A church has said that they will support any transgender children in their congregation who wish to transition.
The Episcopal Church said they respect the identities of transgender people of 'all ages' and they affirmed their commitment with a resolution in favour of transgender care.
The resolution was passed in July, Newsweek reports, at the 80th General Convention met in Baltimore, where 412 resolutions were considered.
Several were successfully passed including Resolution D066 in support of gender affirming procedures.
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The resolution was subsequently approved via a blog post on the TransEpiscopal website.
"In the current political climate, the trans and non-binary community is being targeted," the post read.
"In 2021, there were over 290 anti LGBTIQ bills introduced in various states across the county, twenty-five of which became law. Eight of those laws targeted trans and non-binary people. 2022 is on track to surpass this number."
The church then took the opportunity to condemn legislation that discriminates against transgender and non-binary children in a lot of Republican states.
This comes after Texas Governor Greg Abbott said parents who support their transgender children's wishes to transition should be investigated for child abuse, as reported by NBC News.
While Abbott's proposal was blocked, the church said transgender children remain at risk.
Molly Wills Carnes, who has a transgender daughter, explained why the church's resolution was so important.
"Even growing up in an affirming household, by the time our daughter was a teenager and still living as a boy, she was depressed, anxious and finally suicidal," Carnes said.
"Experiencing the wrong puberty often triggers suicide, so access to gender care for minors is critical.
"After coming out as transgender, the healthcare she received saved her life. The results have been lifechanging for our family.
"I didn't know how much of my child I hadn't met yet. She has blossomed into a person with a peace in her countenance and a light in her eyes we haven't since very early childhood.
"She is hopeful. She is funny. She is ambitious. She is kind."
But not everyone in the church was in favour of D066, and one member revealed on Reddit that they had left the church as a result.
The Episcopalian wrote: "I felt like there was a home here for me when I discovered the Episcopal Church. Two Resolutions that passed at the 80th General Convention destroyed my desire to ever go back. I am incredibly disheartened about this.
"I am disgusted that the Episcopal Church links baptismal calls to accepting the premise that children under 18 can consent to life altering drugs and surgeries."
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence contact Mindline Trans+ on 0300 330 5468. The line is open 8pm–midnight Mondays and Fridays and is run by trans volunteers
Emma Guinness