Megan Rohrer

Rohrer was born on April 3, 1980, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.{{cite web|title=Rev. Megan Rohrer|url=https://www.lgbtran.org/Profile.aspx?ID=394|website=The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Religious Archives Network|accessdate=June 13, 2017}} In 1998, they graduated from high school and enrolled at Augustana University to study religion. In college they came out as gay, and became president of the gay–straight alliance. They encountered resistance, threats, and attempted "cures" by fellow students for their sexuality. Rohrer graduated from Augustana in 2001.

Rohrer moved to the San Francisco Bay Area in 2002 to continue their studies. By this time they had come to identify as transgender. Rohrer attended Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary before transferring to the Pacific School of Religion (PSR) in Berkeley, California, earning a Master of Divinity degree from PSR in 2005 and a Doctor of Ministry degree in 2016.{{cite web |title=Distinguished Alumni/ae |url=https://psr.edu/about/oia/distinguished-alumniae/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108224125/https://psr.edu/about/oia/distinguished-alumniae/ |archive-date=January 8, 2019 |accessdate=June 14, 2017 |website=Pacific School of Religion}}{{cite web |url=https://psr.edu/2016-doctor-of-ministry-dissertations/ |title=Doctor of Ministry Dissertations |author=Pacific School of Religion |date=n.d. |access-date=17 June 2017 |archive-date=27 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170627161212/https://psr.edu/2016-doctor-of-ministry-dissertations/ |url-status=dead }} In 2024, Rohrer successfully defended his Ph.D.{{Cite web |title=Facebook |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=777085674449529&id=100064443109376&set=a.406382538186513 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.facebook.com}} dissertation titled "Trans The*logy Without Apology."California Institute of Integral Studies, "CIIS Dissertation Abstracts 2023-2024" (2024). CIIS Dissertation Abstracts. 2. https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/dissertation-abstracts/2 His Ph.D is in transformative studies through the California Institute of Integral Studies{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/C3oU0-Wx0W_/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=www.instagram.com}} and his dissertation was later published through Wilgefortis Press.{{Cite web |title=Trans The*logy Without Apology |url=https://www.wilgefortis.net/product-page/trans-the-logy-without-apology |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Wilgefortis Press |language=en}}

Rohrer claims to be related to Nicholas of Flüe in the 16th generation.{{Cite web|title=Bishop-elect Megan Rohrer|url=https://twitter.com/mmrohrer/status/1391392747379101701|access-date=2021-05-10|website=Twitter|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2021-05-09|title=Lutherans elect Megan Rohrer first transgender bishop|url=https://religionnews.com/2021/05/09/lutherans-elect-megan-rohrer-first-transgender-bishop/|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Religion News Service|language=en-US}}

Rohrer goes by he and they pronouns.{{cite web |last1=Rohrer |first1=Megan |title=Megan Rohrer (@mmrohrer) on Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/mmrohrer/ |website=Instagram |access-date=March 3, 2023}}

In 2000, Rohrer worked at the Children's Home Society in Sioux Falls, SD.{{Cite web |last=Strybis |first=Erin |date=2015-08-28 |title=Extending and receiving welcome |url=https://www.livinglutheran.org/2015/08/extending-receiving-welcome/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=Living Lutheran |language=en-US}}

Rohrer formed the San Francisco LGBTQ Meetup to organize support for the homeless. “We can’t cure homelessness,” said Rohrer. “But we can still be present and be visible out in our community. That was a big part of why we wanted to start having these gatherings.”{{Cite web |date=2016-05-20 |title=Faith-Based Meetup Distributes PB&Js To The Castro's Hungry |url=https://hoodline.com/2016/05/faith-based-meetup-distributes-pb-js-to-the-castro-s-hungry/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Hoodline |language=en}} Rohrer has helped the homeless in San Francisco, serving as the Executive Director of The Welcome Ministry, since 2002,{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Andrea Suozzo, Alec Glassford, Ash Ngu, Brandon |date=2013-05-09 |title=Welcome Ministry - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/743039966 |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=ProPublica |language=en}} which programs serve the homeless and hungry by distributing sandwiches, and has participated in a night ministry with other local pastors.{{cite news |last1=Downing |first1=Shane |date=May 20, 2016 |title=Faith-Based Meetup Distributes PB&Js To The Castro's Hungry |url=http://hoodline.com/2016/05/faith-based-meetup-distributes-pb-js-to-the-castro-s-hungry |accessdate=June 14, 2017 |newspaper=Hoodline}}{{cite news |last1=Fagan |first1=Kegin |date=October 9, 2016 |title=Transgender pastor preaches to the choir with love |url=http://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Transgender-pastor-preaches-to-the-choir-with-love-9956967.php |accessdate=June 14, 2017 |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle}} Rohrer has also helped to grow and distribute thousands of pounds of free food from community gardens.

