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It’s a phrase you sometimes hear in debates, on social media, or even whispered in the pews:
“Trans women are just men in dresses.”
For some, it sounds like a simple statement of fact. But behind those words lies something much deeper—and more dangerous: a denial of someone’s reality, dignity, and often, their desire to keep living.
This article isn’t a political manifesto. It’s a Christian reflection—an invitation to look at what it means to live in truth, spiritually and personally, and how to approach Scripture with reverence and wisdom.
👗 What does calling someone “just a man in a dress” mean?
Practically, it’s a reduction.
It says, “You are not who you say you are. You’re lying. You’re a man pretending.”
But trans women aren’t pretending. They’re living—often in silence, at significant risk, often with a deep knowing that took years to name.
To reduce someone to their appearance is like saying a priest is “just a man in a robe” or that Jesus was “just a carpenter in sandals.”
📖 But what does the Bible say?
Many Christians who reject transgender people point to one specific verse:
“A woman shall not wear a man’s garment, nor shall a man put on a woman’s cloak, for whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord your God.”
— Deuteronomy 22:5 (ESV)
That sounds clear—until you read it in its historical and theological context.
We’ve also written about how mental illness is often wrongly linked with violence. The same kind of fear-based logic usually underpins how society talks about transgender people.
🕍 How this verse has been interpreted:
- In Jewish rabbinic tradition, this verse was often understood as a warning against deception, such as in wartime or sexual manipulation, not a ban on gender identity or personal expression.
- In early Christianity, the focus shifted from clothing to inner transformation. Faith wasn’t about fabric—it was about the heart.
- The verse appears in a long list of ancient laws (like not wearing clothing of mixed fabrics in verse 11), which most Christians no longer follow literally under the New Covenant.
🙋♀️ What is a trans woman, spiritually and psychologically?
A trans woman is someone who was assigned male at birth but knows, deep down, that she is a woman. This isn’t roleplay—it’s gender identity, recognized by:
- The World Health Organization
- The American Psychological Association
For a trans woman, wearing “women’s clothing” is not about pretending—it’s about expressing what’s already true inside.
Even in dating and relationships, cultural myths can distort the truth. Here’s a breakdown of the top 7 dating myths that still affect how people love today.
✝️ Our faith says we are more than our bodies
The Bible teaches that we are more than flesh. We are soul, spirit, and relationship with God.
If someone says, “I am a woman”—even if her body was once labeled otherwise—our first Christian response is not to judge, but to listen.
✨ A living example: Ann-Christine Ruuth
Ann-Christine Ruuth, a Swedish Lutheran priest, is one of the few openly transgender Christian leaders in Scandinavia.
She once said:
“My gender identity is not something I chose. It’s something I accepted.”
She didn’t walk away from God when she accepted herself.
She walked deeper into grace.
She isn’t alone either. You know what I am talking about if you have read Anna’s journey. Otherwise, you might want to do that to get a deeper understanding.
💬 Isn’t this all just confusing?
Yes.
This might feel new or uncomfortable. You don’t have to understand everything. But we are not called to know before we show love.
We are called to love first. Learn later.
Jesus never said, “Come back when you have it figured out.”
He said: “Come to me, all weary and burdened…”
If you’re wrestling with how Christian faith and LGBTQ+ identity fit together, this article on Pride and Christian grace may offer a starting point rooted in Scripture and love.
💜 Final thought: It’s not about the dress
A dress is just fabric.
But calling someone “just a man in a dress” denies her story, struggle, prayers, voice, and place in God’s world.
We can debate theology. We can question culture.
But we must never forget the core truth:
🕊️ All people are created in the image of God. Even those we don’t yet understand.
— Written by Dating Coach Rickard Österholm
chirhodating.com – Where faith meets relationships with truth and grace.