How Does Religion Affect The Lgbtq Community

Over the past 150 years, there have been many groups who have sought the North American dream of "liberty and justice for all." Examples are:

Homophobia and transphobia, especially amongst youths, can lead to higher rates of depression and suicide. It is estimated that 30-40% of all LGBT+ youth have attempted to take their lives, the average age for suicide attempts is much lower amongst LGBT+ people (37.5) than those who do not suffer from non-gender/binary identity-related hate (55.7). Active homophobia is often prominent in religious groups, the most homophobic being sub-genres/cultures/divisions of Christianity. A friend of mine attends Korowa Anglican Girl's School, a school which heavily bases its values upon Anglican beliefs. He is transgender and has been victim of homophobia and transphobia from both school officials and from female peers who have had religious upbringings since joining the school in 2012. Due to this abuse, he has been made to feel unsafe both at school and at home for his identity, and has consequently turned to self-deprecating behaviour to alleviate his suffering for a short time. Is this how we, as a nation, want our children and young adults to feel? Do we want them to hate themselves for something they have no control or choice over, especially in retrospect to political agenda, where laws are in place that allow such acts to unfurl? 42% of LGBT+ youth live in an

Conversion therapy is affecting the LGBTQ+ community greatly. Conversion therapy can be defined as “psychological interventions, from behavioral methods to psychoanalytic approaches” to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity (Hadelman, pg. 202, 2002). This treatment has been proven to not work as well as having harmful implications to LGBTQ+ people.

Having a platonic relationship with the same-sex isn’t always easy due to the fears a heterosexual may have when they have homosexual friends. Sometimes the lack of same-sex friends can allow for one to often feel isolated. Carl Charles, a survivor of conversion therapy, once was told by his pastor “you think Jesus wants you to be a dyke? You think Jesus died so you can march down the street with all your faggot friends?” (Charles) This so-called “therapy” made Carl feel isolated:  “I couldn’t tell my friends, and adults I thought I could trust” (Charles). Not only is isolation one of the effects of conversion therapy but an APA study done in 2009 concluded that “ depression, guilt, helplessness, shame, social withdrawal, suicidality and self-blame” are risks taken when enacting in the therapy. The study also concluded that these “risks are even greater for youth. Minors who experience family rejection based on their

In today’s society homosexuality has become an ongoing topic that has now become a social issue worldwide. The real matter is that gay rights and religious freedom have been overthrown lately as each has been immorally misinterpreting the concept. As many of those that stay connected either through watching the news, reading the newspaper or scrolling through social media is well aware of the ongoing dispute between the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transsexual) community and the freedom of religion. Over the past few months the issue has reached a climax due to the approval of same sex marriage, and this has resulted in riots, protests, and immoral treatment. This nationwide decision has had such a negative impact on Christianity, which makes up the majority of the United States it is rather questionable when this societal matter will cease in order for a harmonious nation.

They expected that adolescents who attended high schools with higher levels of religious attendance, fundamentalism, and Protestant affiliation will be less likely to report experiencing same-sex attraction and less likely to identify as lesbian-gay or bisexual-flexible, compared

Most of the research available in this field only addresses the stigma related with members of this community without vastly looking at the effects of such stigma that include drug and substance use and abuse. Much research is also available on the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases among members of the LGBTs. This has created a gap in data that is discussed in this article.

The continuous development of the political and legal systems in the U.S. has put the significant conflict between LGBT rights and religious freedom to the center of public attention. The key concern is whether a business should be exempt from gay rights ordinances based on religious reasons. Senior counsels Gregory Baylor and Gregory Lipper had their debate last Monday regarding the legal and ethical implications of the two rights in the business world.

The impetus of religion and church leaders that drives the acceptance or non-acceptance of nontraditional relationships sexual orientations helps to create within many communities shame and guilt for LGBT individuals. “Beyond the legal restrictions, many communities perceived nontraditional sexuality as something abnormal

It would be hard to deny that the election brought out lots of intolerance in our country that prides itself on being the place of equal opportunity for all. However, as my second participant, Dan, explained, “I’ve seen so much hate, but I have also seen so much love”. Many citizens came out in support of LGBT rights and this proves the “fluidity and malleability of human sexuality... in U.S. culture” (Guest 223). Even ten years ago it was hard to imagine the shift in views from the ‘heterosexual norm’ to sexualty as a perosnal choice that should be equally accepted and granted. My last participant, Nate, agreed with the changing views of sexuality in the United States, but had quite different thoughts on how he personally experienced the election as a gay man.

Not wrong, but a little contemptible… The thing about the pride movement is that is not just about sexuality (and by saying “I’m proud to be straight” you’re kinda reducing it to that), it’s everything that the LGBT+ community had to endure. And you have to look back in history and understand the reality of things. You have to look at the suicide rate among LGBT people; all the civil rights they were (and are still) denied; the fact that a lot of them lose the love from their families and friends when they come out; how most religions perceive them; and even stuff like the AIDS crisis in the 80s. People called it a “gay cancer” and government did very little to help these people, because it wasn’t something that affected the straight community

It is difficult to ignore how strongly religious groups are against LGBT rights. There are multiple cases and organizations that can confirm this to be true, but to understand why religion plays such a huge role in the anti-LGBT movements, one has to understand the beliefs and claims that religious groups propose. As stated in the bible, “God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them” (Genesis 1:27). In this bible verse, interpreted from an anti-LGBT view, one could say that God created two distinct genders, each having their own personal features and personalities. One could say that by changing a person’s gender by his own will, rather than God’s will, is defying God’s initial design.

The problem LGBT people face is persecution and abuse. Many LGBT people try to hide who they truly are from society in order to avoid being a victim of violence (Wagstaff, 2016). This along with the actual abuse can put a strain on the person which can lead to mental and physical illness such as depression, sleep loss, detachment from others, irritability, anger, PTSD and suicidal thoughts and tendencies (Wagstaff,

Gabriel Rotello in his article “Calling All Parents,” underscores this need for parental love by stating that almost all lesbian and gay teens go through a terrible, lonely stage when they feel they have no one to turn to, not even their own family members - sometimes especially not their own family members. It’s a phase that can leave lasting psychological damage even to the vast majority who survive it (112). Gay children are at extremely high risk for anxiety, confusion, despair, and, yes, some even contemplate suicide. In fact, according to a recent study published in the May 1999 issue of Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, gay and lesbian youth “were 3.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide than straight youth.” (487)

Opposition to gay marriage has increased since the summer and a narrow majority of Americans also oppose allowing gays and lesbians to enter legal agreements that fall short of marriage. Moreover, despite the overall rise in tolerance toward gays since the 1980s, many Americans remain highly critical of homosexuals ­ and religious belief is a major factor in these attitudes.