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 The Reverend Dr. Cameron Partridge, one of seven openly
transgender clergy in the Episcopal Church, spoke from the
Canterbury Pulpit in honor of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and
transgender community's Pride Month, the Cathedral said.
Partridge told congregants in his guest appearance he was proud to
be a part of a church that was pushing for acceptance of all people,
regardless of sexual orientation or identity.
"As we behold one another in these days of celebration may we honor
the way we sustain each other," he said.
Partridge, who began transitioning to male from female over a decade
ago, is the Episcopal Chaplain at Boston University and a lecturer
and counselor at Harvard Divinity School.
 Reverend Gene Robinson, the first openly gay Episcopal bishop,
presided over the service on Sunday, which included readings and
prayers by gay, lesbian and transgender church members.
The Episcopal Church, an independent U.S.-based institution
affiliated with global Anglicanism, voted in 2012 to allow the
ordination of transgender people and also approved same-sex marriage
blessings.
Last week, a gathering of U.S. Presbyterian Church leaders followed
suit, voting to allow their clergy to perform same-sex weddings.
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The Episcopal Church approved its first openly gay bishop in 2003,
when Reverend Robinson ascended to lead the diocese of New
Hampshire.
The move was met with controversy. Hundreds of parishes opposed his
consecration, saying the church was becoming too liberal.
(Reporting by Victoria Cavaliere in New York; Editing by Rosalind
Russell)
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