Abstract
Conflict experienced by LGBT people in the process of integrating their sexual identity and their religious/spiritual identity, though not exclusive to LGBT people of African descent, is especially culturally relevant for people of African descent. Researchers or practitioners who address the population should inquire about the individuals’ experiences and attitudes around the issue of religiosity. LGBT people of African descent have likely been enculturated from an early age to embrace some form of worship experience. The intersecting identities of race, sexuality, and religious/spiritual self may together strongly inform their sense of self. The salience of race cannot be overlooked as it relates to ancestral baggage and concerns about how Black people are sexually perceived in society. Scriptures or other religious writings that may appear to condemn same sex sexuality may be employed by heterosexual people of African descent in order to gain compliance with compulsory heterosexuality. Compulsory heterosexuality may also be upheld as the norm due to misinformation or lack of information about the diversity of Black sexuality throughout the history of Black people. The healthiest of LGBT people of African descent are likely to be those whose thoughts do not include notions of an undesired self. Those who have a healthy integration of sexual identity and religious/spiritual identity will likely be those who have cognitively restructured their attitudes about religion, are open to new spiritual experiences, and have a relatively high global self esteem.
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Lewis, M.K., Marshall, I. (2012). Religion and Spirituality. In: LGBT Psychology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-0565-8_3
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