US Episcopal Church Appoints Transgender Man as Cathedral Dean for the First Time

On August 16, 2026, 30-year-old priest Micah Cronin took over as dean of All Saints’ Cathedral in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He thus became the first openly transgender man to serve as a cathedral dean in the history of the US Episcopal Church.

In his introductory letter to the congregation, Cronin shared that he was raised in the Methodist tradition, but his former communities were unable to accept his identity. At the age of 19, he joined the Episcopal Church, where he found support, and began his transgender transition the same year.

All Saints’ Cathedral in Milwaukee is known as an LGBTQ+-affirming congregation, drawing an average of about 70 people to Sunday services. Micah Cronin is married to the Rev. Elias Henry, who is also a transgender man and serves as a pastor at a Lutheran campus ministry at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The US Episcopal Church, part of the Anglican Communion, has consistently advocated for inclusivity for many years, allowing same-sex marriages and ordaining openly LGBTQ+ individuals.