Abstract:
Many lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals raised Christian in the United States experience an identity conflict between their religious beliefs and values and sexual orientation. This may at least partially be due to the fact that non-heterosexual identities have been viewed as deviant within the field of psychology until recently and many Christian organizations. Negative social stigma and discrimination often makes this identity conflict challenging for individuals. Participants are five college students that identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual, and were raised Christian. Interviews and a general thematic analysis were used to illuminate common themes of their life experiences. Main issues explored include a) identity conflict between sexual orientation and religious values and beliefs and b) resolutions. By examining the experiences of LGB individuals raised Christian, the goal of understanding religious and sexual identity conflicts can lead to a greater awareness of diverse populations and an understanding of the experiences of these individuals.
