As a white gay cis male, I know something of both oppression and privilege. Where my sexual orientation has sometimes inspired harassment, and even violence, against me, my gender and skin color have prevented me from being exposed to certain other elements of persecution. This intersectionality is non-linear, which can muddy the waters, making it difficult for those recipients of said privilege to be aware of its existence.
For example, I was ignorant of the intense severity of racism in the United States until 2012, when the much-publicized murder of Trayvon Martin brought the national conversation about race to a new level. In the wake of this event, I began to hear the stories from the people of color around me that helped to open my eyes to the harsh reality of continued racism in America.
It is often true that we can live our lives with blinders until confronted with information that directly contradicts what is believed to be true. And even then, all too often, this new information is simply rejected, confirmation bias preventing us from allowing conflicting information even to be considered. This is why so many white people are adamant that white privilege doesn’t exist, as our lived experiences do not reflect the struggles of those whose lives are different than our own. When we are surrounded only by those like us, it is easy to live in an invisible echo chamber, evident from the outside. At the same time, those within are unable (and, in some cases, unwilling) to acknowledge its existence.
To ensure we are exposed to a diversity of ideas, we must be open to hearing the voices of others, even when those voices show us how we may be inadvertently participating in their systematic oppression. As a gay man, I am keenly aware of how society and laws have been (and continue to be) used to my disadvantage. I have also had the experience that many heterosexual people are blind to the oppression to which gay people are routinely subjected. Especially in the wake of marriage equality in the United States, this has caused many to assume that the fight for queer rights is over and that we have achieved full equality. Most are then shocked to learn that no federal laws protect us from being fired from our jobs or being discriminated against in things like employment, housing, and even medical care.
Most people don’t venture too far outside their societal comfort zones to learn of the specific needs and challenges of minorities. And when the needs and experiences of minorities are ignored, it becomes all too easy to layer on negative judgments over unexamined ignorance.
I believe that this is at the heart of the current barrage of anti-trans sentiments that are raging through society. At the time of this writing, United States politicians have introduced a staggering number of anti-trans bills seeking to deny gender-affirming care and fueling more ignorance and violence against this already fragile community.
Illustration of an isolated transgender flag. Courtesy DepositPhotos.
We might be tempted to see this as a problem of religious intolerance. After all, the Christian Right has long opposed any expression of humanity outside of their limited worldview. If it isn’t straight and narrow, then it must be the enemy. But this isn’t just happening in Christian circles. It’s happening right here at home.
I remember in 2015 when a petition was circulating on Change.org that sought to “drop the ‘T’ from LGBT.” Of the 850 people who signed it, I recognized a few who were longtime members of the Pagan community and even reached out to a couple of them to express my disappointment. One of them rethought their position and removed their signature. The other doubled down, and we have not communicated since.
These were not young, impressionable people who were new to the Craft. They had been a part of the community for many years, and at least one was considered an elder in their tradition. While I naively expected Craft elders to be wise, I was reminded that we are all human, no matter our particular stations. And we have all the blindness and frailties that come with it.
Since that time, we have seen an explosion of anti-trans sentiments both within and outside of the Craft. From bigotry at major Pagan events to a vocally bigoted segment of Gardnerian Wiccans, transphobia is alive and well in certain sectors of the Pagan community.
But that transphobia is only allowed to thrive when we do not challenge the narrative that would make us believe that they aren’t natural, aren’t human, and are a threat to us. All these arguments have been used against all stripes of queer people throughout history. It’s just becoming less fashionable to apply them to gays and lesbians, and so trans people become the new targets.
Many cisgender people naively believe that this issue has nothing to do with them, but those of us in the Pagan community should pay particular attention. We are traditionally a group of outsiders. We are a diverse bunch that stands outside the mainstream. Whether we are Wiccans, Heathens, Druids, Voodooists, or some other flavor entirely, individually, we are small, but together we draw collective strength. Even the umbrella term “Pagan” is often used to mean “Not Christian, Muslim, or Jewish.” Or, in other words, “We are the weirdos, mister.”
“We are the weirdos, mister,” from The Craft (1996).
As a queer warlock, I proudly stand with my trans sisters, brothers, and sacred others, and I will contribute to the inclusion conversation any chance I get. Still, most importantly, I will do my best to lift trans and other minority voices in the Craft.
That said, let’s take some time to get to know some of the trans and nonbinary people contributing to the betterment of the Craft right now. From YouTubers to authors to teachers, and artists, trans people make up an integral part of our wildly vibrant and diverse community.
So, in no particular order, here are eight trans or nonbinary creatives in the Pagan community who are making a difference for all of us. Please check out their work and help support them in their efforts to make Paganism a little bit safer (as well as more thoughtful and fun) for all of us.
- Mhara Starling is an out and proud trans woman and a font of information about Welsh Witchcraft (heck, she even wrote the book on the subject). She is also just a delightful person. Catch her on YouTube and TikTok.
- Mortellus is a “Witch, Necromancer, Mortician, Medium, and Author.” They are also nonbinary and a Third Degree lineaged Priestex in the Gardnerian tradition. We eagerly await their book, The Bones Fall in a Spiral, which releases this October.
- Eron Mazza is a personal friend, and they are the host of The Witching Hour podcast, where they interview authors, teachers, and other creatives in our community. They are also nonbinary.
- Yvonne Aburrow hails from Ontario, Canada. Their book, All Acts of Love and Pleasure: Inclusive Wicca, should be required reading for queer people in the Craft. They are also an initiate in the Gardnerian tradition. (Editor’s note: Yvonne has also contributed to TWH.)
- Misha Magdalene’s first book, Outside the Charmed Circle, explores the concept of gender and identity as it intersects with a magical practice. Very thought-provoking.
- Enfys J. Book is smart, funny, kind, nonbinary, and the host of the podcast “4 Quick Q’s”. Their first book, Queer Qabalah, reveals the queerness at the heart of ancient spiritual teachings and is a fantastic contribution to the fields of occult and gender studies.
- Ariana Serpentine is trans and queer, as well as a multi-traditional witch and activist. Her book Sacred Gender is a must for those Pagans who seek to practice outside the binary.
- Michelle Belanger is an occult expert and author, having appeared on A&E’s Paranormal State and the Travel Channel’s Portals to Hell in that capacity, and the author of the Psychic Vampire Codex and the Dictionary of Demons. She/he/they are also openly intersex.
These creatives are just an example of the diverse and vibrant threads woven into the tapestry of our Pagan groups and practices. We are strong as a community when we invite the voices of those with different perspectives. Let the big umbrella of Paganism be a place where all our voices are heard and honored. And until that is true, let us each make the pledge to help lift the voices of those who are marginalized as we join in solidarity toward the unified purpose of making a stronger and more inclusive community.
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