Feeding people, especially seniors and people living with HIV/AIDS, has always been part of The Welcome Ministry.{{Cite web |last=Koskey |first=Andrea |date=2013-01-31 |title=Increase in homelessness upsets Duboce merchants |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2013/01/in-news-sf-examiner.html |website=SF Examiner}} Rohrer managed the hot meal program and food pantry of the historic St Francis Lutheran Church, near the Castro, in San Francisco.{{Cite web |last=Koskey |first=Andrea |date=2013-02-25 |title=Duboce neighbors think St. Francis Lutheran Church meal program is feeding homeless problem |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-news-sf-examiner.html |access-date=2025-04-06}} In 2013, the city was actively working to gentrify the Duboce Park and Castro neighborhoods, and began by attempting to close down the food program as a means to reduce homelessness.{{Cite web |date=2013-02-27 |title=Starving out needy is no way to deal with homelessness |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2013/02/in-news-sf-examiner_27.html |access-date=2025-04-05}} On May 14, 2011, homeless youth protested in the Civic Center because of the reduction of funding for queer youth outreach, especially for ages 16 to 24, as youth age out of the foster care system. Rohrer organized an encampment and "street sweep" where youth protested by sweeping the streets with brooms as they did in the 1960s with the Vanguard Youth.{{Cite web |last=Baume |first=Matt |date=2011-05-18 |title='Encampment' brings attention to homeless LGBT youth |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2011/05/in-news-bay-area-reporter.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Bay Area Reporter}}

Through Welcome, in 2015, Rohrer supported efforts in Kona, Hawaii to benefit homeless people and other low-income people with their vision needs, by making gathering resources and providers in the area to sponsor and support the initiative.{{Cite web |date=2015-03-19 |title=About Town {{!}} 3-19-15 |url=https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2015/03/19/features/about-town-3-19-15/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=West Hawaii Today |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2014-03-27 |title=About Town {{!}} 3-27-14 |url=https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2014/03/27/features/about-town-3-27-14/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=West Hawaii Today |language=en-US}} At the event, three generations, Megan Rohrer, his mother, Peggy Heard, and grandmother, Darlene Audus, bathed the feet of the homeless at a washing station and applied lotion to the often cracked and ragged feet.{{Cite news |date=2014-03-30 |title=Seeing a better way Vision screening helps out Kona's homeless |url=http://westhawaiitoday.com/news/local-news/seeing-better-way-vision-screening-helps-out-kona-s-homeless#sthash.q5nN7YR6.dpuf |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20140402063218/http://westhawaiitoday.com:80/news/local-news/seeing-better-way-vision-screening-helps-out-kona-s-homeless |archive-date=2014-04-02 |access-date=2025-04-05 |language=en-US}}

American mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, originally founded the Singers of the Street (SOS) choir, which became a project of Welcome. Singers of the Street is a choir of San Franciscans who have experienced, or are at risk of, homelessness and its mission is to raise their voices for justice, healing and joy.{{Cite news |last=Fagan |first=Kevin |date=October 9, 2016 |title=Transgender pastor preaches to the choir with love |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Transgender-pastor-preaches-to-the-choir-with-love-9956967.php |access-date=April 5, 2024 |work=San Francisco Chronicle}} In 2015, Street Requium, composed by Kathleen McGuire, in collaboration with Andy Payne and Jonathon Welch, was performed by von Stade and the Singers of the Street in the Bay Area, as a means of mourning the homeless who have died as a result of being unhoused.{{Cite web |date=2015-08-20 |title=Opera Superstar Frederica Von Stade to Sing Street Requiem in Support of Homeless Choir |url=https://sfbaytimes.com/opera-superstar-frederica-von-stade-to-sing-street-requiem-in-support-of-homeless-choir/ |access-date=2025-04-05 |website=San Francisco Bay Times}} The Bay Area Reporter interviewed Rohrer in 2016 during the first Trump Administration when speculation that the city of San Francisco could lose $1 billion in federal funding for housing services, because of his advocacy work with HIV/AIDS homelessness.{{Cite web |last=Nahmod |first=David-Elijah |date=2016-12-01 |title=In the News: Bay Area Reporter: Trump election raises housing, homelessness concerns |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2016/12/in-news-bay-area-reporter.html |access-date=2025-04-05}}

The tension in San Francisco, due to the differing beliefs between those who believe that unhoused people actively reject help provided by the city and advocates who believe the city restricts who receives help by policies made by political pundits, has been a long standing argument.{{Cite web |last=Rohrer |first=Rev Dr Megan |date=2006-11-06 |title=Letter to the Editor |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2006/11/in-news-san-francisco-chronicle.html |website=San Francisco Chronicle}} In 2022, Rohrer was appointed to the Local Homeless Coordinating Board, which advises the San Francisco Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing.{{Cite web |title=Local Homeless Coordinating Board |url=https://hsh.sfgov.org/committees/lhcb/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=hsh.sfgov.org}} Rohrer continues to serve as the co-chair of the San Francisco Local Homelessness Coordinating Board, which is an "advisory body to the Department of Homelessness and Supportive Housing (HSH), ensuring a unified homelessness strategy within San Francisco," and working to decrease racial bias in shelter and supportive housing. In February 20, 2024, Rohrer's work helped secure over $50 million in federal funding for homeless individuals and domestic violence survivors.GLIDE Foundation (2024, February 21). [https://www.glide.org/securing-50m-to-house-the-homeless/ GLIDE Staff Helped to Secure $50M to House the Homeless - GLIDE - San Francisco: serving the people of the Tenderloin and San Francisco since 1963.] GLIDE - San Francisco: Serving the People of the Tenderloin and San Francisco Since 1963. (Accessed March 13, 2025)

