OtherWise Christian 2: Stories of Resistance is here!

I have been dreaming about this project since I was writing OtherWise Christian: A Guidebook for Transgender Liberation (2019). I know that people say they worry about trans people and the Bible, but I think that’s mostly just a habit from the sexuality wars. Most people really don’t know what the Bible says about gender non-conforming people in the least!

People really need to know and understand more about our lives and what we go through. So, I set out to make OtherWise Christian 2 an anthology that could provide some insight. Not just my story or my life, but a diversity of stories from a variety of folk. I am proud that we have transgender, intersex, non-binary, and two spirit identified folk included in this book as those are four very different ways of being OtherWise. We have Black, Latinx/Hispanic, Native Amerian, white, and mixed race folk. In fact, it is a majority BIPOC offering. Despite the title, it is also a multi-faith collection in several ways, reflecting the way Christian community has too often caused harm and how our folk end up searching elsewhere for sustenance and community. Together, this collection creates a kind of tapestry or collage of experiences and insights.

Of course, there is plenty yet to be said. There are yet more important experiences that are not represented in this volume. Some of the material I imagined (some already in hand), I have even set aside for OtherWise Christian 3 or 4 or 5 (but that’s another story for another day.. though soon)! There is plenty more to come!

The final contributor list for OtherWise Christian 2 includes: Victoria Kolakowski, Virginia Mollenkott, Erin Swenson, Cameron Partridge, Donovan Ackley III, Louis Mitchell, Ryan Amir Harris, Mycroft Masada, Debra Hopkins, Mir Plemmons, RJ Robles, delfin bautista, Merrick Moses, Jessica Henrich, Yadi Martinez, Bobbi Taylor, Diamond Stylz, Dee Dee Watters, Enzi Tanner, Z Shane Zaldivar, Nick Manchester, Carla Robinson, Lianne Simon, Rebecca Kerns, Mykal Shannon, KimiFloyd, Caedmon Grace, and Chris Paige (also the editor).

The results of this project have far exceeded my expectations. I actually get overwhelmed about what these amazing people have shared from their stories and how it all works together to paint a picture of my community. I plan to spend the month of March celebrating each and every author, one by one, so you can begin to appreciate them as much as I do! I am so very grateful to have the privilege of sharing these stories with you.

You can join in by celebrating these authors, as well as your own stories of resistance, using the #SacredOtherWise hash tags on social media:

#TransAndSacred
#NonBinaryAndSacred
#IntersexAndSacred
#TwoSpiritAndSacred
or your own variations

You are especially encouraged to use these hashtags on #TransgenderDayOfVisibility / #TDOV on March 31, 2020, which is our launch day!

OtherWise Christian 2: Stories of Resistance will launch on March 31, 2020. Pre-orders are currently available on Amazon (ebook) and through the publisher. During the month of March, you can also get autographed copies of OtherWise Christian, Christian Faith and Gender Identity, and In Remembrance of Me, Bearing Witness to Transgender Tragedy at regular retail prices (with your pre-order of OtherWise Christian 2)!

We are also expecting to have launch events both around the U.S. and online! Watch for more news on contributors and launch events coming soon!

Compiled by Mx Chris Paige on February 29, 2020.

Note: This blog is intended to be an on-going work in progress. Please contact us if you have additions, corrections, or concerns.