LISA SALAZAR — BLOG

In 2015, The New York Times ran a groundbreaking editorial series, The Quest for Transgender Equality. It was bold, urgent, and unequivocal: trans people deserve dignity, legal protection, and full inclusion in society. As part of that series, the Times invited transgender people to share their experiences in Transgender Lives: Your Stories , an evolving collection of personal narratives that reflected the strength, diversity, and challenges of the trans community. I contributed to that series . Like so many others, I believed the Times was genuinely invested in telling our stories, in shifting public perception toward empathy and understanding. Back then, the paper seemed to recognize that trans rights were not just an abstract political issue but a deeply personal, lived reality. That was ten years ago. Last weekend, the Times ran another editorial on transgender rights. This time, it was in response to Donald Trump’s sweeping attacks on trans Americans — executive orders targeting h...

Ever since I started this blog in 2011, I have written several posts about how I, as a follower of Christ, was able to reconcile my faith with being transgender. I have elaborated on the theological arguments and rationale to clarify how this reconciliation occurred, thanks to what Jesus said about eunuchs. That's when the penny dropped, and I could accept myself. I won't repeat the story here; it's in my book if you'd care to read it.  The reason for revisiting this important topic is because of Trump's relentless attacks on trans people from the first day he took office for the second time. Please share with as many people as possible. Jesus on Trans Acceptance: Why Some Will Never Get It The expectation that all people will one day accept and affirm transgender individuals may be an unattainable goal. Even Jesus didn’t suggest that such universal acceptance was possible. In Matthew 19:11-12 , after discussing marriage and divorce, Jesus makes a seemingly unrelat...

I found a fascinating TED Talk by Mitchell Prinstein on how popularity and likability impact our lives. His research reveals that the most well-liked people aren’t necessarily the loudest, most dominant figures in the room. Instead, genuine popularity—the kind that sticks with us beyond high school—is built on reciprocity.  The truly well-liked people, like others, extend kindness and create connections. But then there’s another kind of popularity: perceived popularity—based on dominance, status, and intimidation rather than genuine affection. If you’re looking for the ultimate case study, just glance at Donald Trump. Trump has the Illusion of being popular. He loves to talk about his crowd sizes, poll numbers, and TV ratings. He’s obsessed with how many people “love” him. But here’s the thing—Trump isn’t liked in the way that Prinstein’s research describes. He isn’t beloved because he’s warm, kind, or generous. Instead, he thrives on a different appeal: power, fear, and tribal loy...