Fighting for survival: The experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning students in religious colleges and universities. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Craig, Shelley L.; Austin, Ashley; Rashidi, Mariam; Adams, Marc
• Is Part Of: Journal of gay & lesbian social services. Volume 29:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 24
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students -- religious colleges and universities -- hegemony -- religious abuse; Social work with gays -- Periodicals; Social work with lesbians -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 362.8964
• DOI: 10.1080/10538720.2016.1260512
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1053-8720

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Little is known about the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ) students attending religious colleges and universities. This study used grounded theory to analyze the narratives ( N = 271) of LGBTQ former and current students. The central theme described by LGBTQ students was a fight for survival with five subthemes: (a) institutionalized homo/transphobia (strict school policies, enforcement of heterosexuality and gender conformity through discipline, conversion therapy); (b) a culture of fear (fear of exposure, homophobic panic and code words, seeking cover); (c) marginalization and isolation; (d) struggle (suffering and suicide, reconciling faith and LGBTQ identity); and (e) coping and resilience (surviving through critical thinking and strategic activism). Implications for practice are provided.