Beyond her groundbreaking role in the church, Erin built a career as a highly respected pastoral psychotherapist. She directed the Center for Pastoral Care in Atlanta, co-founded the Brookwood Center for Psychotherapy, and played a pivotal role in advancing professional licensing legislation for therapists in Georgia. In recognition of her contributions, she received the Distinguished Service to the State Award from the Georgia Association for Marriage and Family Therapy in 1995. She later went on to found the Southern Association for Gender Education (SAGE) and co-moderated More Light Presbyterians, helping to amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ people within faith communities. In 2005, her leadership and advocacy were honored with the Lazarus Award, presented to those who empower and uplift LGBTQ+ individuals. Erin’s life is also marked by resilience in the face of personal and public challenges. She navigated family struggles, divorce, and moments of despair before arriving at a place of authenticity and peace. Even outside of ministry, she was determined to live fully as herself, whether standing at the pulpit, guiding a client through healing, or challenging discriminatory policies, as she did when she fought for her right to play in women’s tennis leagues in Georgia. It is an honor to sit down with Rev. Erin Swenson, a trailblazer, healer, and faith leader who transformed both the Presbyterian Church and the broader conversation about gender and spirituality.
Monika: Today it is my pleasure to interview Rev. Erin Swenson, an American licensed psychotherapist, transgender rights activist, and the first-known mainstream Protestant minister to make a gender transition while retaining ordained office. Since turning 60, she has also completed 34 triathlons, including two Half-Ironman events. Hello, Erin!
Erin: Hi Monika. What an honor it is to be interviewed by you. Congratulations on your inspiring work as a transgender activist.
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| Out of Darkness: The Erin Swenson Story (YouTube) |
Monika: You have such a remarkable background, faith leader, therapist, activist, and triathlete! When I read about your triathlon experience, my first thought was: “Wow, such a strong and determined woman.” Could you tell us a little about yourself and what drives you?
Erin: I think being transgender requires a certain amount of toughness, so my interest in triathlon fits my temperament. I am not particularly fast (although I often win or place in my age group races), and my goal for every race is simply to have fun and cross the finish line vertically. I am 70 years old and find cross-training (swimming, biking, and running) very helpful in maintaining my health and wellness. But I must say, going through a gender transition is much tougher than a Half-Ironman. Living authentically has taught me more about resilience than any sporting event ever could.
Monika: You have been described as a trailblazer for transgender rights in the USA. Looking back, which of the initiatives or efforts you were involved in do you consider the most meaningful or successful?
Monika: You have been described as a trailblazer for transgender rights in the USA. Looking back, which of the initiatives or efforts you were involved in do you consider the most meaningful or successful?
Erin: Like many of us, I never intended to be an activist. I wanted to transition and carry on with my very satisfying life. I had been ordained as a Presbyterian minister since 1973 and needed to maintain ordination for some very practical reasons. I had no idea that my request of Atlanta Presbytery to confirm my ordination after a gender transition was a “first.” I have spent much of my time helping people understand that a life of faith is not incompatible with being gender different. Over the years, I’ve realized that sometimes simply living authentically can itself become a form of activism.
Monika: You’ve spent many years counseling transgender people and offering training courses and lectures to a wide range of institutions and organizations. What kinds of questions or concerns do audiences most often bring to you?
Erin: The most frequent question is how my family responded to my decision. It’s interesting how contemplating gender moves people to almost immediately think about family. This question always gives me an opportunity to discuss how an individual’s gender transition soon becomes a community gender transition, involving family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, faith communities, and more. I always remind people that support systems evolve over time, and relationships often grow stronger when honesty enters the picture.
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| Erin's website (offline). |
Monika: How has the Presbyterian Church, and Protestantism more broadly, responded to the presence and visibility of transgender people within their communities?
Erin: Like many other cultural institutions, this is in a state of flux. My ordination was barely upheld in 1996, and it took a long time for other ministers and candidates for ministry to come forward. Today, there are transgender clergy conferences all over the world.
Monika: Looking back, have you had any personal experiences that made you feel the church has truly changed since the days when your ordination was so fiercely debated?
Erin: I had an interesting experience yesterday: another minister in my Presbytery (kind of like a diocese) called looking for resources for a parishioner. We had a friendly chat and started remembering the time 21 years ago when the Presbytery was deeply embroiled in the question of my transgender ordination. He thanked me for persevering and for helping the church and community begin to open its heart to gender-variant people. I have been given a few awards over the years by various organizations, but nothing made me feel more appreciated than those simple words. It reminded me that sometimes the deepest change happens quietly, one relationship at a time.
