in 1979, garnsworthy defended the anglican church's decision to accept openly gay priests on condition that such individuals not participate in same-sex sexual activity. he argued that the decision was not a change of policy for the church and that equivalent restrictions existed for heterosexual priests in relationships out of wedlock. brent hawkes of the metropolitan community church of toronto cautiously accepted the anglican church's decision as a step forward, although he added that the requirement for celibacy would still result in gay priests being closeted.