Editor’s note: This story originally ran in our Sunday newsletter on Easter. Keep an eye out every Sunday for our newsletter, where you may see some stories before they make it to our website.
WESTFORD — A Westford LGBTQ+ group and church have partnered to promote Transgender Day of Visibility — which fell on Easter Sunday.
A sign created by Westford LGBTQ+ Friends and Allies was placed outside of the First Parish Church United on Main Street.
“This is groundbreaking, and, quite frankly, I expected a ‘no’ with Transgender Day of Visibility falling on Easter Sunday this year,” Wendy Gloyd, leader of Westford LGBTQ Friends and Allies said. ”We respect that not all organizations would feel comfortable with the juxtaposition and we would not have taken it personally as a lack of support.”
She added, “I am proud that the church leaders are committed to helping promote visibility and support in town.”
Church leadership, such as Reverend Rebecca Lockwood, says that the church is “often pretty clear in its support of the LGBTQ community.
“The decision was pretty easy for us to make,” she said.
Lockwood says that she believes Easter is a “good time” to display the sign.
“Theologically, Easter is a good time to do that,” she said. “So much of what we believe in is the beloved news and dignity of Jesus’ life.”
She added, “All of his life in ministry was loving, celebrating and reminding everyone that they were worthy. That it was because of who they were and not in spite of who they were.”
The church already flies two Pride flags outside both of its Main Street entrances.
Despite the church’s support, Lockwood says some denominations may still have “more to learn.”
“That’s one of the things we’re working on, is how to be more involved and present,” she said. “Getting involved in Pride events is on our list to get involved in. There’s always more for us to learn, it’s an ongoing process.”
Lockwood says her church aims to provide a safe and welcoming environment to all persons in the community.
“We are supporting and celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility and this is one thing we can do in our promise of being a safe and welcoming place.”
She added, “what this day is celebrating is having a place for trans folks to feel safe, held and loved so that everybody can be fully visible,” she said. “We have this day because it is still not safe for so many and putting up the sign is a small thing to do to remediate what the Church has done.”
According to a 2023 report from the Human Rights Campaign, an American LGBTQ advocacy group, 32 transgender and gender-expansive people were killed by violent means in 2023.
Of these, 84% were people of color and 50% were dead named or misgendered by the press.
Additionally, according to a 2023 report from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a 40% increase in anti-transgender incidents was observed between 2021 and 2022.
Lockwood did note that though her church is supporting Transgender Day of Visibility, she believes there is still work to be done in remediating the Church’s relationship with the LGBTQ community.
“For so many people, the Church has been a harmful place and so many people do not feel safe. We have a lot to repair,” she said,
