Complicit silence, fluid identities and a shift to personalized faith: LGBTQ+ experiences in conservative Christian communities
Date
2022
Authors
Block, Kelsey
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Studies in Religion
Abstract
Using in-depth interviews with six participants, this qualitative project examines
LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and others) experiences in conservative
Christian communities in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, through the lens of queer
theory. The research questions guiding this project are: (1) Does there continue to be a code
of silence surrounding LGBTQ+ identities within conservative Christian communities? (2) How
do LGBTQ+ individuals deal with the perceived incompatibility between their religion and their
sexuality and/or gender? (3) How do LGBTQ+ individuals understand their LGBTQ+ identity
when situated within a traditionally heteronormative religious community? The findings indicate
that the participants view the silence surrounding LGBTQ+ issues and the subsequent lack of
formal support for LGBTQ+ individuals as complicit in perpetuating rhetoric that LGBTQ+
identities are abnormal, sinful and shameful. All of the participants shifted to a more personalized
faith and view Christianity as a resource instead of a requirement, and the majority of the
participants frame both their gender/sexual identity and religious identity as fluid and liminal,
subject to change depending on the context.
Description
Keywords
Christianity, gender, sexuality, queer theory, qualitative methods, LGBTQ+
Citation
Block, K. (2022). “Complicit silence, fluid identities and a shift to personalized faith: LGBTQ+ experiences in conservative Christian communities.” Studies in Religion, 0(0), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1177/00084298221128883