Transgender Woman Denied Baptism, Finds Acceptance Elsewhere

0:00On April 10th, a 73-year-old transgender woman named Joanne Carver says her church and ealy, Cambridgeshire, denied her baptism because of her. Gender identity. She joined Lighthouse Church back in April 2022, completed their pre-baptism alpha course and was ready to go when the others in her. Group got baptized in June 2025. Her partner, Hannah Davis, who had been at the church for 21 years, claims a pastor said that Joanne could join in if she wore trousers and grew A. Beared to show more change. The church spokesperson pushed back, saying they don't recognize that version of the conversation and they acted with good faith. Joanne has a long history with her identity. She knew she was female from a young age, came out in spring 2017, started hormones the next. Year and had surgery in February 2022. She met Hannah on a dating app in December 2021, and that's when faith entered her life after surgery. The rejection hit hard.

1:00Joanne felt inhuman, ashamed, and barely left the house, calling in one of her lowest points after years of feeling welcome. There. She and Hannah left Lighthouse and switched to renew inclusive church in Cambridge. Joanne finally got baptized there on October 26, saying it felt fabulous and she's still buzzing. Meanwhile, Lighthouse stands by biblical teaching that sex is biological while committing to treat everyone with love and dignity.