Britain’s ‘first non-binary CofE priest’ says ‘God has guided me to the truth’

A non-binary vicar believed to be the first of the Church of England believes God “led” them to come out after a revelation.

Bingo Allison, 36, who is gender biased, grew up in a “strongly religious” household in West Yorkshire and was raised to believe being gay was a “sin”.

But a 15-year journey that included meeting other LGBTQ+ Christians completely changed her “very traditional and conservative” outlook on life.

Bingo Allison, 36, is gender biased and to her knowledge the first openly non-binary priest in the Church of England

“I haven’t taken the time to learn from other people’s experiences,” Allison told the Liverpool Echo.

“I was definitely in a lot of denial, and part of that denial came out in denial of other people’s identities.”

Allison came out halfway through the Church of England vicar training program seven years ago after having an epiphany reading the Old Testament.

The third-generation minister explained how the language the Bible originally used at Genesis 1:27 spoke of “from male to female” as opposed to male and female.

“I was sitting in the middle of the night realizing that I might have to turn my life upside down — it was a deepening spiritual experience,” they said.

At this point, Allison had only met two openly gay people and no trans people, and there were times when they questioned their new gender identity.

Now they visit schools and speak to youth groups to encourage other LGBTQ+ people that they have a place in the church.

Allison says she’s always amazed at how “open-minded” younger people are.

Allison uses social media to spread her message, writing in a playful post of how “Jesus loves glittery eyeshadow.”

A recent survey by Stonewall found that more than a quarter of younger people now identify as LGBT.

The LGBTQ+ charity claimed that 71 percent of Gen Z respondents — those aged 16 to 26 — identify themselves as straight.

The figure contrasts with the baby boomer generation – those aged 56 to 75 – in which 91 percent identified themselves as straight.

Of the next generation, Gen X, described as ages 43 to 56, Stonewall said 87 percent said they were straight.

According to the charity, it was 82 percent for millennials — those aged 27 to 42.

In his report, which uses data from polling firm Ipsos UK, Stonewall said the results show Britain is becoming a “rainbow nation”.