The Church of England backs blessings for same-sex couples, three teens were charged with assault against an LGBTQ person, and Mexico's first non-binary magistrate was found dead.

Church Of England Backs Blessings For Same-Sex Couples

The governing body of the Church of England narrowly voted to back same-sex couples for special services on a trial basis.

According to Reuters, the church has been “wrestling” with ways to make people in the LGBTQ community feel more welcome, as the Church does not allow same-sex marriage.

Now, they agreed that the trial services should be “introduced soon” to the Church.

However, Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury, abstained.

"I abstained ... because my pastoral responsibility extends to everyone in the Church of England and global Anglican Communion," said Welby in a statement.

Bishops will still have to give final clearance to the prayers.

Teens Charged With Assault Against LGBTQ Person

Photo via Toronto Police Service, Facebook.

Three teenagers have been charged following an assault involving a member of the LGBTQ community, according to Toronto police.

According to Investigators interviewed by Global News Canada, the victim was “concerned with the treatment of a group of young women and intervened to check on their well-being.”

There was then a verbal altercation between three teens and the victim. The victim was then violently attacked by the suspects.

Two of the suspects were 14, and one was 15.

“After consultation with the Service’s specialized Hate Crime Unit, the investigation is being treated as a suspected hate-motivated offense,” said police.

Mexico's First Non-binary Magistrate Found Dead

Photo via ocielbaena, Instagram.

Ociel Baena, Mexico’s first openly non-binary magistrate, was found dead in their home in the central state of Aguascalientes.

According to Reuters, Baena was sworn in as a magistrate on the Aguascalientes state electoral tribunal in October 2022 and was a prominent LGBTQ activist.

The cause of death is still unknown.

"We don't know yet ... if it was a homicide or if it was some kind of accident," said Mexico's Security Minister Rosa Icela Rodriguez during the president's regular morning press conference.

According to a statement from the state prosecutor’s office, Baena’s body was found along with another person, who local media say was Baena’s partner. Preliminary findings show no evidence of a third party at the scene and suggest that the deaths could have been a "personal matter.”

"We lost a strong voice for equality and the rights of LGBTI+ people,” said the former chief justice of Mexico's Supreme Court, Arturo Zaldivar, in a social media post.

LGBTQ activists are planning vigils and demonstrations in Aguascalientes, Mexico City, Monterrey, and other major cities in Baena’s honor.