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UGLE Gender Reassignment Policy

Overworked724

Registered User
Thanks for submitting this link, Brother.

This is such a firebrand topic which generates passionate responses and opinions. I am not certain of my feelings on this particular topic. I will never be able to imagine myself walking in the shoes of someone who has spent their life identifying themselves as a sex opposite to what they were born. The physical and psychological toll of 'knowing' they are trapped in a body of the wrong sex is unfathomable to me...but it must be a supremely difficult life, and it is fortunate that they live in an era where there are both options and acceptance (in general) of their condition. The UGLE is taking the approach which is extremely compassionate and accepting. I personally do not know how the general opinions around this topic will evolve.

I believe that the many MM's will be challenged by UGLE's approach, especially from those who take a strict interpretation of their obligation. In truth, I tend to be pretty draconian in my views. Maybe it's my strict upbringing, military, etc. Also, the older I get, the less I tend to see subtle shades of grey in many an issue. My views on the world are not that complicated.

So, I have to question myself:

I have to consider a transgender woman, who became a man, then petitions and is balloted clear to receive the degrees in my lodge. Would I, as a MM, taking to heart my oath, be able to sit in lodge with this person or witness their raising without conflict and with a clear conscience? Conversely, would I, as a MM, be able to sit in lodge with a transgender brother MM who recently became a woman ?

In truth - those are very difficult questions to me to answer. I hope that I can evade such situations. Simply put, there isn't much room for me to challenge my own interpretation of my obligation - in my heart, I already know which direction my heart would be leaning.
 

Thomas Stright

Premium Member
Gender does equal Sex in my opinion.

You may call yourself whatever gender you wish, but there is no way to change one's sex.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
I have to consider a transgender woman, who became a man, then petitions and is balloted clear to receive the degrees in my lodge.
I could probably go along with this.
Conversely, would I, as a MM, be able to sit in lodge with a transgender brother MM who recently became a woman ?
This I can not go along with. We are a fraternity and if a male identifies as a female, and has the surgery to complete the transformation, he / she would have to demit or be expelled. This is ONLY my personal opinion. What stance the Grand Lodge of Kentucky will take remains to be seen.
 

okielabrat

Registered User
Maybe I'm wrong, and all those college-level Biology courses were wrong as well, but last I checked, we had two genders, male and female. The DNA doesn't lie.

In all honestly, I'm not sure how to approach this issue since I am not transgender or whatever they call themselves, but I would have to think long and hard about having a brother starting to identify as a sister sitting in lodge. My state's Grand Lodge seems to be pretty conservative, and I would expect them to take a hardline stance on transgender candidates. Thus, I would have to defer to my Grand Lodge.
 

CLewey44

Registered User
Maybe I'm wrong, and all those college-level Biology courses were wrong as well, but last I checked, we had two genders, male and female. The DNA doesn't lie.

In all honestly, I'm not sure how to approach this issue since I am not transgender or whatever they call themselves, but I would have to think long and hard about having a brother starting to identify as a sister sitting in lodge. My state's Grand Lodge seems to be pretty conservative, and I would expect them to take a hardline stance on transgender candidates. Thus, I would have to defer to my Grand Lodge.
This one is a no brainer. They can't have both ways. It's one thing to be a "trans man" but if you transition to a woman and you want to be treated as such, Masonry will not be in your present or future in my opinion.
 

bupton52

Moderator
Premium Member
Gonna throw something out there. Is it possible that a woman that has transitioned has been admitted before? I know that we aren’t checking private areas or birth certificates when investigating.


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CLewey44

Registered User
Gonna throw something out there. Is it possible that a woman that has transitioned has been admitted before? I know that we aren’t checking private areas or birth certificates when investigating.


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I would imagine so and it wasn't detrimental to the fraternity
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
Gonna throw something out there. Is it possible that a woman that has transitioned has been admitted before? I know that we aren’t checking private areas or birth certificates when investigating.

Getting a revised birth certificate is a included in the legal part of the the transition process. I have no idea how many go through the legal part when they transition but probably most. So it's likely.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Gonna throw something out there. Is it possible that a woman that has transitioned has been admitted before? I know that we aren’t checking private areas or birth certificates when investigating.
I would imagine so and it wasn't detrimental to the fraternity
Getting a revised birth certificate is a included in the legal part of the the transition process. I have no idea how many go through the legal part when they transition but probably most. So it's likely.
I have a feeling that this is going to get VERY interesting when a known transgender decides to join / remain with the Craft!
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
I have a feeling that this is going to get VERY interesting when a known transgender decides to join / remain with the Craft!

About as interesting as when the Supreme Court authorized gay marriage and some locally known but not widely known Brothers got married. At least one state passed rules that got them kicked out. I'm still not clear if that's bringing discussion of politics "or" religion into tiled spaces. Probably both. At least one jurisdiction pulled recognition. Yep, we can expect a similar reaction on this topic, yet instead of a 5% segment of the population, maybe more, this time it will be about a 0.5% segment of the population, probably less.

At some point these tempests will be so small they don't even get their own teapots.
 

Rifleman1776

Registered User
I just saw this come across my Facebook timeline. It was only a matter of time before this would have to be addressed.

https://www.ugle.org.uk/gender-reassignment-policy



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Regardless of any official guidelines, individual reactions to a transgender individual seeking MM membership or staying in a Lodge, will vary. My church faced and is still facing this issue. When the Synod changed rules allowing homosexuals to hold leadership positions about 50% of the membership quit and went elsewhere. Recently, a man who identifies as a woman and dresses as one has started attending. Being Christians, his attendance is accepted, as it should be. But questions can arise, like which rest room does he use? Will we lose more members because of him? (BTW, or Pastor calls him "her") Definitely a flash point issue in all walks of society these days.
 

Warrior1256

Site Benefactor
Yep, we can expect a similar reaction on this topic, yet instead of a 5% segment of the population, maybe more, this time it will be about a 0.5% segment of the population, probably less.
True.
At some point these tempests will be so small they don't even get their own teapots.
Lol.....also true.
But questions can arise, like which rest room does he use? Will we lose more members because of him? (BTW, or Pastor calls him "her")
Definitely a flash point issue in all walks of society these days.
Absolutely!
 
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