Mormon church issues new restrictions on transgender members
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known widely as the Mormon church, issued a slew of new policies this week expanding its restrictions on transgender members.
The policies, released Monday, include rules barring trans people from working with children, becoming priests and serving as teachers. The church also expanded on an existing rule that barred trans people from being baptized.
Trans members will also face possible annotation on their membership records, grouping them with churchgoers who have committed incest, sexual predatory behavior, sexual violence against children and embezzlement of church funds.
“Church leaders counsel against pursuing surgical, medical, or social transition away from one’s biological sex at birth,” the church’s General Handbook states. “Leaders advise that taking these actions will result in some Church membership restrictions.”
Those who do “transition away from their biological sex at birth,” the handbook notes, will be completely turned away.
“These individuals and their families are encouraged to counsel with their local leaders regarding Church participation,” it states.
The new rules — which were part of a broader update to the church’s General Handbook — come roughly four years since the Salt Lake City, Utah-based church first released extensive guidelines on transgender people.
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