The idea of community evokes a sense of belonging and connectedness with others. Community life can, however, be troublesome for those who are part of a community that rejects their sexual identity. This paper presents findings from a phenomenological study that involved in-depth interviews with 23 same-sex-attracted Mormon women. Themes emerged around community experience, including sub-themes related to influence of congregations and geographic location. In addition, themes of loss of community and the rebuilding of community were explored. Findings indicate the need to build safe community spaces in which women can safely integrate their religious and their sexual identities.
Keywords: Community; LGBTQ; Mormon; USA; religious identity; same-sex attraction; women.