News

We are outraged.

The brutal murder of Sam Nordquist, a 24-year-old transgender man, is not an isolated incident. It is a direct consequence of a society that has dehumanized trans people for generations. When the LGBTQ+ movement allowed trans voices to be silenced, when the “T” was erased from the fight for liberation at Stonewall, it opened the door to violence like this. And here we are—again—mourning another life lost to horrific brutality.

Sam’s story is gut-wrenching. He was tortured over the course of a month—beaten, assaulted, and ultimately discarded like his life had no value. Five people have been charged with second-degree murder, yet investigators claim there is “no indication” this was a hate crime. How convenient. How expected.

Transphobia is not just about slurs in the street. It is systemic. It is the direct result of policies, rhetoric, and social norms that tell the world trans people are disposable. It happens in statehouses where politicians push anti-trans legislation. It happens in the media when trans victims are misgendered or erased from their own narratives. And it happens in churches that refuse to affirm trans identities, that preach love with conditions, that remain silent in the face of injustice.

The Open and Affirming movement stands against this silence. We will not be complicit in the erasure of trans lives. We will name the violence for what it is: the predictable outcome of a world that refuses to recognize the full humanity of trans people.

Churches, this is your moment. If you are not openly and actively affirming trans people—if your church is not a place where trans people can exist in safety and dignity—you are part of the problem.

We are calling on every congregation to make their stance clear.

What Can Churches Do?

• Become Open and Affirming – If your church has not completed the Open and Affirming process, start today. If you have, recommit to the work.
• Explicitly Name Trans and Nonbinary People in Your Welcome – Saying “All are welcome” is not enough (not even to become ONA). Say “We affirm and celebrate transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people.”
• Speak from the Pulpit – Preach sermons that affirm trans lives. Call out transphobia as a sin. Use stories of LGBTQ+ people in worship.
• Support Trans-Led Organizations – Donate to groups that advocate for trans people, provide housing, or offer legal support.
• Advocate for Policy Change – Speak out against anti-trans legislation. Call lawmakers. Educate your congregation about the real-life impact of these laws.
• Create Safe Spaces – Offer gender-neutral bathrooms. Make sure church policies explicitly protect trans people.
• Uplift Trans Voices – Invite trans leaders, theologians, and activists to speak, lead workshops, or guide Bible studies.
• Show Up Publicly – Attend vigils, rallies, and Pride events. Hold a memorial for trans victims of violence. Let the world see that faith and justice go hand in hand.
• Confront Transphobia in Your Community – If members of your congregation express anti-trans beliefs, challenge them. Have tough conversations. Do the work.
• Use Your Resources – Offer your church space for trans support groups or provide financial assistance for trans people in crisis.

Sam Nordquist should still be here. His murderers must be held accountable, but so must the institutions and individuals who helped make this kind of violence possible.

We demand justice for Sam. We demand an end to transphobia in all its forms. And need churches to STEP UP—because faith without action is empty, and silence in the face of oppression is complicity.

May Sam’s memory be a call to action.

We cannot, and will not, allow another life to be taken without resistance.