Rohrer was ordained in 2006, during a time when the ELCA did not allow LGBTQ pastors to openly serve.{{cite web |last1=DeSantis |first1=Rachel |title=Lutheran Church Elects First Transgender Bishop: 'A Place in History That Means a Lot' |url=https://people.com/human-interest/lutheran-church-elects-first-transgender-bishop/ |website=People.com |access-date=23 April 2023}} When the policy changed in 2009, Rohrer became the first openly transgender person to serve as a minister in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.{{cite web |last1=Rohrer |first1=Megan |title=Reverend Dr. Megan Rohrer - I Am Beautiful|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vffST19BXX0 |website=Cosmopolitan.com |date=14 January 2018 |publisher=Cosmopolitan Magazine |access-date=23 April 2023}}

In 2010, Rohrer and six other Bay Area gay and transgender pastors were reinstated into the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, after the national assembly voted to allow partnered gay people to serve as clergy. The pastors' churches had previously been removed from the denomination for ordaining gay and lesbian ministers who refused to adhere to the denomination's document guiding clergy conduct, "Visions and Expectations".{{cite news|last1=Martinez-Cabrera|first1=Alejandro|title=Gay and transgender Lutheran pastors reinstated|url=http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Gay-and-transgender-Lutheran-pastors-reinstated-3258017.php|accessdate=June 14, 2017|newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle|date=July 26, 2010}} At the time "Visions and Expectations" required that candidates for and persons on the clergy roster remain celibate outside of legal marriage and monogamous within marriage.Anderson, John Joseph, "Incompatible: The Construction of the Homosexual Subject in American Mainline Protestantism" (2011). Dissertations. 142. https://ecommons.luc.edu/luc_diss/142

In 2014, Rohrer was installed as pastor of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church in San Francisco.

In 2017, Rohrer was hired by the San Francisco Police Department as their first chaplain from the LGBTQ community. "I am grateful that I get to be a SFPD chaplain. These days it is a much harder to be a policy maker, judge or advocate. While I may be there on difficult days, in follow-up to a shooting, death or other critical incident, I also get to be there when officers collect coats for the homeless and new cadets graduate. My vision, in partnership with the SFPD, is to enable faith leaders across San Francisco to support victims of crimes, first responders in community policing efforts, disaster preparedness response and death notifications,” said Rohrer.{{Cite web |last=Goel |first=Parnika |date=2017-01-24 |title=Megan Rohrer To Be SFPD's First Transgender Chaplain |url=https://www.thesfnews.com/megan-rohrer-sfpds-first-trans-chaplain/34124 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=San Francisco News |language=en-US}}

On May 8, 2021, Rohrer was elected bishop of the Sierra Pacific Synod, becoming the first openly trans person to serve as bishop of a major US Christian denomination.{{Citation|title=Business Session 5 - Synod Assembly 2021|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmnUM4T4FiY|language=en|access-date=2021-05-09}}{{cite news |last1=O'Donnell |first1=Paul |title=Lutherans elect Megan Rohrer first transgender bishop |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/lutherans-elect-megan-rohrer-first-transgender-bishop/2021/05/10/db14f288-b1b9-11eb-bc96-fdf55de43bef_story.html |access-date=May 10, 2021 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=May 10, 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Bowman |first1=Emma |title=Megan Rohrer Elected As 1st Openly Transgender Bishop In U.S. Lutheran Church |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/09/995271758/megan-rohrer-elected-as-1st-openly-transgender-bishop-in-u-s-lutheran-church |access-date=May 10, 2021 |work=NPR |date=May 10, 2021}} On September 11, 2021, Rohrer was installed as bishop.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=September 11, 2021 |title=Transgender Bishop Steps Into Historic Role In The Evangelical Lutheran Church |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/09/11/1036371531/evangelical-lutheran-church-first-transgender-bishop-megan-rohrer |work=NPR |location= |access-date=March 12, 2022}}

On December 11, 2021, the Sierra Pacific Synod terminated the employment of Nelson Rabell-González, who presided over Misión Latina Luterana in Stockton, California, and defunded the congregation. The congregation was uninformed about the decision and Rohrer, who attended the service there the next day, declined to provide an explanation. Members of the congregation protested the decision and left the building with a statue of the Virgin of Guadalupe to worship elsewhere. Rohrer also allegedly threatened to call the police on a father and child who remained in the sacristy.{{cite web|last=Molina|first=Alejandra|title=ELCA presiding bishop releases report examining removal of Latino pastor by Bishop Rohrer|url=https://religionnews.com/2022/06/02/elca-presiding-bishop-releases-report-examining-removal-of-latino-pastor/|publisher=Religion News Service|date=June 2, 2022|accessdate=June 3, 2022}} Later that month, the Extraordinary Lutheran Ministries suspended Rohrer from their membership for alleged "racist words and actions".{{cite news |last1=Ferrannini |first1=John |title=Lutheran LGBTQ group accuses trans bishop of racism |url=https://www.ebar.com/index.php?id=311629 |access-date=December 24, 2021 |work=Bay Area Reporter |date=December 23, 2021}} In February 2022, the synod announced that Rabell-González was removed for "continual communications of verbal harassment and retaliatory actions from more than a dozen victims," which Rabell-González has denied. On May 27, 2022, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton called for Rohrer's resignation, but initially declined to pursue disciplinary actions.

