A pro-trans pope?

 There's a phrase in Italian, morto un papa se ne fa un altro - when a pope dies you just create another one. I.e. life goes on for the rest of us and no individual ever really makes waves.

Inevitably, the papers here in Italy are are full of little other than the death of Pope Francis yesterday. Even the Sports supplement dedicates its first nine pages to the pope's love for the beautiful game. I didn't bother checking if he was into boxing, too, or maybe enjoyed a round of darts, pint in hand. It smacks a bit of journalistic desperation when you try to link world events to your usual news fare. 

But anyway, there'll be a new pope soon. Will he be more open to trans people or be the usual repressive? This past one was supposedly more receptive to LGBT rights, saying sexuality was less important than other issues like war or poverty, but then going and making some ambiguous and pretty anti-LGBT comments, too. Fundamentally, I don't think the Catholic church can ever be pro-LGBT, it's just a question of how directly anti they may become in future. 

None of the Abrahamic religions - Judaism, Christianity or Islam - are into equal status for women. They're all into male dominance. Just ask an Afghan, an Iranian ... or an American from the Bible Belt. As you'd expect from religions deriving from the Fertile Crescent, fertility (whether crops, lambs or babies) is paramount and anything that reduces that productivity - like being gay - is to be rejected. Besides, gentile/pagan/infidel religions often have transgender/eunuch priests, and you mustn't copy anything that lot do. 

A change in attitude in the Vatican therefore seems unlikely to me. Most I have heard from the Catholic church about being trans is that it's just a variant of being gay. And that since Christianity (and Islam) are spread by preaching, that's how people get to be trans and gay - because someone persuaded them to be. Gimme a break!

I don't expect a change, therefore, just that transphobia may be more or less vocal with the next guy in the Vatican. That's right, the guy in the white frock, with lace sleeves on Sundays!

Pardon my cynicism but I am actually one of the few people who has actually taken the trouble to read all the Bible, the Koran, and many other holy texts and therefore I don't hold any hope for understanding between leaders of these religions and trans people. 

(By the way, my experience as young person was that ministers of these religions were often violent men addicted to punishment and physical assault, and to demanding respect rather than earning it. This for me has always tainted their claims that their religions bring peace, love, mercy and understanding. Your mileage may vary.)

 

The good stuff

As ever, Elle magazine is always for us and this week Elle Italia carries an interview with author Lucy Sante who explains how trans people are now the US government's official scapegoat.

I note that many of the general political vloggers and bloggers I follow, none of whom have ever mentioned trans matters before, are all roundly condemning the UK Supreme Court's anti-trans ruling last week. Allies emerge when official justice chooses injustice.

On the same subject, I'd like to say that, although I left the UK in 2018 to seek a new life in warmer climes for the sake of my health, and life where human rights are still valued and protected for the sake of my freedom, what happens in my former country still affects me as I haven't cut ties with my many friends there. So I'd like to thank and praise UK bloggers Clare, Jonathan and Lynn for making a public stand against this ruling at very short notice last weekend. I know others of my friends like Tania were out there, too. Bless you.

Stay safe and beautiful all of you. 

I end with a photo I took yesterday of my friend and lodger Mrs Collared Dove who has lived on my home for years with her husband. She likes to rest on my railings and I enjoy her company.

 

Mr Dove will often come and join her there, where they can be seen grooming each other, chatting, sharing a kiss or just sitting snuggled together enjoying the sunset. A lovely loving couple. I snapped the pair of them previously:

 

Sue x