If Donald Trump’s creation of a self-serving Bible was not enough, Willie Wilson once again drags Christianity through the mud by suggesting that it is somehow insulting to highlight International Transgender Day of Visibility on Easter Sunday when both fell on March 31 (“Biden’s Easter Day proclamation insults Christians while pandering to progressives,” April 4).
As an Episcopal pastor, I can’t think of a better day to highlight our transgender and gender-diverse siblings, many of whom are Christian. Could there be a better day to celebrate their visibility than the day we Christians celebrate God’s triumph over human cruelty in the resurrection of Jesus? After all, our trans siblings are suffering that kind of oppression at the hands of some Christians — suffering reinforced by Wilson’s transphobic op-ed.
In a few weeks, many Christians will hear the story of the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8), who was excluded from some religious communities of the time because of their gender. Yet they became part of the Christian movement, because, as the same Book of Acts says, “God shows no partiality.” In other words, all are welcome in God’s family.
I hope my brother in Christ Willie will heed this good news.
— The Rev. Bryan Cones, pastor, Trinity Episcopal Church, Highland Park
Many religions practiced in US
Regarding Willie Wilson’s op-ed, it is well known that not all Americans are Christians. We are a people who practice many religions, and there are those who embrace no faith. Freedom of religion means that the federal government will not establish a state church or give preference to one faith over another.
As a Christian, I belong to the Christian church international, in solidarity with Christians worldwide. As an American, I stand firm that neither this nation nor its president should value any religion over another.
— Jane E. Meulink, Lockport
Demonstrating gospel of love
How sad that Willie Wilson took offense at President Joe Biden’s acknowledging International Transgender Day of Visibility on March 31, which happened to be Easter Sunday. I, too, am a Christian — a cradle Catholic and still practicing in spite of the child abuse scandal and paternalistic bureaucracy that persists in my church. But I saw Biden’s proclamation in a different light.
Jesus did not die for the religious people only. He died for all of us: the rich, the poor, all colors, all political persuasions, all sexes and especially for those marginalized and despised. On Easter, we celebrate Jesus’ victory over death. Death is what is often meted out to trans folks by some who identify as Christian. You can check the statistics yourself.
I am betting Jesus celebrated Biden’s proclamation. Rather than “undercutting Christians,” the president demonstrated the gospel of love that Jesus gave us.
— Margaret Sents, Glenview
It’s the same date every year
Willie Wilson’s op-ed runs right into the point but still misses it. International Transgender Day of Visibility has occurred on March 31 since 2009. Easter’s date changes every year. By recognizing the day as it happened to fall on Easter Sunday, President Joe Biden did what Jesus would have done: openly cared for people in need.
When a person has to say they have nothing against a certain group, rather than show it, it makes me wonder.
— Christa Van Ermen, Oak Park
Does not speak for all Christians
I cannot believe the Tribune opinion team devoted so much space to an opinion so ill-informed. International Transgender Day of Visibility always falls on March 31, just like National Crayon Day and National Clams on the Half-Shell Day. Easter moves around because it occurs on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox. Easter can fall anytime from March 22 and April 25.
The simplest thing to do is divorce Easter from this weird rule and just pick a day in April that will always be Easter, like the first or second Sunday in April. After all, the Catholic Church arbitrarily picked March 21 to establish the date of the ecclesiastical equinox, even though the actual equinox doesn’t always fall on that date.
Also, Wilson doesn’t speak for all Christians. I am certain there are rational Christians who can recognize a coincidence without alleging intention to insult Christians and pander to progressives on anyone’s (including the president’s) part, as well as Christians who practice tolerance who won’t agree with Wilson’s knee-jerk reaction.
— Gregory J. Ledger, Chicago
Stop giving ex-candidates space
I’m writing this letter to my Chicago Tribune because I am so tired of seeing op-eds from losing mayoral candidates. Thursday’s op-ed about President Joe Biden’s Easter Day proclamation is a waste of space. As is stated in Willie Wilson’s op-ed, “International Transgender Day of Visibility has occurred on March 31 since 2009.” Wilson makes it clear that he agrees that LGBTQ people should be treated equally.
I, too, am a Christian, and Biden’s proclamation didn’t offend me or “distract” me from celebrating Easter Sunday. Are people not expected or supposed to celebrate birthdays or anniversaries, or any special celebratory day in their lives when Easter Sunday falls on their special day? I think not.
Easter is not observed on a fixed day, and special interest groups are unlikely to used fixed holiday dates for their particular so-called day of recognition. Movable holiday dates are standard now, and when we celebrate on a movable date, we don’t fault other organizations for their celebrations on those days, though we still believe those movable holiday dates are just as important as if they fell on actual day, e.g., the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, President Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, Memorial Day and Labor Day, to name a few.
True Christians see through the noise and continue the sacredness and reverence regarding the resurrection of Jesus Christ. To say that Biden is using his “bully pulpit” “to undercut Christianity” is disingenuous. And if Biden’s proclamation gives “citizens a license to move away from God,” then said Christians’ licenses were already expired.
Then near the end of the op-ed, all of a sudden, Wilson is talking about “Biden and other elected leaders,” even those who didn’t make a proclamation! So, his statements are really not about Biden.
The Tribune opinion team’s desire to keep the losing mayoral candidates — particularly Wilson and Paul Vallas — on the minds of Chicagoans doesn’t speak much about its staff. Wilson and Vallas and many others lost, and there’s no reason to keep give them a platform in our newspaper. The people didn’t want them in office, but apparently the Tribune opinion team did. Get over them, please.
I won’t be reading any more of their op-eds. But I will continue reading my Chicago Tribune!
— William B. Wyatt, Palos Heights
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