On June 3, 2022, the governing body of the Sierra Pacific Synod considered a resolution asking for Rohrer's resignation but, if Rohrer refused, for them to be dismissed through formal adjudication.{{Citation|title=Keynote and Business Session 3 - Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly 2022|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89YwphELG-0?t=5407|language=en|access-date=2022-06-04}} Out of the 324 legal votes cast, 183 voted for the resolution and 138 voted against. Since passage of this resolution required a two-thirds majority the resolution was defeated.{{Citation|title=Business Session 4 - Sierra Pacific Synod Assembly 2022|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=he1xMqhsEMk?t=16854|language=en|access-date=2022-06-04}} On June 4, following an announcement by Eaton that she would be "initiating the discipline process immediately including suspension of Bishop Rohrer, based on additional information that has come to light", Rohrer resigned as bishop.{{cite news|last=Flores|first=Jessica|title=S.F. transgender Lutheran bishop resigns amid controversy over removal of pastor|url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/S-F-transgender-Lutheran-bishop-resigns-amid-17223465.php|work=San Francisco Chronicle|date=June 6, 2022|accessdate=June 6, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Burkett |first1=Eric |title=Racism at heart of trans bishop's exit, but corruption allegations surface |url=https://www.ebar.com/index.php?id=316368 |access-date=June 11, 2022 |work=Bay Area Reporter |date=June 10, 2022}}

On March 1, 2023, Rohrer filed a lawsuit against the ELCA and Sierra Pacific Synod, seeking monetary damages for gender discrimination, openly "hostile work environment"{{Cite web |last=Miller |first=Emily McFarlan |date=2023-03-09 |title=Former Bishop Megan Rohrer, forced to resign over Latino pastor's removal, sues ELCA |url=https://religionnews.com/2023/03/09/former-bishop-megan-rohrer-forced-to-resign-over-latino-pastors-removal-sues-elca/ |access-date=2023-03-12 |website=Religion News Service |language=en-US}} and workplace{{Cite book |url=http://archive.org/details/rohrer-v-pacific-sierra-2023-workplace-harrassment |title=Rohrer V Pacific Sierra 2023 Workplace Harassment}} harassment.{{cite news |last1=Bharath |first1=Deepa |title=Transgender pastor claims bias, sues Lutheran denomination |url=https://apnews.com/article/transgender-pastor-lawsuit-lutheran-church-98043f5c4cbe5323eb7ddbebbab78383 |access-date=March 3, 2023 |work=AP News |agency=Associated Press |date=March 2, 2023}}

On June 23, 2023, Rohrer was removed from the ELCA roster of Word and Sacrament by Interim Bishop Claire S. Burkat as a result of the denial of Rohrer's petition for On Leave from Call status.{{Cite web |last=Flores |first=Jessica |date=2023-07-03 |title=S.F. transgender bishop who sued is removed from ministry after Latino pastor's dismissal |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/megan-rohrer-transgender-bishop-lutheran-removed-18182974.php |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=San Francisco Chronicle |language=en-US}}

Since 2023, Dr. Rohrer has been the Sr. Church Communications Specialist for GLIDE Memorial Church.

In 2011, Rohrer and historian Joey Plaster created a remarkable work of public history: Vanguard Revisited, which introduced the history of the 1960s radical queer-youth organization Vanguard to contemporary queer homeless youth, who created their own art and poetry zine in conversation with essays and themes from the original Vanguard newsletter.{{Cite web |last=Shaw |first=Randy |date=2016-09-06 |title=Celebrating Compton's 50th: Vanguard Revisited, W/ Rev. Megan Rohrer |url=https://beyondchron.org/celebrating-comptons-50th-vanguard-revisited-w-rev-megan-rohrer/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Beyond Chron |language=en-US}}

Rohrer was recognized by Out Magazine for his work at their 20th Annual Transgender Unity Banquet, in 2012, for his historical research in Vanguard Revisited: The Queer Faith, Sex & Politics of the Youth of San Francisco's Tenderloin.{{Cite web |last=Orts |first=Neil Ellis |date=2012-04-01 |title=Shepherd to Homeless Sheep |url=https://www.outsmartmagazine.com/2012/04/shepherd-to-homeless-sheep/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=OutSmart Magazine |language=en-US}}

In 2015, Rohrer started a fundraiser to raise bail for Meagan Taylor, a black trans woman who was held in isolation in an Iowa jail.{{cite news |last1=Ennis |first1=Dawn |title=Minister Raises $2,000 Bail for Black Woman 'Arrested While Trans' |url=http://www.advocate.com/transgender/2015/07/20/minister-raises-2000-bail-black-woman-arrested-while-trans |accessdate=June 14, 2017 |newspaper=The Advocate |date=July 20, 2015}}

