The Samaritan Still Speaks

The story of the Good Samaritan is one that most people are overly familiar with. Jesus tells the parable in the Gospel of Luke. A Jewish priest and a Levite, two men of relative power, come upon a Jewish man beaten and left for dead on the road. They both avoid the man and dismiss his needs. Then a Samaritan traveler comes upon the same man, and immediately offers him aid – despite their feuding communities. 

The parable is such a common tool for sharing Jesus' teachings that the Good Samaritan has become a term in non-church spaces, and even legislation, for neighbors' acts of kindness toward one another. It is often used as an example of how our compassion for one another should not be limited to nationality, race, class, or any other labels that separate us. It invites us to question who we consider our neighbor and who we do not, despite their presence in our community.

The Samaritan, the person who is doing the helping, is the person who is marginalized. He knows he is putting himself at further risk by helping the wounded man. He is crossing the lines of social expectations. The people in power, who are supposed to be the pillars of the community that you would look to for help, stand motionless while the wounded man is in need. The Samaritan does not hesitate, but helps on instinct.

I’ve spent a lot of time in the halls of the Texas Legislature over the last eight months. The thing I noticed the most is that the people showing up, fighting for their rights and the rights of those around them, are the people who are already marginalized. They are the ones that show up without hesitation. Last week, transgender people were once again targeted with the passage of the Bathroom Bill, after ten long years of fighting to stop it. The Bathroom Bill prohibits people from using multi-occupancy spaces that align with their identity. While we often refer to it as such, the bill covers more than just bathrooms. It covers things like locker rooms and showers as well. While this bill only applies to facilities that are under government jurisdiction and not privately owned businesses, this ban still affects a large aspect of everyday life for many Texans.

As I sat through hours of testimony about this particular version of the bill, I saw that most of those who showed up to testify against this legislation were trans and gender nonconforming people. While many allies have shown up over the years for trans people, and many continued to show up this time or did so for the first time, we still need more.

In the parable, Jesus tells those watching, “Go and do likewise,” but who is he telling? The marginalized don’t need to be told to provide help to those in need. They’ve experienced what it is like to be knocked down and passed over for help by those they were told to rely on. Now, they are the ones looking down to provide a hand for the people who need one as they find their feet again. Jesus is not talking to them. Jesus is talking to those who do hesitate.

The good news about the legislative part of this fight being over for now is that we can focus our actions on our own communities. We can show up for trans people in ways that are particularly fruitful for our contexts. Our congregation is a strong example of a place where trans people are welcome and included in all aspects of church life. Your business might take a stand by switching from men's and women's restroom signs to ones denoting stalls or stalls and urinals. Where might you be able to have the most impact on the trans people in your life? If you aren’t sure, ask them. Don’t wait for them to tell you. If you aren’t close with any trans people, work on challenging the negative narratives about us shared in casual conversations.

Your hesitation is warranted. You will be stepping out on a limb; crossing over the lines drawn by those in charge – but, you’ll be in good company.