Incorporating homosexual orientation and identity within an existing religious identity : an interpretative phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Research addressing homosexuals in South Africa has markedly increased since democracy. Yet there is a dearth of research on the lived experiences of homosexuals who were or are Christian and how these individuals negotiate the two identities. Most commonly the research that does exist focuses on theological or social aspects. The primary objective of this research was to gain an understanding of psychological aspects of Eastern Cape gay men and lesbian women who were raised in Christian families and who later developed homosexual identities. This was done to examine how these participants managed to integrate the two identities. In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with thirteen people all over the age of 21 years, who had been Christian at some stage of their lives and who self-identified as homosexual. Results were analysed and discussed using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) approach. Some of the younger participants had not worked through all of the issues involved in being both Christian and homosexual. Their sexual orientation had been accepted but confusion as to their place within the Church remained, whereas older participants were found to have resolved their identity issues with respect to their homosexuality and Christianity. None of the participants chose celibacy as a viable option. Only two rejected Christianity entirely in favour of living out a homosexual lifestyle. These two participants did not commit to any particular belief system following their rejection of Christianity. One participant remains ambivalent about being homosexual and Christian. Importantly the remaining ten participants integrated the two identities by re-negotiating their Christian belief rather than their sexuality. Most of these Christian homosexuals have maintained an active participation in the Church and assert that their relationship with God is intact. However, participants claim that the role of Church authority in their lives has been significantly diminished and that essentialist Christian churches are avoided. These shifts are ascribed to the pervasive homophobia experienced by participants within those environments.