Starting in 2016, Rohrer wrote a children's books series expressing LGBTQ themes to help churches who want a safe children's ministry materials for reconciling churches and diverse families.{{Cite web |date=2016-05-16 |title=First-Ever LGBTQ Religious Children's Books Now Available! |url=https://impactmagazine.us/2016/05/first-ever-lgbtq-religious-childrens-books-now-available/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=IMPACT Magazine |language=en-US}}

For the 50th Anniversary of Compton's Cafeteria Riot, in 2016, Rohrer published a second issue of theVanguard Revisited zine with new materials by the original authors and editors for the Tenderloin Museum.{{Cite web |date=2016-07-25 |title=Tenderloin, GLBT Museums Host Events For 50th Anniversary Of Compton's Cafeteria Riot |url=https://hoodline.com/2016/07/tenderloin-glbt-museums-host-events-for-50th-anniversary-of-compton-s-cafeteria-riot/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Hoodline |language=en}} The Tenderloin was the historical geographic center of the city’s emerging GLBT movement from the 1940’s through the 1960’s.

In the wake of the 2016 Oakland warehouse fire, in which at least three transgender people were killed, Rohrer was called upon by the city of Oakland to provide support and assistance to the community.{{cite news |last1=Melendez |first1=Lyanne |date=December 6, 2016 |title=Heartbreak in LGBT community for lives lost in Oakland Ghost Ship fire |url=http://abc7news.com/news/heartbreak-in-lgbt-community-for-lives-lost-in-ghost-ship-fire/1643316/ |accessdate=June 14, 2017 |newspaper=ABC San Francisco}} During a December 2016 vigil, in the Castro,{{Cite web |title=Hundreds gather to remember Oakland fire victims - CBS News |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/video/hundreds-gather-to-remember-oakland-fire-victims/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.cbsnews.com |language=en-US}} 75 people gathered in Harvey Milk Plaza to remember the loss to the transgender community and Cash Askew, a famous transgender musician who also perished at Ghost Ship.{{Cite web |date=2016-12-07 |title=Castro Vigil Honors Trans Victims Of Ghost Ship Fire In Oakland |url=https://hoodline.com/2016/12/castro-vigil-honors-trans-victims-of-ghost-ship-fire-in-oakland/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Hoodline |language=en}} Rohrer developed the ‘Elegy For Ghost Ship: An Evening of Music In Remembrance’ at Grace Cathedral as a means of healing and mourning the loss of the 36 people who died.{{Cite web |last=Silvers |first=Emma |date=2017-02-22 |title=Grace Cathedral Hosts an Eclectic, Musical 'Elegy For Ghost Ship' {{!}} KQED |url=https://www.kqed.org/arts/12798823/grace-cathedral-hosts-an-eclectic-musical-elegy-for-ghost-ship |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=www.kqed.org |language=en}} "When a tragedy happens in our community we need a lot of opportunities to mourn," Rohrer said. "When the original tragedy happens the first thing we do is mourn the victims and care for the survivors. Then we attend to the people who may have had similar tragedies in their lives and who might be affected by seeing this in the news media." Rohrer also noted that first responders and parents who imagine losing children in such a tragedy might also be in need of guidance and healing.{{Cite web |title=Concert planned for Ghost Ship victims |url=https://www.ebar.com/story/33593 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Bay Area Reporter |language=en}}

2018 was the Year of the Woman, with the Women’s March movement, which Rohrer was on the board leadership.{{Cite news |last=Wildermuth |first=John |date=January 18, 2018 |title=2018 women's marches get serious about a new political landscape |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/2018-women-s-marches-get-serious-about-a-new-12508987.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle}}

In 2017, Rohrer was hired as the first-ever LGBTQ+ Chaplain for the San Francisco Police Department. In 2017, working with his deeply held belief that religion should unite, not divide, us even further.{{Cite web |last=Sayej |first=Nadja |date=2017-12-20 |title=The Trans Pastor Building LGBT-Inclusive Faith Communities |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/the-trans-pastor-building-lgbt-inclusive-faith-communities/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=VICE |language=en-US}} As part of his work with the San Francisco Police Department, in 2019, Rohrer advocated for then Police Chief William Scott to apologize on behalf of the Police Department, to the Transgender community in San Francisco, at the 53rd anniversary of the Compton's Cafeteria riot, which predated the Stonewall riots in New York by 3 years.{{Cite web |last=Nahmod |first=David-Elijah |date=2019-08-29 |title=Police chief apologizes to LGBTQ community |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2019/08/in-news-bay-area-reporter.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Bay Area Reporter}} This truth and reconciliation event occurred at Glide Memorial Church which has long been a place of advocacy for the Transgender District, especially in the 1960s through 1980s.{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Joe Fitzgerald |date=2019-08-24 |title=SFPD to hold LGTBQ 'reconciliation and recognition' night at Glide Memorial Police hope to acknowledge hateful history, build trust |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2019/08/in-news-sf-examiner_24.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=San Francisco Examiner}}{{Cite web |last=Rodriguez |first=Joe Fitzgerald |date=2019-08-26 |title=SF police chief apologizes for 'past actions' against transgender community |url=https://revrohrer.blogspot.com/2019/08/in-news-sf-examiner.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=San Francisco Examiner}}

