The conflict between personal conscience, communal norms, and institutional authority is common among all religious groups, but it is especially acute for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and other non-heterosexually-identifying believers. In fact, this conflict has been one of the major factors behind the exclusion of LGBTQ people from many faith communities throughout history. This essay will explore how LGBTQ believers negotiate ethical conflicts related to sex, sexuality, and intimate relationships within their religious contexts.
The first thing that LGBTQ believers must consider when dealing with issues of sexuality is whether they are following God's commandments. Many religions have explicit laws regarding sexual behavior, including homosexual activity, adultery, premarital sex, and various forms of pornography. While some religions may allow same-sex partnerships or marriages, others prohibit them altogether. Some may permit same-sex relations in certain circumstances, such as same-sex marriage for those who cannot conceive children. The Torah, Bible, Quran, and Hadith all prohibit male-on-male anal intercourse, which is considered a sin punishable by death (Lev.18:22; Lev.20:13; Romans 1:27; Corinthians 6:9).
According to Islamic teaching, homosexual acts between men are forbidden because they violate the natural order established by Allah.
Personal conscience can also be an important factor in determining what constitutes acceptable behavior.
While Catholicism condemns both extramarital and non-procreative sex, it allows married couples to engage in genital stimulation without orgasm so long as there is no desire for pleasure. This approach is based on the idea that any sex act not intended for procreation is a sin.
Other denominations believe that even married people should abstain from genital touching unless seeking conception. Similarly, many Protestant churches accept transgender individuals but only if they commit to living as their biological gender. LGBTQ believers must weigh these different views when making decisions about sexuality within their religious community.
Communal norms are also a significant influence on ethical conflicts related to sex and intimacy. While some communities are open to LGBTQ members, others have strict rules against them. In some cases, this may lead to shunning or excommunication.
Many Pentecostal churches consider homosexuality to be sinful and refuse to allow same-sex marriage ceremonies. Some conservative evangelical groups reject LGBTQ identity altogether, claiming that such feelings stem from childhood trauma rather than innate characteristics. They often cite Scripture to support their position, which includes passages condemning sodomy (Genesis 19:4-5) and describing homosexuality as an abomination (Leviticus 18:22).
Institutional authority plays a role in ethical conflicts involving LGBTQ members. While some denominations welcome LGBTQ individuals into leadership roles, others bar them entirely. Many Christian leaders argue that allowing gay ministers would undermine their moral authority and harm the church's witness. This has led to numerous debates over whether gays can serve as clergy, elders, deacons, or even missionaries.
Negotiating ethical conflicts between personal conscience, communal norms, and institutional authority is complex for all religious people but especially so for LGBTQ believers. While some denominations accept homosexual activity or transgender identity, others prohibit it outright. Those who wish to remain within their faith community must carefully weigh these factors when making decisions about sexuality and intimacy.
How do LGBTQ believers negotiate ethical conflicts between institutional authority, communal norms, and personal conscience?
The experience of being both a religious and LGBTQ believer can often lead to conflict due to the differing belief systems regarding gender identity and sexuality within many traditional faith communities. This conflict has been explored extensively in research literature, with some studies suggesting that individuals may feel pressure to choose between their identities (Chong et al. , 2018).