Rochester Pastor Rev. Phillipa Phaneuf Announces She Is Transgender During Church Service — “Truly Happy for the First Time in a Very Long Time”

Rev. Phillipa Phaneuf, 51, publicly announced she is transgender during a Sunday service at North Chili United Methodist Church in Rochester, N.Y., on Nov. 23. Speaking from the pulpit while wearing a rainbow-patterned stole, Phaneuf told her congregation she is beginning to live openly as her authentic self.

Announcement and Message

“I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning,” Phaneuf told worshippers in video footage shared by the church. “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.”

“It was just within that first week that I was really, truly happy for the first time in a very long time.”

What Will Change — And What Won’t

Phaneuf explained some practical changes congregants may notice: she uses she/her pronouns, her voice “might go a tad higher,” and she plans to use a new full name as part of the transition. She added, with a light touch, that she is “not gonna be the pronoun police,” and does not expect misgendering to occur out of malice.

At the same time, Phaneuf emphasized continuity in the church’s mission. “We might become known within the community as an even safer space for people who have felt marginalized,” she said, noting the congregation’s existing love and support as essential to her ability to serve.

Support and Family Response

Phaneuf said she first consulted denominational leaders — including the bishop and the district superintendent — to plan a pastoral announcement that would preserve unity. The United Methodists of Upper New York issued a statement calling the moment “a significant step in Rev. Dr. Phaneuf’s journey of authenticity and faith.”

She also told The Advocate she has been “surrounded by loving kindness” and that affirmations since the announcement have been meaningful. Phaneuf confirmed she is months into hormone replacement therapy.

Not everyone in her personal life has been supportive: Phaneuf said her parents texted that they do not back her decision and have chosen their convictions over supporting their child. “And that’s okay,” she said, reflecting that relationships sometimes evolve as people live more honestly.

Looking Ahead

Phaneuf described feeling a rapid emotional relief since beginning to live openly. She framed her announcement as both a personal milestone and a pastoral commitment: continuing to lead the congregation while inviting greater inclusion for those who feel marginalized.