As the Trump Administration announced in 2017 that Transgender people would be banned from serving in the military, Rohrer led protests to advocate for the rights of transgender active military and veterans.{{Cite web |last=Redmond |first=Tim |date=2017-07-27 |title=SF rally responds to Trump's transgender military ban |url=https://48hills.org/2017/07/sf-rally-responds-trumps-transgender-military-ban/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=48 hills |language=en-US}} Rohrer explained why he is protesting "For those who are putting themselves on the line and literally putting their skin at risk, the least we can do is to help them feel comfortable in their bodies as they fight for us. I think that soldiers are anything but a burden. I think they're people who are sacrificing their bodies. And the more that we can do to care for them so that their minds and bodies and spirits are whole and healthy, the stronger our military will be."{{Cite news |title=Reaction To Trump's Plan To Ban Transgender People From The Military |url=https://www.npr.org/2017/07/27/539825460/reaction-to-trump-s-plan-to-ban-transgender-people-from-the-military |access-date=2025-04-06 |work=NPR |language=en}} Also, Rohrer explained that "for every war that I might march against, I will support every soldier who comes home and make sure they have health care."{{Cite web |date=2017-07-27 |title=Hundreds rally in the Castro against military transgender ban |url=https://www.ktvu.com/news/hundreds-rally-in-the-castro-against-military-transgender-ban |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=KTVU FOX 2 |language=en-US}}

During the 14th Annual San Francisco Trans March in June 2017, the march leadership protested the police who provided security for the event in Dolores Park and the march through San Francisco, because of police behavior toward BIPOC transgender people. The Trans March leaders told march participants to guard their behavior toward police: "Do not talk to them. Do not take selfies with them. Do not high-five them. Do not thank them." Rohrer, the police chaplain, advised compassion by stating, "For the officers who volunteer at the Trans March, (they do so) because they are LGBTQ, (and) because they want to support their own community, it means the world to them."{{Cite web |date=2017-06-23 |title=Trans March Facing Controversy For Asking Participants Not To Speak To Or Thank Cops: SFist |url=https://sfist.com/2017/06/23/trans_march_facing_controversy_for/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=SFist - San Francisco News, Restaurants, Events, & Sports |language=en}} "Beyond the care that I provide for members of the SFPD, I hope that the existence of a transgender SFPD chaplain can encourage at least one person to seek safety from domestic violence, to report a hate crime, or to learn more about the burden first responders carry on our behalf," Rohrer said.{{Cite web |title=Pride 2017: Trans pastor and police chaplain helps others |url=https://www.ebar.com/story/33925 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Bay Area Reporter |language=en}}

In late June 2016, people gathered to at 18th and Castro streets to remember the lives of the tragic mass shooting at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida that took the lives of 49 people with a memorial of flowers, photos and cards.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-30 |title='You Have Your Own Dancing To Do': A Farewell To The Castro's Orlando Memorial |url=https://hoodline.com/2016/06/you-have-your-own-dancing-to-do-a-farewell-to-the-castro-s-orlando-memorial/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Hoodline |language=en}} One year later, on June 12, 2017, Rev. Rohrer spoke to over 100 people to remember the anniversary.{{Cite web |title=Remembering Pulse victims |url=https://www.ebar.com/story/33902/News/Remembering%20Pulse%20victims |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Bay Area Reporter |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Christian |first=Jessica |date=2017-06-13 |title=SF Castro remembers Orlando nightclub shooting victims on one year anniversary |url=https://www.sfexaminer.com/multimedia/photo-galleries/sf-castro-remembers-orlando-nightclub-shooting-victims-on-one-year-anniversary/article_8fe4b008-d1df-5cb0-806d-93849d7ac904.html |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=San Francisco Examiner |language=en}} “We’ve known gun violence before,” shouted Pastor Megan Rohrer. “Angry people of faith are not the majority. We are queer. We are transgender. We are fabulous, we are faithful. We must stand up. We must vote until everyone is safe in bathrooms, in churches, and in the … streets.”{{Cite web |date=2016-06-24 |title=Thousands Rally for Orlando Massacre Vigil in the Castro |url=https://sfbaytimes.com/thousands-rally-for-orlando-massacre-vigil-in-the-castro/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=San Francisco Bay Times}} “We have also come out of our churches and into the streets! Out of our temples and into the streets! Out of our mosques and into the streets!”{{Cite web |date=2016-06-14 |title=As San Francisco mourns Orlando, Trump pulls Clinton his way |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2016/06/francisco-orlando-clinton/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Mondoweiss |language=en-US}}

