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During his legal clerkship, Theo Schenkel did not know whether, as a trans man, he would be allowed to continue working as a religion teacher
Photo: Johanna Unternahrer
The start of working life is exciting, exhausting - and often completely different than planned. In the series "My first year on the job", young professionals tell how they experienced this time. This time: Theo Schenkel, 27, vocational school teacher in Waldshut near Freiburg.
»I keep getting the same questions: why am I still in church as a trans man?
And why do I want to work as a religion teacher?
I often ask myself that too.
When I studied Catholic religion and French to become a teacher, I was still living as a woman.
I had been struggling with depression for a long time.
I had no idea that they could have something to do with my gender identity.
"When I read 'Theo' on the receipt, I was just happy."
Before I started my traineeship in early 2021, I worked in sales at a cosmetics store for a year and a half.
At some point I asked my team to call me by my new name.
When I read 'Theo' on the receipt, I was just happy.
This feeling is called 'gender euphoria' – when you feel that your own experience of gender identity finally matches the perception from outside.
A few months later I started hormone therapy.
They weren't the best prerequisites for a career as a religion teacher: you're employed by the federal state, but Catholic labor law applies.
Gender identity is not mentioned there, but sexual orientation is.
Anyone who is not straight violates Catholic sexual morality.
Many do not understand that trans people, as in my case, are not automatically homosexual.
How the church would react to me as a trans man was unclear.
constant uncertainty
Finally, the Archdiocese of Freiburg gave me a temporary teaching permit.
For most of them, after the legal clerkship, this flows smoothly into the so-called 'Missio canonica' – an unlimited teaching license that stipulates that religious instruction be coordinated with the teachings of the Catholic Church.
I, on the other hand, had to live with the constant uncertainty that the legal clerkship might end up in the bin.
The diocese had made it clear to me that it was not clear what would happen to me afterwards.
I always put pressure on myself to be extra good, to show the church you'd be upset if you didn't give me permission to teach.
Before the evaluations of the teaching visits, I was so excited that I trembled - not only two colleagues sit there in religion, but also someone from the church in the classroom.
My religious education should pick up the students in their everyday life.
For example, in one class, I spoke to them about whether gyms are the new churches.
I prefer to discuss the big questions with them – such as whether there is a God or a meaning to life.
I want to help them find their way in life.
Since I've been teaching students, I've been facing them as Mr. Schenkel.
We are a rather male-dominated vocational school, everyone does technical training.
I'm already asking myself: Would they have perceived me differently as a woman?
Am I radiating more authority now?
I also don't know how to deal with it when schoolgirls tell me about the fear of walking home from a party at night.
I can understand that, but as a man, should I still comment on this?
The good thing is: There is no gender pay gap for teachers, we civil servants are divided into salary brackets, and earnings increase with years of service.
During my legal clerkship I get around 1400 euros gross per month, after that it will be 4500 euros gross.
My big, public coming-out also happened during my legal clerkship.
My family, friends, the church and the school board knew about it - but since January everyone else has been able to google my story.
I took part in the ARD documentary about the ›Out in Church‹ initiative, in which many queer people in the church came out together.
The day after publication, I was curious to see how my students would react.
Some didn't even realize it, others asked me—of course—why I was still working for the Church.
Good reasons for the church
There are many reasons: In church, as an acolyte and in religious studies, I have only met people who are open to diversity.
And: I want to be the role model that I've always lacked.
I am convinced that being Catholic and being queer are not mutually exclusive.
It should become more natural that trans people are visible in all professions.
Two months after the documentation, I received my permanent teaching license from the diocese of Freiburg – not the official ›Missio canonica‹, but an exceptional permit.
Sometimes I'm still just angry at this institution.
How can she love me as a person on the one hand and call my way of life sin on the other?
Then I have to remind myself why I do this job: for the young people.«
Have you just started your career yourself and would like to tell us about it? Then write to us at SPIEGEL-Start@spiegel.de