A Qualitative Investigation Into Faith and LGBTQ Identities in a Nonclinical Sample of Readers of the Dear Abby Column: The Dear Abby Project. Issue 12 (9th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ghazzawi, Alhasan; Casoy, Flávio; Libby, Naomi; McIntosh, Chris; Barber, Mary; Adelson, Stewart; Ahola, Joanne; Ashley, Kenneth; Chavez, Alexis M.; Erickson-Schroth, Laura; Fadus, Matthew; Goldenberg, David; Hung, Kenneth; Lothwell, Lorraine; Mattson, Marlin; McAfee, Scot G.; Nowaskie, Dustin Z.; Schwartz, Alan; Tompkins, David Andrew; Yarbrough, Eric R.; Drescher, Jack
• Is Part Of: Journal of nervous and mental disease. Volume 209:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 855
• Page End: 858
• Publication Date: 2021-12-09
• Subjects: LGBTQ mental health -- religion and mental health -- transgender mental health -- religion and spirituality; Neurology -- Periodicals; Psychiatry -- Periodicals; Neurology; Psychiatry; Neurologie; Psychiatrie; Neurology; Psychiatry; Periodicals; 616.8005
• DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0000000000001415
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3018

Abstract

Abstract: To better understand the relationship between faith and LGBTQ+ identity, we conducted a qualitative analysis of 86 respondents to a general question posed through the Dear Abby column. Responses were anonymized and analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Analysis revealed six themes, reflecting a diversity of lived experience from community rejection to acceptance, and self-rejection to feelings of acceptance by God. Despite frequent media portrayals of conflict between faith and LGBTQ+ identity, the reality is more complex, and faith and LGBTQ+ identity development can be complementary.