In a historic moment for the Catholic Church, Christian Matson, a Catholic diocesan hermit from Kentucky, has publicly announced that he is transgender during the Christian holiday of Pentecost. Matson's decision to come out stems from witnessing the struggles and suicides of young trans individuals who felt rejected by their communities, including their religious ones.

Matson, who identifies as a transgender man, acknowledged the privilege he has in "passing" as cisgender, meaning that others would not know he was transgender without him sharing that information. Despite this privilege, Matson felt compelled to raise his voice and highlight the injustice faced by trans people within religious communities.

For over a decade, Matson reached out to various spiritual directors and religious communities, hoping to find acceptance as he pursued a vocational role in the Catholic Church. However, he encountered two common responses. Some immediately rejected him, while others saw the complexity of his situation but were not ready to grapple with it. They cited a Vatican-issued instruction from 2000 that labeled trans people as mentally unstable and barred them from entering religious life.

Matson, who transitioned four years prior to pursuing his religious vocation, maintained that he did not feel this instruction applied to him. He argued that, like many trans individuals, he felt healthier and more in touch with his true self following his transition.

After numerous rejections, Matson finally found support from the Rev. John Stowe, the bishop of the Diocese of Lexington in Kentucky. With Bishop Stowe's approval, Matson was able to profess himself to religious life as a diocesan hermit. Diocesan hermits are individuals who live solitary lives under the guidance of a spiritual director, and their roles within the Catholic Church vary across dioceses.

The Diocese of Lexington issued a statement expressing their support for Matson's decision and commending his commitment to living a life of contemplation while continuing his work in the arts for financial support. Daniel Quinan, a canon lawyer specializing in LGBTQ+ issues, deemed the diocese's statement a bold show of support for transgender Catholics.

While Matson's coming out as a transgender individual in the Catholic Church is a significant step forward, it remains to be seen what impact it will have on the institution as a whole. Quinan emphasized that the success of this development will be determined by how well the theological and pastoral aspects are upheld by the diocese.

Despite facing negative reactions online, Matson has received overwhelming support from those closest to him, and he clarified that his only agenda is the Gospel. He believes that individuals can possess an innate gender identity that may not align with their assigned biological sex, basing his stance on both personal experience and scientific evidence.

Matson's public affirmation of his gender identity comes at a time when the Catholic Church has faced scrutiny for its treatment of LGBTQ+ individuals. The Vatican's recent document declaring gender-affirming surgery as a violation of human dignity and Pope Francis' controversial decision to allow priests to bless same-sex unions have generated mixed responses within the church.

As the first openly trans person in his position in the Catholic Church, Matson's bold step marks a momentous milestone in the ongoing conversation surrounding gender identity and inclusion within religious institutions.