Recently, Burt expressed concern that in allowing gender to supersede sex, The Equality Act will endanger ciswomen. Gender/sex identities, however, are not as simple as the sexual dimorphic structure Burt introduces. I argue that it is important to validate trans individuals’ identities and give trans women, in particular, access to women’s spaces to reduce the high rates of psychological stress and physical dangers that trans individuals face on a daily basis. I end with solutions that could allow gender to supersede sex while also protecting ciswomen.

With one‐third of rural areas in the United States living in persistently high poverty, churches are some of the most prolific—and often only—sources of resource‐provision in rural places. This paper qualitatively examines the complex role that churches play as resource providers in rural areas. Further, we examine the ways churches are helpful and/or harmful in meeting the needs of those experiencing vulnerability. We fuse hegemonic Christianity with social exclusion and neoliberalism to argue that rural people may not only experience ostracization and othering, but can also lose access to already‐limited resources in rural areas as a result. Using community‐based action research, ethnography, 47 semi‐structured interviews, and research participant‐driven photography from a town we call Gordon, we find that while churches are important resource‐providers, they perpetuate hegemonic Christianity, hold exclusionary power, and act as critical gatekeepers for resources. This often results in ostracization and jeopardizes resource provision for those most vulnerable. This is a critical finding that demonstrates the complexity of resource provision, church influence, and rurality. We highlight participants’ suggestions for ways to expand services in rural places without solely relying on religious organizations.