Did the previous articles convince you that men dressing in feminine clothing is okay? Did you adopt the shared-vision of a world that was accepting of us? Did you begin to believe that we could actually change the world to accept that view? Hey, maybe we can actually do this...Ooops. You knew there was a clinker, and it must be the Bible. There will be some people who use the Bible in an attempt to prove that you are a pervert and to fill you with guilt and shame. Do they have a point? Let's take a look.
There is only one Scripture that addresses the subject of cross-dressing – "A woman must not wear men's clothing, and a man must not wear women's clothing...." Deuteronomy, Chapter 22, Verse 5.
What does that mean? A popular source, Commentary on the Whole Bible by James M. Gray, doesn't even mention the verse. Apparently Dr. Gray didn't think it was that important, but he does caution against concentrating on small portions of the Bible to draw conclusions. He encourages serious students to study multiple chapters in order to obtain a comprehensive knowledge, and to place individual verses in their proper perspective. Many who quote the Bible could learn a great deal from that advice.
Other authors do comment but ascribe differing interpretations. In Manners and Customs of the Bible, Reverend James M. Freeman explains that pagan religions frequently worshipped idols depicting the features of one sex and the clothing of the opposite sex. Worshippers often cross-dressed to participate in religious rituals. So, one interpretation is to avoid cross-dressing because it was part of idol worship. Not many of us qualify as idol worshippers.
George M. Lamsa, the author of Old Testament Light, points out that in the Eastern culture, women were generally respected, and not searched or molested. They were allowed to travel relatively freely. Men dressed as women might be able to smuggle contraband or spy on their enemies. Are you a smuggler or a spy?
It is common knowledge that women were typically excluded from religious ceremonies during Biblical times. A woman sometimes dressed like a man in order to gain access to the worship service. This interpretation has particular appeal because the verse is first directed at women, and then at men. In most verses, the important point is first followed by less important points.
Most experts fail to even mention transvestites. Furthermore, if it is wrong for a man to wear a dress, then it is just as wrong for a woman to wear a suit; yet few religious leaders comment when a woman wears pants and a tie. Why don't they comment?
The other 29 verses of the chapter are largely ignored, yet two seem curiously related. Verses 11 and 12 say, "Don't wear clothing woven from two kinds of thread: for instance, wool and linen together. You must sew tassels on the four corners of your cloaks." One might ask why there isn't a great disturbance about the blended fabrics commonly worn today by both men and women. And how would the world react to tassels. How indeed!
Other matters that the world pays little attention to get far more emphasis in the Bible. Why not focus on the more important ones? So, what is the proper interpretation of Verse 5 when even the religious experts disagree? One can reasonably conclude that, at best, there has been highly selective usage of Biblical phrases to support the attack on cross-dressers. More commonly, some individuals are intent on using the Bible to deceive others.
The Biblical argument is on shaky ground, and it simply isn't an issue. If someone insists on using a religious prohibition to attack you, refer them to this passage – "...and forgive us our sins, just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us...Your heavenly Father will forgive those who sin against you; but if you refuse to forgive them, he will not forgive you." Matthew, Chapter 6, Verses 12, 14 & 15.
The book that our critics profess to follow, states that God will treat them the way they treat others. Those who are intolerant, are setting themselves up for serious consequences according to their own standards. The Bible is my source of spiritual nurture, and my intent is to stop others from using it to inappropriately criticize us.
If our critics read the Bible with an open mind, they would find that Jesus never made anyone feel guilty. He welcomed those who were shunned by the sophisticated aristocracy. His followers were common, everyday people – the poor, the tax collectors, the fishermen, even the prostitutes. He consistently showed all of them love and respect.
There was, however, one group that he continually criticized – the religious leaders. He referred to them as hypocrites because they acted holy while placing burdens on the people – "Woe to you, Pharisees, and you religious leaders! You are like beautiful mausoleums - full of dead men's bones, and of foulness and corruption. You try to look like saintly men, but underneath those pious robes of yours are hearts besmirched with every sort of hypocrisy and sin." Matthew, Chapter 23, Verses 27-28.
Where does that leave us? Well, for anyone willing to take an unbiased view, there certainly isn't a Biblical case against cross-dressing. Religious prohibitions are simply inappropriate. To dress in a certain manner as a matter of self-expression is fine. There is no reason why you can't be your own person. Cross-dressing isn't for everybody, but, if you want to cross-dress, there is no valid reason to prevent you. If all fashions were equally acceptable for men and women, most people would probably dress much as they already do. There would be a group, including most of us, who would wear clothing that spans the sexes.
There is a point where cross-dressing indicates a problem. If you are using dressing as an escape mechanism, then that action is harmful to you. It's not the dressing that's harmful; it's why you are dressing. If you have a dressing problem, seek competent, professional advice.
Is it time for a change? If we keep pushing on the cross-dressing issue, we find that there isn't any substance, religious or other, behind the prohibition. We have just accepted it as factual, and allowed it to rob us of our deserved happiness and enjoyment. Isn't it time to take a stand for what is right? There are consequences in taking a stand, but there are also consequences in not taking a stand. Aren't the rewards worthwhile? What time do you think it is?
"There is a right time for everything:
A time to be born...
A time to plant...
A time to heal...
A time to rebuild...
A time to find...
A time for throwing away...
A time for repair...
A time to speak up...
A time for loving...
Everything is appropriate in its own time...
So I conclude that, first,
there is nothing better for a man
than to be happy and
to enjoy himself as long as he can; and second,
that he should eat and drink
and enjoy the fruits of his labors,
for those are gifts from God."
Ecclesiastes,
Chapter 3
Selected Verses
There is a time for everything.
Now is the time to understand and accept ourselves.
Now is time to heal ourselves.
Now is time to join the mainstream of society to show them that we belong.
Not later, NOW!
