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The Right Thing: The Transgender Pastor

Broadcaster

BBC World Service

TX Date

11th Feb 2022

Presenter

Mike Wooldridge

Producer

Rosie Dawson

Quotes

"Such a wonderful crisp intro. A touching programme."

Simon Pitts, commissioning editor, BBC World Service

June Joplin was born outwardly a boy – but at the age of 11, at a Christian summer camp, two things became very clear to her: that she was supposed to be a pastor, and that she was supposed to be a girl.

Becoming a pastor was the easy bit: June studied to become a Baptist minister, married and started a family. Yet the sense that she was really a woman never left her – and her struggles with her gender identity led to a deep depression.

Eventually, by now living in Canada, she decided to come out as a transgender woman to her congregation… and face the consequences.

In conversation with Mike Wooldridge, June Joplin tells her story and reflects on the cost of doing what she felt was the right thing.