbols of resurrection as the Pride Centre. Yet that dawn was not only a moment of special grace, but also a deep sign of hope and loving transformation, not simply for myself but for so much else about which I care. For resurrection, at least in this life and time space, is always betwixt and between... |
AuthorThe Revd Dr Jo Inkpin: Archives
November 2024
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