Transitional, by Munroe Bergdorf

Author: Munroe Bergdorf. Review by Marisa Johnson

‘In one way or another, we all transition’ is the strapline under the title of this book. How true that is of us as individuals, and of us as a community.

In a groundbreaking Yearly Meeting Gathering in 2021, we committed ourselves to becoming an anti-racist church and: ‘With glad hearts we acknowledge and affirm the trans and gender diverse Friends in our Quaker communities, and express appreciation for the contribution and gifts that they bring to our meetings, which are communities made up of people with a diverse range of gender expressions. The end of our travelling is for differences not to divide us. We rejoice in recognising God’s creation in one another. This is what love requires of us.’ How much progress have we made since then? Not enough, on either count.

A woman of colour, Munroe Bergdorf shares her personal experience of homophobia, transphobia and racism in a vivid and personal account. But her focus is not so much on her own journey as on the activism she has undertaken. This has often cost her dearly, but has been essential to challenge the status quo, and to achieve real change for those people who are marginalised, oppressed and disadvantaged because they are seen as ‘different’, and thus a threat to ‘normality’. It is also a challenge to us to recognise the privileges that are enjoyed by the majority of us.

It is a bold and brave book, and one that could help raise awareness among Friends who still find it difficult to come to terms with the way white supremacy has shaped us, and how the euphemistically-defined ‘reasonable concerns’ provide cover that aids and enables transphobia. Recent tragic events demonstrate this all too clearly. We will not make any meaningful progress until we confront these pernicious attitudes and make clear that there is no room for them in a religious community committed to transformation and Gospel Order – the rule of equality, justice and mercy.

I was particularly moved by the passages describing the healing of relationships with Munroe’s parents, who had both rejected her gay and trans identities when she was a vulnerable teenager, in need of acceptance, support and affirmation. Being open to learning, to admit ignorance, fear, and being wrong, are the foundation for healing and transformation. We can all transition from darkness into Light.

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