These questions are intended to stimulate thought and discussion. They are particularly designed for Sunday school and small groups.
1) Does the realization that suicide rates among the transgender community are more than 25 times the rate of the general population trouble you? Why?
a) Regardless of the cause, do we really want to encourage people in a lifestyle that is known to have substantial risk of suicide, HIV infection, and substance abuse? Is affirming someone in a lifestyle with such high risk truly loving? Why?
b) If these suicide rates are primarily driven by the economic and social pressure of being visually non-conforming, then why do suicide rates remain so high after satisfactory sex-reassignment procedures? What does this tell us about the root cause behind the high suicide rates among the transgender community?
c) Is it fair to blame the Church and anyone who does not celebrate the transgender lifestyle for the high suicide rates among the transgender community? Why?
d) Is it wise to provide people with such a high risk of suicidal behavior hormone therapy given the massive mood swings which can be involved? Why?
2) How should the knowledge that there is no robust scientific evidence that sex change operations improve the lives of transsexuals influence the way we attempt to help transgender individuals?
a) Is producing a satisfied but still troubled patient sufficient reason for surgically amputating normal organs? Why?
b) Do you agree with Dr. McHugh that if there is no robust scientific evidence that sex change operations improve the lives of transsexuals, then providing sex change operations is fundamentally cooperating with a mental illness? Why?
3) Why is it significant that, as Dr. Ihlenfeld says, the transgender patient is the only patient who diagnoses himself and prescribes his own treatment?
4) Do you agree with Walt Heyer’s assessment that gender change is at its heart a self-destructive act? Why?
5) Where is a transgender individual who has tried “everything” and feels as though they’ve reached the end of the road in despair and desperation expected to turn for help?
a) Is the Church a safe place for despairing and desperate transgender individuals to turn? Why?
b) In all honesty, do you want transgender individuals to turn to you or to your local church for help? Why?
c) Are sorry, anger, and regret always bad emotions? Why?
6) What effort are you making to reach transgender people with the gospel message? How?
a) How can the Church effectively reach transgender people with the gospel message?
7) Is there hope for the transgender individual?
a) How should a local church respond to a repentant transsexual who wishes to join the church?
b) Do you think the average Christian is ready to accept a repentant transsexual? Why?
c) What can the Church do to prepare Christians to accept repentant transsexuals?
8) Can God transform the life of a transgender individual?
a) If God transforms the life of a transgender individual, will their gender dysphoria necessarily vanish? Why?
b) Can someone who identifies as another gender identify as a child of God? Why?
9) How do we protect the hope of the gospel when we as Christians stand apart from the transgender ideology in an honest yet loving manner?
a) Why is it crucial that Christians speak the truth about transgenderism in love and with gentleness?
b) Why would transgender individuals turn for answers to those they believe harbor animosity toward them?
c) Why would transgender individuals look for hope from those who say they and the transgender are already so similar that we need not discuss the differences?
10) If the Holy Spirit is responsible for convicting others of their sin, then why is it important for us to speak the truth to the transgender community?