Extras

Donovan’s Story

Donovan Ackley III was a pastor and theologian, the chair of the Theology Department at Azusa Pacific University until he came out as trans. A few years later he discovered he is intersex. Many Christians try to draw a sharp distinction between intersex people who are born with a mix of male and female biological traits (who affirmed by Jesus in Matthew 19:12 where he speaks of “eunuchs who are born eunuchs”) and transgender, gender non-binary people. Donovan’s story shows the impossibility of such a division. Listen to his powerful story.

We interviewed Donovan for our documentary toward the end of the filming process and were only able to include a small soundbite from his interview. But his story needs to be heard! Donovan’s story is also featured in episodes 5 and 6 of our curriculum “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made: Scripture and the New Science of Gender” — a 6 episode video and discussion course for Christians wrestling with how to reconcile the fact of intersex people with traditional Christian teachings on gender.