Fighting for survival: The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students in religious colleges and universities

Craig, S. L., Austin, A., Rashidi, M., & Adams, M., (2017). Fighting for survival: The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning students in religious colleges and universities. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Social Services, 29(1), 1–24. https://doi.org/10.1080/10538720.2016.1260512

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Highlights

Background

As key socializing institutions, schools are critical contexts in which to examine the development and emergence of LGBTQ identity.

Despite increased tolerance, there remains a lack of acceptance of LGBTQ individuals in major religious institutions.

Little is known about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students attending religious colleges and universities.

Study Description

• This study used grounded theory to analyze the narratives (n = 271) of LGBTQ former and current students in sectarian educational institutions in the United States

  • Participant ages ranged from 17 to 56 (Mage = 29)

  • A majority identified as male (59%), compared to female (40%) or transgender (1%)

  • Participants’ sexual orientations included gay (59%), lesbian (30%), bisexual (7%), or unsure/questioning (4%)

Key Findings

• The central theme described by LGBTQ students was a fight for survival with five subthemes (see Figure 1):

(1) Institutionalized homo/transphobia (strict school policies, enforcement of heterosexuality and gender conformity through discipline, conversion therapy);

(2) A culture of fear (fear of exposure, homophobic panic and code words, seeking cover);

(3) Marginalization and isolation;

(4) Struggle (suffering and suicide, reconciling faith and LGBTQ identity);

(5) Coping and resilience (surviving through critical thinking and strategic activism)

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