Research Authorship:
Alana N. Innerbichler
Faculty Mentor:
Dr. Mandi N. Barringer | College of Arts and Sciences | Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work
Abstract:
The LGBT community is considered a contentious topic of conversation among various religious denominations. This research analyzes conflict between sexual identity and religious beliefs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adults. Despite retrospective studies investigating attitudes towards same-sex relations, including negative experiences within religious institutions and facets of integrating diverse sexual identities, the quantitative and qualitative data lacks the perspective of LGBT individuals. This study augments existing literature by utilizing data conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2013. Preliminary findings show that despite the abuse LGBT individuals endure during the “coming out process”, most LGBT individuals do not experience conflict between their religious and sexual identities. Surprisingly, most lesbian adult women are more likely to integrate their identities more easily and with more success compared to gay men.
