The LDS Church's revised guidelines for transgender individuals prohibit their involvement in youth-related activities.
The church's recently unveiled handbook, released on Monday, appears to be another setback for the LGBTQ community, which has already grappled with state prohibitions or limitations regarding participation in sports and limited access to gender-affirming care.
The church's updated guidelines for its transgender members now prohibit individuals "engaging in surgical, medical, or social modifications departing from their birth-assigned sex" from taking on gender-specific roles within the church, teaching, working with children or youth, as per their directives to local leaders.
Under the revised policy, transgender individuals will not be permitted to participate in overnight activities designed for both males and females. They can, however, attend gender-specific overnight activities, such as female-only camps, with people who share their birth-assigned sex.
The LDS church considers social transition as intentionally identifying and presenting oneself contrary to their birth-assigned sex, encompassing their choice of attire, names, and pronouns.
The church declined to comment on the matter, but directed CNN to its handbook's frequently asked questions for clarification regarding the reason behind the change in transgender policies.
According to the handbook, the church aims to assist its local leaders in effectively ministering to transgender members and their families, "clarify guidance regarding baptism and confirmation, priesthood ordinances and temple ordinances," and "maintain consistency in policies while offering local leaders flexibility to minister based on individual requirements."
The LDS church, which in broader guidelines regards transgender members as valuable and necessary constituents, may inscribe annotations on their member records, a circumstance similar for individuals convicted of child sexual abuse, predatory sexual behavior, and involvement in child pornography, as per the handbook.
The church's leaders advocate against transitioning from one's birth-assigned sex and impose some membership restrictions on transgender individuals, such as "receiving or exercising" the priesthood, obtaining or utilizing a temple recommend, and qualifying for certain church callings.
"They may receive other callings or assignments that offer opportunities to grow and serve others," the guidance states.
The guidelines also recommend transgender individuals use single-occupancy restrooms when available, and if unavailable, they have the option of "using a restroom that corresponds to their perceived inner gender sense, under the observation of a trusted individual to ensure privacy."
Tyler Lefevor, a Utah-based therapist and researcher who is queer and was raised in the church, referred to the updated policies as "disappointing" due to their limiting the liberties of local church leaders in interpreting church policies.
Lefevor believes the church's intention is to tighten control, stating, "This is essentially the church saying, 'This is how we want you to do it.'"
He expressed concern over the implication these new policies have on transgender members, suggesting, "It's saying, 'We really don't want you here, please leave.,' or 'If you're going to be here, you have to conform to these really high expectations regarding how you present yourself.'"
Lefevor feels the church has sent mixed signals regarding the acceptance of LGBTQ members, acknowledging its recent efforts to encourage respect and support for the community, but also admitting the policy's stance suggests that LGBTQ members must conform to be accepted.
"It produces barriers for LGBTQ individuals because their interactions with other congregants send mixed messages, saying, 'You can still be here,' but then (the church) creates policies that make it challenging for LGBTQ or, more specifically, transgender members to be full members," Lefevor said.
The LDS church, which remains opposed to same-sex marriages, expressed support for the Religious Freedom Act in 2022.
Transgender woman Laurie Lee Hall, who was excommunicated in 2017 following her transition, concurred that the updated policies pose a challenge for individuals like her to maintain faith.
Hall criticized the policies preventing transgender individuals from working with youth or requiring chaperones to use their preferred bathroom as "dehumanizing," according to the AP.
"It implies that a transgender member is somehow a threat to others," Hall said, according to the AP.
Despite being a part of the LGBTQ community that has faced challenges in sports participation and access to gender-affirming care, 'us' transgender members within the church now face further restrictions. Under the revised policies, 'us' are excluded from participating in some overnight activities and are encouraged to use single-occupancy restrooms when available.
