Transgender Priest Rev. Cameron Partridge, Will Preach at Sunday Service Celebrating LGBT Pride at Washington National Cathedral
The Rev. Cameron Partridge will become the first openly transgender priest to preach at the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, June 22, as the historic church celebrates LGBT pride month in a service led by Rev. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay priest to be elected a bishop.
"Cameron Partridge is a priest of great intellect, pastoral presence, and possesses a deep passion for the Gospel. We are excited for him to preach at the Cathedral," Rev. Gary Hall, dean of Washington National Cathedral noted in a Huffington Post report.
In a further statement on the selection of Partridge to preach, Hall noted that the church wanted to send a message of love to the LGBT community.
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"As an advocate both within the Church and wider community, Cameron's presence in the pulpit, I hope, will also send a symbolic message in support of greater equality for the transgender community, which suffers from acts of violence, discrimination, unemployment, homelessness and financial inequality," he said.
"We at Washington National Cathedral are striving to send a message of love and affirmation, especially to LGBT youth who suffer daily because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. We want to proclaim to them as proudly and unequivocally as we can: Your gender identity is good and your sexual orientation is good because that's the way that God made you," he added.
Partridge, who is one of seven openly transgender clergy in the Episcopal Church, changed from female to male in 2001. He is the Episcopal Chaplain at Boston University and a lecturer at Harvard Divinity School, according to his blogger profile.
"I am passionate about the vibrant intersection of the church and the world — that's the sacramental threshold where my ministry unfolds. I specialize in working with young adults, in doing advocacy for social justice — particularly in the areas of gender, sexuality and economic class — and in exploring the theological dimensions of these ministries," he notes on his profile.
He has lived in Boston with his spouse and two sons since 1995.
