New York pastor 'gives up pretending to be a man,' comes out as trans, asexual to congregation

A New York Methodist pastor is drawing attention after announcing during a Sunday service that he is transitioning to a woman.

Reverend Phillip Phaneuf of the North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester made the announcement on November 23 from the pulpit while wearing a rainbow stole.

"So I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning," Phaneuf told the congregation. "I’m affirming to all of you that I am transgender. The best way to put this is that I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man. This is a process, and it may be shocking for some as to what this all means."

He also added that he now identifies as “asexual.” 

"I’m in the category of what they call asexual," Phaneuf said. "I’ve been that way since we’ve all been together, in that I am not living my life in a way that involves looking for romance."

Phaneuf said he will now use female pronouns publicly and will adopt the name Phillippa. He stated that he has been on hormone replacement therapy for the past three months.

In a statement to Fox News, Phaneuf said his congregation has supported the announcement and that church leadership also backs him.

"Since coming out to my congregation, they have been overwhelmingly affirming!" he said.

However, Phaneuf noted during the sermon that his parents do not support the decision, telling the congregation, “They asked me to tell you all that they do not support me.”

The announcement comes after the United Methodist Church recently changed its rules that had condemned LGBTQ+ identities. The denomination now states on its website that human sexuality is a “sacred gift” that “applies to all persons, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.”