Episcopal bishops affirm same sex marriage, transgender rights

The governing bodies of the U.S. Episcopal Church have approved a rite for the blessing of same sex marriages and extended the church’s nondiscrimination policy to include transgender people, making it the first major U.S. religion to do so. According to Reuters, the Episcopalian Chamber of Bishops met at the church’s General Convention in Indianapolis on Monday and voted overwhelmingly to approve the measures, prompting activist Rev. Lowell Grisham of the pro-equality group Chicago Consultation to say, “Today the Episcopal Church affirmed the human dignity of a deeply stigmatised population that is far too often victim to discrimination, bullying and abuse.”

Activist Donna Cartwright, a founding member of the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), spoke to Raw Story from the convention in Indianapolis.

“We’ve worked hard on this for a number of years,” Cartwright said, “This is a great day.”

According to Reuters, the Episcopal Church is the 14th largest denomination in the U.S. and Episcopal clergy have been able to bless same sex unions with permission from the church for several years. The new liturgy is called “Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant,” and it will be included in the church’s official masses and liturgies beginning in December.