Rohrer has advocated for trans people who would be negatively impacted by proposed "bathroom bills" that seek to restrict restroom usage based on sex assigned at birth.{{cite news|last1=Robinson|first1=Joshua|title=Trans pastor visits Missoula amid "bathroom bill" news|url=http://www.abcfoxmontana.com/story/35038658/trans-pastor-visits-missoula-amid-bathroom-bill-news|accessdate=June 14, 2017|newspaper=ABC Fox Montana|date=March 30, 2017}} "While courts have long ruled that Title 9 protections cover transgender individuals, newer health care victories and employment protections could be rolled back," Rohrer said in 2017. "Minimally, the large number of court vacancies and the Supreme Court appointment will have large implications for how transgender individuals will be treated by future courts."{{Cite web |date=2017-01-20 |title=SF Transgender Advocates Talk Trump Presidency, Bathroom Bills, & The Challenges Ahead |url=https://hoodline.com/2017/01/sf-transgender-advocates-talk-trump-presidency-bathroom-bills-the-challenges-ahead/ |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Hoodline |language=en}}

In 2021, Rohrer shared their experiences of being a pastor during the COVID-19 pandemic, and advocated for LGBTQ community members to get vaccinated.{{cite web |title=Rev. Megan Rohrer on #TDOV2021 and #VaccinateSF |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12CyKd3zB1g |publisher=San Francisco Department of Emergency Management |access-date=May 10, 2021 |date=March 30, 2021 |via=YouTube}}

• 2010 – OutHistory.org “Since Stonewall Local Histories Contest” First Place for “Man-i-fest: FTM Mentorship in San Francisco from 1976 – 2009" featuring the life and work of Lou Sullivan
• 2011 – Honorary Doctorate, Palo Alto University
• 2012 – Lambda Literary Award finalist, transgender nonfiction
• 2012 – "Pastor Megan Rohrer Day" declared on August 12 by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors
• 2014 – Honorable Mention, Unsung Hero of Compassion (awarded by the Dalai Lama){{cite web|last1=Martin|first1=Diane|title=Dalai Lama Honors Lutheran Church's First Transgender Pastor|url=http://www.hrc.org/blog/luthern-church-ordains-first-transgender-pastor|website=Human Rights Campaign|accessdate=June 13, 2017|date=February 24, 2014|archive-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311093151/http://www.hrc.org/blog/luthern-church-ordains-first-transgender-pastor|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=2014 Honorable Mentions|url=http://newunsungheroes.org/2014-event/2014-honorable-mentions/|website=Unsung Heroes of Compassion|accessdate=June 13, 2017}}
• 2014 – Award of Merit for Zanderology: Disability 101 (director), International Film Festival for Spirituality, Religion, and Visionary{{cite web|title=Winners 2014|url=http://internationalfilmfestivals.org/SRV/2014/winners_iffsrv_2014.htm|website=The International Film Festival for Spirituality, Religion, and Visionary|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}
• 2015 – Distinguished Alumni/ae, Pacific School of Religion
• 2015 – Soldier of Social Change, San Francisco Magazine{{cite magazine|last1=Murrow|first1=Lauren|last2=Johnson|first2=Sydney|title=Saluting 37 Soldiers of Social Change|url=https://www.modernluxury.com/san-francisco/story/saluting-37-soldiers-of-social-change|accessdate=June 14, 2017|magazine=San Francisco Magazine|date=November 19, 2015}}
• 2017 – Recognized by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors as an LBGT Leader in San Francisco{{Cite web |title=SF supervisors honor LGBTs |url=https://www.ebar.com/story/33943 |access-date=2025-04-06 |website=Bay Area Reporter |language=en}}
• 2017 Bay Area Reporter #ChangeMaker Recognition

Through Grace Lutheran Church and Wilgefortis Press, Rohrer has written a number of books for children in the Good News Children's Book Series.{{cite web|title=Books|url=http://wilgefortisbooks.blogspot.com/p/books.html|website=Wilgefortis|accessdate=June 14, 2017}}

Children titles authored by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Radical Jesus Story|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781365182563}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Mr Grumpy Christian|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781329946873}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Is it a Boy, Girl or Both|date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn= 9781329925601}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Children's Crumbs|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781329922198}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Parable of the Succulent|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781329913790}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Fabulous Creation Story|date=2016|publisher=LULU Press |isbn= 9781365201462}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Too Sick For Church|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Press, Incorporated |isbn= 9781365188725}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Jesus' Family|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Press, Incorporated |isbn= 9781329956681}}

Children titles authored and illustrated by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Magnificats: inspired by herchurch.org|date=2022|isbn= 9781387464012}}

Children titles authored by Rohrer with diverse illustrators:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Ivanov|first2=Eugene|title=Never Again|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Press, Incorporated |isbn= 9781329948075}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Drda |first2=Daren|title=What to wear to church?|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781329907409 }}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Woodward|first2=Daren|title=Transgender Children of God|date=2016|publisher=Wilgefortis Press |isbn= 9781365112959}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Elena|first2=Dobrynina|title=Church Bugs|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781329970649}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Ryan|first2=Pamela|last3=Maryia|first3=Ihnatovich|title=Faithful Families|date=2016|publisher=Lulu Enterprises Incorporated |isbn= 9781329970649}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=cosmaa |title=

