Cross-dresser in church row

A gay Shrewsbury cross-dresser who has ambitions to become a priest today launched a protest in Birmingham, claiming he had been turned away from two of the city's churches.

Zack Holland, 21, was planning to make a lone protest outside both the Cathedral of St Philip and St Martin's Church in the city's Bull Ring this afternoon. He said he was turned away from both yesterday because of the way he was dressed.

"Unfortunately there is still prejudice against cross-dressing persons. How ridiculous that a man may not be allowed to preach in a church due to his inappropriate attire stemming only from stereotypes and past traditions.

"I was wearing some boots, which are androgynous and don't have any gender, a jacket and just a little scarf."

Mr Holland, of Bicton Heath, said he felt it was un-Christian of the churches. Today, carrying placards and wearing a miniskirt, he was protesting outside both the churches.

Mr Holland, a former pupil of Belvidere School, was brought up Catholic but also attended St Giles' Church of England Primary School.

Chief executive of St Martin's in the Bull Ring, Len Cox, said that he would be happy to hear from Mr Holland to get the facts established which could then be dealt with. A spokesman for St Philip's said he was mystified and was extremely surprised that he would have been turned away. From: Cross-dresser not welcomed by church