Abstract
The study examined how religious frameworks act as obstacles to the healthy self-identity development/self-disclosure of LGBTQ individuals. A non-probability, purposive sample was utilized to collect data from 25 self-identified LGBTQ undergraduate/graduate students at California State University, Sacramento. Based on answers to the Likert scale statements, a religious framework score and a sexual identity score was assigned to each respondent. The study findings revealed that respondents’ religious framework scores had a weak correlation with respondents sexual identity score and this correlation was not statistically significant. However, the study findings indicated that particular religious framework variables, such as going to church, spending time in prayer, trying to live one’s life according to one’s religion, and having a sense of God/spiritual presence were correlated with negative impacts to one’s sexual identity. Furthermore, religious framework score was correlated with the respondents’ need to not self-disclose their sexual identity, keep it secret, or keep careful control over who knows of their sexual identity. There were additional negative sexual identity components and other negative religious framework variables that were correlated with respondents religious framework scores. Recommendations include the need for additional training to help professionals on sexual identity development, the ‘coming out process’, and how religious frameworks influence and affect the identity development of LGBTQ individuals. Additional mezzo and macro level recommendations are for social workers to assess and engage families about their religious frameworks and the sexual identity development of young adults, with an in-depth understanding of the processes, such as, conversion therapy and any therapy/intervention that devalues an individual’s sexual identity.