Identity Matters: Religious Experiences of US based Transgender Young People

Marquisha Lawrence Scott; Jonah P DeChants; Brittanie Atteberry-Ash; N Eugene Walls

doi:10.1007/s10943-022-01723-1

Identity Matters: Religious Experiences of US based Transgender Young People

J Relig Health. 2022 Dec 22. doi: 10.1007/s10943-022-01723-1. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Marquisha Lawrence Scott¹, Jonah P DeChants², Brittanie Atteberry-Ash³, N Eugene Walls⁴

Affiliations

¹ Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2148 S. High Street, Denver, CO, 80208, USA. marquisha.scott@du.edu.
² School of Social Work, Colorado State University, 1586 Campus Deliver, Fort Collins, CO, 80523, USA.
³ School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington, Social Work Complex - A, Room 211, 211 South Cooper Street, Box 19129, Arlington, TX, 76019, USA.
⁴ Graduate School of Social Work, University of Denver, 2148 S. High Street, Denver, CO, 80208, USA.

PMID: 36547783
DOI: 10.1007/s10943-022-01723-1

Abstract

Research centered on the socioemotional benefits of religion and religious congregations for young people has highlighted largely positive outcomes for both young people and religious congregations. However, fewer studies have explored whether transgender young people receive those same socioemotional benefits from being religiously affiliated. Using secondary quantitative data from the 2015 US Transgender Survey, this study examined the religious experiences of transgender young people (aged 18-24). The data indicate that individual demographics (e.g., race, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious affiliation) affected the religious experiences of transgender young people, including leaving their congregations due to the fear of being rejected. More research is needed on the socioemotional benefits of religious affiliation for transgender young people.

Keywords: Identity; Religion; Socioemotional; Transgender; Young people.