Sacred ADA Upgrades|date=2020|isbn= 9781716691713}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Long|first2=Mary|title=

Sacred Grief|date=2020|isbn= 9781716697654}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Kurniawan|first2=Rahmad|title=

Sacred Anger|date=2020|isbn= 9781716715013}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Paetzold|first2=Franzi|title=

Sacred Sheltering|date=2020|isbn= 9781716719776}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Matyash|first2=Olga|title=

This is My Body|date=2020|isbn= 9781716712043}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Vortniak|first2=Svetlana|title=

Baby Jesus By and By|date=2022|publisher=Lulu Press}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Ramonfaur|first2=Bernardo|title=

Justice Thou Art|date=2022}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Mazur|first2=Eve|title=

Sacred Trees|date=2022|isbn= 9781387466245}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Rohrer|first2=Dominique|last3=Rohrer|first3=Makayla|title=

Fart Town:The People are Nice, But the Air is Bad|date=2022|publisher=Wilgefortis|isbn= 9798582166825|url=https://www.amazon.com/Fart-Town-People-are-Nice/dp/B08QS68TN3/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1682297896&sr=8-4#detailBullets_feature_div}}

Adult titles authored and illustrated by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Faith, Hope and Love Adult Coloring Book

|date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn= 9781329952072}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Love: Faithful Adult Coloring Book

|date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781365110856 }}

Adult titles authored by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Queerly Lutheran|date=2012|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781365105265|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQUtDAAAQBAJ}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Holy Night: Prayers and Meditations for People of the Night|date=2014|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781312256903|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-M8ICAAAQBAJ}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=With a Day Like Yours, Couldn't You Use a Little Grace?|date=2014|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781312422391}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Chaplain's Heart: An Embodied Guide to Ministry of Presence

|date=2018|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9780359260171}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Sacred Waters: How to Accept Blessings When They Find You

|date=2018|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9780359228997}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=

Prayers from Norway: Untangling Our Shame of Body, Mind and Politics

|date=2018|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9780359006793 }}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=

The Progressive Combined Parish Registry: Gender neutral language for churches|date=2018|publisher= Lulu Press|isbn= 9781387897704}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=

Prayers from Iceland

|date=2018|publisher= Lulu Press|isbn= 9781387736454}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Prayers from Philadelphia: Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness|date=2019|publisher=Lulu Press, Incorporated |isbn= 9781794838765}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Prayers from the Caribbean: Injury, Struggle and Liberation

|date=2019|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn= 9780359556816}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=The Way to Flüeli-Ranft: A Pilgrimage to the Land of Brother Klaus the Patron Saint of Switzerland

|date=2022|isbn= 9781387736041}}

• Rohrer, Megan (2025). San Francisco's Transgender District. Arcadia Publishing. {{ISBN|9781467162654}}

Adult titles co-authored by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Plaster|first2=Joey|title=Vanguard Revisited: The Queer Faith, Sex & Politics of The Youth of San Francisco's Tenderloin|date=2012|publisher= Wilgefortis|isbn=9781365105265|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nQUtDAAAQBAJ}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Kapros Rohrer|first2=Laurel|title=

New Wonders: Lessons Learned at the End of a Long Winding Road

|date=2018|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781387744626}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Strouse|first2=Susan|title=

Progressive Hymns|date=2019|publisher=LULU Press |isbn= 9780359940561}}

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Strouse|first2=Susan|title=

The Chaplain's Gut: An Embodied Guide to Holy Anger|date=2022|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn= 9781387855223}}

Adult titles edited by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|title=Holy Night: Prayers and Meditations for People of the Night: Friends of the San Francisco Night Ministry

|date=2014|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn= 9781312256903 }}

Adult titles co-edited by Rohrer:

• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Keig|first2=Zander|title=Manifest: Letters For My Brothers: Transitional Wisdom in Retrospect|date=2014|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn= 9781312461147}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan |last2=Tisdale|first2=Daniel|title=Bible Stories: Reimagining Between the Lines|date=2014|isbn=9781312379374}}
• {{cite book|last1=Rohrer|first1=Megan|last2=Keig|first2=Zander|title=Manifest: Transitional Wisdom on Male Privilege|date=2016|publisher=Lulu.com |isbn=9781365276828}}

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category|Megan Rohrer}}

• {{official website|www.revrohrer.com}}
• {{IMDb name|name=Megan Rohrer|id=nm6669428}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rohrer, Megan}}

Category:Living people

Category:1980 births

Category:21st-century American Lutheran clergy

Category:Augustana University alumni

Category:Transgender non-binary people

Category:American non-binary people

Category:American transgender people

Category:American LGBTQ rights activists

Category:Religious leaders from the San Francisco Bay Area

Category:LGBTQ people from South Dakota

Category:LGBTQ Lutheran clergy

Category:LGBTQ people from California

Category:People from Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Category:Transgender Christian clergy

Category:Lutheran chaplains

Category:American homelessness activists

Category:Non-binary activists

Category:Religious leaders from South Dakota

Category:21st-century American Lutheran bishops

Category:21st-century American LGBTQ people

Category:Pacific School of Religion alumni

Category:Non-binary Christians