Conflicting identities: Sexual minority, transgender, and gender nonconforming individuals navigating between religion and gender–sexual orientation identity.

Abstract

In the United States, the majority of people identify as religious or spiritual and almost 90% of people indicate that they engage in various personal acts of faith (Halkitis et al., 2009). Surveys indicate that 76% of individuals identify as Christian, and Christianity is a major socializing force in the United States (Dahl & Galliher, 2012). For many people in the United States, religion serves as a source of strength, promotes community and cultural functions, and helps in developing self-identity and values (García, Gray-Stanley, & Ramirez-Valles, 2008). As a central societal institution, religion plays a large role in shaping the trajectories and transitions of people's lives (García et al., 2008).An obstacle faced by numerous sexual minority and transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals is that of reconciling their desire for self-acceptance with the negative messages that are conveyed by a number of faith institutions. Although some Judeo-Christian religious institutions 8

Relações sócio-familiares e a construção da personalidade da pessoa transexual

“…Entretanto, mais da metade dxs entrevistadxs referiram serem agnósticxs, sendo 8 teístas e 1 ateísta, que pode estar relacionada à necessidade de apoio espiritual, desvinculado de dogma religioso e uma forma individual de conectividade com Deus (Kashubeck-West et al, 2017;Legerski & Harker, 2018).…”

Religiosity, spirituality, gender identity, and sexual orientation of sexual minorities.

“…Sixty participants identified as transgender, gender fluid, agender, or androgynous. In general, there is more discussion on sexual orientation than gender identity in religion (Kashubeck-West, Whiteley, Vossenkemper, Robinson, & Deitz, 2017). Many transgender individuals, however, are still subject to stigma and discrimination in their religious communities related to their gender identity, with a call to research on religiosity and spirituality in intersex and transgender communities specifically (Rodriguez & Follins, 2012).…”

Affirming and nonaffirming religious beliefs predicting depression and suicide risk among Latter-Day Saint sexual minorities.

“…In general, many religious institutions teach nonaffirming beliefs about SM (Kashubeck-West et al, 2017). For example, SM among Evangelical or Catholic traditions report being taught that their sexual orientations are evil, represent the presence of a "demon inside of them," and that this will result in severe spiritual consequences (e.g., "Gay is bad.…”

“…Religious/spiritual processes represent an understudied set of factors that may be related to minority stressors and ultimately negative mental health outcomes, such as depression and suicide risk. For example, many faith traditions teach nonaffirming religious/spiritual beliefs about SM, such as same-sex marriage is a sin or that same-sex attractions are a temptation from the devil (Kashubeck-West et al, 2017). As a result, SM within these spaces may experience two specific proximal (i.e., internal) minority stressors: (a) internalized stigma, which involves internalizing nonaffirming messages and viewing themselves as flawed, weak, or shameful (Barnes & Meyer, 2012; Gibbs & Goldbach, 2021) and/or (b) religious/spiritual struggles surrounding their sexuality, such as believing God does not love them, doubting their beliefs, or believing they are being judged by religious/spiritual people—all based on their sexual orientation or attractions (Beckstead & Morrow, 2004).…”