First Trans Latina Ordained By Evangelical Lutheran Church
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America has, for the first time ever, ordained a trans Latina. Last month, Nicole Garcia became pastor of Westview Lutheran Church which describes itself as “an affirming, welcoming community.”
“Nobody can question my faith, my devotion to Christ, my devotion to the church. That’s why I’m the pastor here," Garcia told NBC News. "Being trans is secondary.”
Although Garcia was born into the Roman Catholic Church, she left Christianity for more than 20 years because of confusion about her sexuality and gender.
“I had never felt comfortable in my own skin,” Garcia said.
“I had always been chastised for doing the wrong thing. Everything just felt wrong. I did everything my male cousins would do, but it was just awkward and it didn’t come naturally.”
After deciding to transition, Garcia became a Lutheran and started working with an organisation called Reconciling In Christ, which “works toward full acceptance of the LGBTQ community within the Lutheran denomination. She now has become the first-ever trans Latina to be an Evangelical Lutheran pastor.
Garcia hopes she can encourage other LGBTQ people and people of color to step forward through faith.
“As a transgender Latina, I bring a breath of fresh air into all the places I walk into,” she said.
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