Mx Chris Paige is an OtherWise holy hybrid - a podcast by Avery Smith

Chris Paige has been compiling resources for trans persons of faith since the late 1990s, when the word "OtherWise" came to them on a mountaintop to describe those who do not fit into Western binaries constructed around sex and gender. 

As they've cultivated community, maintained TransFaith.info, and blogged at OtherWiseChristian.com across the decades, Chris has been on a journey of their own. Their Christian faith has mingled and expanded into Animism and Humanism. They've taken on terms like "misfit" and their friend Louis Mitchell's phrase "holy hybrid" to better describe their identity. They've decided to attend seminary after resisting the academic "ivory tower" for so long. And most excitingly, they've founded OtherWise Engaged Publishing to get their OtherWise Christian series into the world, along with other books by fellow trans, intersex, or OtherWise authors. 

Find Chris at otherwisechristian.com/.

Visit otherwiseengaged4u.wordpress.com/ to purchase the incredible books they've been publishing - books that compile 25 years' worth of trans-affirming biblical scholarship into one accessible volume, and that lift up many voices of OtherWise persons of faith.

And be sure to check out transfaith.info/ as well!

Find this episode's transcript at blessedarethebinarybreakers.com/podcast.

Talking points:

(0:00 - 5:13) - housekeeping, introducing Chris

(5:14 - 11:29) - introducing Chris's work and books, age 48, defining "OtherWise"

(11:30 - 17:53) - receiving the word "OtherWise" in 1998 at an LGBT retreat - a space for men, a space for women, and a space for those "otherwise"

(17:54 - 23:44) - before "OtherWise" - mingling with Lesbian Christian groups; who feels "entitled" to create resources?

(23:45 - 25:10) - starting the TransFaith site in 1999 - "someone has to do it!"

(25:11 - 27:45) - meeting other trans folk offline - first time getting asked for pronouns - "power in trans folk being with other trans folk"

(27:46 - 34:15) - claiming they pronouns as a theological choice; daughter's use of zey/zem for Chris; following a Zey Jesus through Holy Week

(34:16 - 48:23) - more on Chris' books: the need for one concise, accessible resources on trans-affirming biblical scholarship; obstacles to publishing; "We can't wait for y'all to give us permission!"

(48:24 - 52:54) - more on the lack of trans resources; Chris's gathering of friend's stories for current and future books

(52:55 - 56:03) - OtherWise Christian 4 will compile biblical scholarship by and about intersex persons - "Jesus knew about intersex."

(56:04 - 58:10) - heading to seminary in the fall - hopes that institutions have changed, that they can avoid having to do battle over clobber verses

(58:11 - 1:03:14) - more on Chris' faith - a holy hybrid of animism, Humanism - "in multi-faith work around trans communities, our purpose is well-being. ...I want you to thrive as a trans Muslim/Jew/witch."

(1:03:15 - 1:06:50) - heading towards chaplaincy - planning to create resources so chaplains can minister better to trans persons

(1:06:51 - end) - "find our people"; "community can be messy"; wrapping up

Further episodes of Blessed Are the Binary Breakers

Further podcasts by Avery Smith

Website of Avery Smith