Is Gender Ideology Evil?

“Gender ideology is the ugliest danger of our time”

-          Pope Francis

I have heard emotional objections from fellow Christians when I say, “gender ideology is evil”.  They explain, “those who suffer with gender confusion are offended by that statement.  It doesn’t express love and caring for those who are suffering. It doesn’t follow God’s command.”

As Christians, we are commanded to “love our neighbor as ourselves”.  Some say calling gender ideology evil undermines that essential Christian command. I have been asked/told to temper my words. I even witnessed a parishioner quit the church blaming my words for his departure.

I assert we can both tell the truth about gender ideology and still show love for our neighbor who suffers with what the Pope calls “the ugliest danger”.  I’m standing by my words, “gender ideology is evil”.  Here’s why.

Confusing Definitions

The greatest of all wizards, Albus Dumbledore, reminded us that we all have the power to either harm or heal with the words we choose to utter.

“Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.” ― Dumbledore, J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

The harm felt by those who suffer with gender confusion is in large part caused by confusing the definitions of gender ideology and gender dysphoria.

Gender ideology is the belief that children can be born into the wrong body, i.e. a girl can be born into a boy’s body and a boy into a girl’s body. (PhD, 2023) This is patently false. There are only two sexes and therefore only two genders. God hates those who bear false witness and pour out lies. (Proverbs 6:16-19) If God hates something, how can we not call that evil?

The existence of only two sexes is the most beautiful gift from God and the foundation for the miracle of the arrival of new human beings.  Denying this denies the greatest possible difference between living beings. (Holy See Office of the Vatican, 2024)

Science also confirms God’s gift.  Archeologists can determine a person’s sex from examining their bones even after hundreds of years. Both the Bible and science deny gender ideology.

Gender Dysphoria is the medical disorder caused by “…a marked incongruence between one’s experienced/expressed gender and natal gender.” (American Psychiatric Association)

Gender Dysphoria is a strong emotion.  There is no physical diagnostic test for it. It’s strictly in the mind of the individual who suffers. This dysphoria is not evil and it is real.  It’s a mental condition and strong emotion. That emotion is real to those who feel it. This is the opportunity to express sincere empathy and therefore follow God’s command to show love for that “neighbor”. Showing love must also include telling the truth.

Without gender ideology, gender dysphoria would not be so prevalent. Within the last decade, there has been a meteoric increase in gender dysphoria, mainly in teen girls. (Sánchez, 2022)

Infinite Dignity vs. Evil

Infinite Dignity (Holy See Office of the Vatican, 2024) means every person has an inalienable worthiness.  This worthiness cannot be taken away because it is part of their essence as provided by God.  Natal gender therefore is a gift from God and part of the individual’s essence. Denying the dignity of a human and denying a gift from God is evil.

Sexual Orientation

The concept of infinite dignity compels us to reaffirm that every person must be respected regardless of sexual orientation. Showing respect does not mean withholding the truth.  We can acknowledge a person’s sexual orientation and still share with them the truth of only two genders. If we fail to tell the truth, we are enabling dysphoria and contributing to the evil.

“Silence in the face of evil is evil itself: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”

-          Dietrich Bonhoeffer

The Harm is Real and Horrific

There are two types of harm caused by gender ideology. They are 1) gender affirming care and the 2) practice of allowing men to compete in women’s sports.

Gender affirming care provides irreversible treatments to those suffering from gender dysphoria.  These treatments include puberty blockers and surgery.  Puberty blockers are used to delay sexual development.  These attack the hypothalamus in the brain. This is the part of the brain that makes us human. Both treatments, surgery and puberty blockers, are very often irreversible.

The irreversibility is very often regretted later. Encouraging children to make life altering decisions that result in irreversible harm is evil.

Two states recently passed legislation in support of gender ideology.  California is allowing gender affirming care to proceed without parental knowledge and permissions.  Michigan is threatening therapists with punishment if they provide options other than gender affirming care for children with gender dysphoria.  Leaving parents out of communication and decisions for their children is evil.

Encouraging gender ideology has led to harm allowing biological males to compete in girls’ sports.  Forcing girls to compete against boys/men is unfair and morally wrong.  Furthermore, men being allowed to enter women’s rest rooms and locker rooms is morally wrong and unsafe.

Placing young girls in these damaging situations causes conflict in the community.  The Lord hates those who stir up conflict in the community. (Proverbs 6:16-19) If God hates it, is it not evil?

Summary

The belief that children can be born in the wrong body is evil because it’s a denial of God’s gift, a denial of science and it causes harm to our community and more importantly irreversible harm to our children.

We can follow God’s command to show love for those who suffer and yet we can also compassionately tell them the truth.  If we don’t tell the truth, we are complicit.

Works Cited

American Psychiatric Association. (n.d.). What is Gender Dysphoria. Retrieved from https://www.psychiatry.or: https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/gender-dysphoria/what-is-gender-dysphoria

Holy See Office of the Vatican. (2024, August 8). Declaration of the Dicastery for the Decotirn of the Faith "Dignitas Infinita" on Human Dignity. Retrieved from https://press.vatican.va: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bottettino/pubblico/2024/04/08/240408c.html

PhD, J. W. (2023, July 7). What is Gender Ideology? Retrieved from https://www.heritage.org/: https://www.heritage.org/gender/commentary/what-gender-ideology

Sánchez, R. R. (2022, September 1). How Can We Explain Rising Gender Dysphoria Among Girls? Retrieved from www.newsweek.com: https://www.newsweek.com/how-can-we-explain-rising-gender-dysphoria-among-girls-opinion-1738260