In recent times, renewed force has gathered behind the campaign to recognise equal rights for transgender people, and this latest move in the UK is a symbol of how far we have come – particularly in the past year.
According to reports this weekend, a Unitarian church in Manchester has made British history by becoming the first church in the UK to offer transgender baptisms.
Jean Clements, head of the New Chapel Unitarian and Free Christian church, was apparently inspired to make the move after meeting a couple with a transgender child.
Confirming the news – which was agreed upon at the church’s annual general meeting – Clements told the BBC: “I felt saddened by the fact that this family were being shunned by many mainstream churches. However, when the family came to New Chapel, the congregation welcomed them with open arms.”
“I would like to thank one courageous girl for inspiring me to think carefully about this issue in the first place,” she added.
Clements has not, however, urged other churches to follow suit but rather to ‘decide for themselves’ whether they would like to offer the same service to transgender people. According to sources, the ceremony itself will be quite similar to an adult baptism.
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