Fighting for survival: The experiences of lesbian,gay, bisexual,transgender, and questioning students in religious colleges and universities |
| |
| Authors: | Shelley L. Craig Ashley Austin Mariam Rashidi Marc Adams |
| |
| Affiliation: | 1. University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canadashelley.craig@utoronto.ca;3. Barry University, Miami Shores, Florida, USA;4. Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;5. Heartstrong, Inc., Seattle, Washington, USA |
| |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACTLittle 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. |
| |
| Keywords: | gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender students religious colleges and universities hegemony religious abuse |
|
|
