u/Beginning-Crow-5115

I think I know the answer but I would like to share this and get other perspectives.

Should I go to a men’s retreat as a stealth trans man for a church that is probably anti trans and very much anti gay?

Context:

I went to a Pentecostal church in Australia for the first time. I grew up American Evangelical, and we took the bible very literally. I am more interested in a literal interpretation of the bible church, even if I don’t fully agree with everything the bible literally says. Like I’d much rather attend a service that believes homosexuality is a sin than a church that says anything goes and treats the entire Bible as poetry.

That being said, I’d never been to an Australian church. And I had no idea they were Pentecostal because it didn’t show on the map. But I found out they were Pentecostal in the middle of the sermon, and I read in their mission statement that they believed in marriage exclusively between one man and one woman.

Now here’s the problem, they all gendered me male. I thought they were being nice because I’m really early in transition. But I guess I passed to enough people. Even a guy who believes he can speak in tongues and prophesy treated me like a dude bro mate guy.

Before the sermon commenced, one of the elders announced a men’s retreat and encouraged all the men to sign up. I suddenly realised that if I pass this well, I could possibly go. I really like the people I’ve met at this church. They’re so kind and friendly and down to earth. And I do want to be a more godly man. But I feel like a) it would be disrespectful as a trans man going to an exclusively men’s group when they view trans men as women. B) it could possibly be unsafe if they wonder why I’m not willing to change in front of them or swim without a rashy.