Many people around the world identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, nonbinary, pansexual, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBT+), and some also have religious beliefs. Some religions condemn homosexuality, while others do not make moral judgments about it. Many LGBT+ people report experiencing conflict between their personal identities and religious beliefs. This essay will examine how psychological mechanisms allow them to reconcile these conflicting aspects of themselves.
It is important to note that identity development does not happen independently from religion. The way people develop their sense of self involves socialization processes, including learning about gender roles and expectations through family, peers, media, and other cultural influences. Religious teachings play a significant role in shaping this process.
When individuals experience cognitive dissonance due to inconsistencies between their religious and sexual or gendered identities, they must find ways to resolve the tension. Psychologists suggest several strategies for doing so.
One strategy is reinterpretation, which involves changing one's understanding of religious teachings.
Someone who was raised in a faith-based community may learn new perspectives on LGBT+ issues, leading them to question traditional views. They might research scriptures, talk with clergy members, read books, or attend conferences to understand alternative interpretations. Through this process, they could come to view being LGBT+ as compatible with their faith.
Another strategy is compartmentalization, wherein individuals separate their religious and sexual or gendered identities into distinct categories. This can be helpful if they feel unable or unwilling to change either aspect of themselves. By keeping them apart, they can focus on one without letting it affect the other. Some people engage in both spiritual activities (e.g., attending services) and LGBT+ activities (e.g., attending Pride parades). Others keep these parts of themselves completely private, only revealing aspects of themselves to select groups or situations.
A third strategy is accommodation, wherein individuals modify their beliefs to align with their sexual or gendered identity. This might involve interpreting religious texts differently, prioritizing certain teachings over others, or finding loopholes to justify behaviors that contradict traditional views. One example is a gay Christian man who reads passages about marriage as referring exclusively to heterosexual relationships. Another is an intersex person who embraces nonconforming gender expressions while still subscribing to binary gender roles. This approach often requires significant mental effort and emotional work.
Some individuals seek reconciliation by modifying their religious practices. They may leave their faith community entirely or join one more accepting of LGBT+ identities. They might choose to practice within the same denomination but find a welcoming congregation or clergy member. Or they might reinterpret existing teachings to make them more inclusive.
A transgender woman might interpret Genesis as referring to God's creation of diverse human bodies, rather than gender binaries.
Psychological mechanisms allow LGBT+ individuals to navigate conflicting aspects of themselves. By changing beliefs, compartmentalizing identities, accommodating teachings, or seeking new communities, they can achieve internal harmony.
This process can be challenging and requires self-reflection, courage, and support. It is important for people in positions of power to create safe spaces for these discussions and ensure that all perspectives are heard and respected.
What psychological mechanisms allow LGBT individuals to reconcile faith-based teachings with personal sexual or gender identity?
LGBT individuals may engage in various mental processes to reconcile their personal identity with faith-based teachings that conflict with it. One way is through cognitive dissonance reduction, where they seek out alternative interpretations of religious texts and beliefs that support their identities. They might also engage in selective perception by emphasizing certain parts of religious texts while downplaying others.