A quiet sanctuary in Rochester shifted into a moment of revelation on November 23, when Rev. Phillip Phaneuf of North Chili United Methodist Church told congregants that a long-hidden truth had finally found voice.
Wearing a rainbow stole, Phaneuf declared: “I get to announce with joy that I’m transitioning. I am transgender. I’m not becoming a woman, I’m giving up pretending to be a man.” The pastor described the decision as a release from years of inner dissonance and acknowledged that the journey may unsettle some who are still grappling with its meaning.
Phaneuf also shared an asexual identity, explaining a life lived without pursuit of romance. Embracing the name Phillippa and the pronouns she/her, the pastor noted that hormone therapy has been in progress for three months, with shifts in appearance and voice expected over time.
In a follow-up exchange with Fox News Digital, Phaneuf confirmed the announcement and said the congregation had responded with warmth rather than resistance. “Since coming out to my congregation, they have been overwhelmingly affirming,” she said.