Monika: Your transition in 1996 before the Presbyterian Church became a precedent for many other ordained transgender women. Could you share at what age you transitioned and how you personally experienced that journey?
Erin: I began my transition in 1994 and went full-time in 1995. In some ways, the church case in 1996 could be considered a terminus for my transition, but my experience is that transition is a lifetime project. I believe each new stage of life brings its own lessons about authenticity and identity.
Monika: During the time of your transition, did you have any transgender role models you looked up to? And what did you find most challenging about coming out?
Erin: In the 1990s there were no active public figures, so I turned to Jan Morris (Conundrum) and Renée Richards (Second Serve) for guidance. As soon as I found the transgender community in Atlanta, of course, there were many more role models.
For me, the most influential model has been Dallas Denny, founder of the American Educational Gender Information Service. More than an apt model, Dallas has been a friend and colleague to me over the decades. So I would take this opportunity to honor Dallas. Her wisdom and steady advocacy showed me that community support is as essential as personal courage.
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| During an HRC Clergy Lobby Days in D.C. |
Monika: Are there any transgender women today whom you particularly admire or look up to?
Erin: Everyone! In my work, I get to meet many who are considering or are in transition. Their stories of courage and love are a constant inspiration for me. I think I have the best job in the world. Each story I hear deepens my appreciation for the resilience within our community.
Monika: How do you see the situation of transgender women in the United States today, especially when you compare it with the realities of your own transition back in the 1990s?
Erin: The biggest difference is that knowledge about the transgender experience has spread and become normative. In 1994 people still talked about transsexuals and cross-dressers (transgender was just beginning to gain currency) as if they were rare and strange phenomena. Of course, there was a fair amount of fear and hatred back then, and thankfully this has decreased significantly. At the same time, I know there is still much work to do, especially for the younger generation.
Monika: The transgender cause is often linked with the broader LGBTQ movement. Do you think the transgender community is able to advance its own cause while still remaining united within the LGBTQ family?
Erin: Being oppressed sexual minorities, I believe that all the letters belong together, and that we are all stronger for it. Our struggles and victories are intertwined, and we move forward most powerfully when we stand together.
Monika: What are your thoughts on how transgender people are represented in the media, whether in films, newspapers, or books?
Erin: The portrayal of transgender persons in the media has improved remarkably over the past 20 years. While challenges remain, it is encouraging to see more authentic voices and stories reaching mainstream audiences.
Monika: Do you personally take part in lobbying efforts? And in your view, can transgender women truly make a difference in politics?
Erin: I do. I helped the Human Rights Campaign on their unsuccessful project to pass ENDA and have served on their Religion Council. I believe that transgender women can bring unique perspectives to public life, which is why our presence in politics matters so deeply.
Monika: What is your opinion on transgender beauty pageants?
Erin: I love them. They create joyful spaces of celebration and visibility, and they allow our community to shine in ways that uplift both participants and audiences.
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| Transgender Remembrance Day (YouTube) |
Monika: Love is such a powerful force in anyone’s life. How would you describe the role and importance of love in your own journey?
Erin: Nothing is more important than love. I am fortunate to have family and friends as active and loving parts of my life. Their presence reminds me daily that love is the foundation of resilience and joy.
Monika: Many transgender women eventually decide to write memoirs about their experiences. Have you ever considered writing such a book yourself?
Erin: Working on it, currently on the second rewrite! Writing has been both a challenge and a healing process for me, allowing me to reflect on how far I’ve come.
Monika: Are there any new projects or exciting opportunities you’re currently working on?
Erin: Yes, I am performing in The Vagina Monologues tomorrow. I am also working on restarting a transfeminine support group at the Phillip Rush Center in the Candler Park area of Atlanta. These projects keep me connected to community and creativity in meaningful ways.
Monika: What advice would you give to transgender women who are struggling with gender dysphoria?
Erin: The most important thing is to accept yourself, then respect yourself, and then learn to love yourself. Once those steps are in place, the rest of the journey becomes far more possible.
Monika: My pen friend Gina Grahame once wrote to me that we should not limit our potential because of how we were born or by what we see other trans people doing. She said our dreams should not end on an operating table, that’s where they begin. Do you agree with this perspective?
Erin: Yeah. I am planning another Half-Ironman in September! I believe Gina’s words capture the spirit of pushing beyond limitations and embracing new beginnings.
Monika: Erin, thank you so much for this conversation, it has been a true honor.
Erin: Thank you, Monika. I appreciate your thoughtful questions, and I am grateful for the opportunity to share my journey.
All the photos: courtesy of Erin Swenson.
© 2017 - Monika Kowalska
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