Former Transsexual Says Christ Helped Him Reclaim His Male Identity

by Jim Brown
May 21, 2004

(AgapePress) - A former transsexual is telling the country about a life-changing decision that he says resulted in true healing and a peace that passes all understanding.

Twenty-five years ago, Joseph Cluse had a sex change operation after five years of taking hormones to prepare for the transformation. However, he says the 1979 procedure did not end his struggles with sexuality issues and sexual sin -- far from it.

"After that I did many things," Cluse says. "I was a prostitute, I was a female stripper, then I got married, divorced, and married again and divorced. But that was the time the Lord really started speaking to me, and I guess it was in '84 I gave my life to Christ and became a Christian."

Ten years after he became a Christian, Cluse says he felt convicted that, for him, being a woman was an idol that was taking the place of God in his life and needed to go. And although it was not easy to walk away from that lifestyle, he says he did so by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The former transsexual says despite all his past sexual sins, God has allowed him to regain his identity as a man. "Mentally and spiritually, God has done a deep work as far as restoring me back to my true male identity," he says.

And Cluse has gone through a physical restoration as well. "About three weeks ago I had my breast implants removed as part of the process of walking in wholeness," he says. Now, he adds, "I tell people I'm not going back to that dreaded identity. I'm going forward to be the man God intended me to be before the fall."

Cluse shared his testimony of healing and restoration with United Methodists that were gathered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for the denomination's recent General Conference. Today, he works with Crossover Ministries in Kentucky, reaching out to others who struggle with those same sexual sins and serving as the evening chef for a men's program at the Lexington, Kentucky-based rescue mission. He says he has a particular passion is for inner-city ministry.

One of CrossOver Ministries' main outreaches involves helping individuals who desire to come out of various forms of sexually addictive behavior such as homosexuality, lesbianism, pornography, sexual addiction, trans-gender confusion, marital infidelity. CrossOver also ministers to people dealing with other forms of brokenness, including recovery from sexual abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, and eating disorders, by proclaiming healing and restoration through a relationship with Christ and his Church.