Ellen Barrett

Ellen Barrett

Ellen Marie Barrett (born February 10, 1946 in Lawrence, Kansas) is a priest of the Episcopal Church in the United States. She was the first openly lesbian priest to be properly ordained by the Episcopal Church, shortly after the General Convention approved the ordination of women in 1977. Barrett's candor about her homosexuality caused great controversy within the church. Even prior to her entry into the priesthood, she was a prominent spokesperson for the rights of gays and lesbians in the church, especially in regards to ordination.