Trans Mormon Could Face Punishment for Breast Removal

Although the Mormon Church's policies toward transgender people of faith are not well fleshed out, the faith does have stringent views on what they say is the immutable and eternal nature of gender identity. Those views could bring the weight of the church down on a transgender Mormon contemplating great removal, the Salt Lake Tribune reports.

Kris Irvin came out as trans three years ago, the report said. Since then, Irvin - who uses the pronoun "they" - has had to navigate religious and practical issues around their gender identity, a task complicated by the fact that they attend Brigham Young University, a religious institution of higher education that requires students to agree to and abide by a detailed set of rules regarding their appearance, beliefs, living situation, and personal comportment. (The Salt Lake Tribune also mentioned Irvin in a story last year about trans BYU students.)

The larger issue, however, remains one of inclusivity and participation within the faith; if they were to proceed with a breast removal procedure, Irvin could face church-imposed penalties that would strip them of certain rights and privileges associated with church traditions and rituals.

But the church's exact stance on trans issues are unclear in many respects. As the Salt Lake Tribune article notes:

The Mormon faith teaches in its proclamation on the family that gender is an "eternal identity." It has a short paragraph in its Handbook for local lay leaders that says a "transsexual operation" may be cause for formal discipline. That term is generally understood to mean reassignment surgery that changes a person's reproductive anatomy. But it's unclear if it encompasses more than that, such as top surgery or hormone therapy.

Irvin thinks having their breasts removed to allow their body an appearance more in line with their gender identity would not violate the church's policies. But their bishop disagrees. Their husband is also no fan of the idea.

To Irvin, however, the question boils down to two essential contentions: It's their own choice whether to proceed; and in any case, they insist, breast removal surgery would not constitute gender reassignment.

Or, as the Salt Lake Tribune quoted Irvin as saying, "I'm not changing my sex. I'm not transitioning. I just want to feel more comfortable."