{"id":2088,"date":"2019-06-21T08:00:45","date_gmt":"2019-06-21T13:00:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/?p=2088"},"modified":"2019-06-15T21:41:20","modified_gmt":"2019-06-16T02:41:20","slug":"religion-sexuality-and-social-change","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thesocietypages.org\/trot\/2019\/06\/21\/religion-sexuality-and-social-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Religion, Sexuality, and Social Change"},"content":{"rendered":"
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LGBT Celebration at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C. Photo by Elvert Barnes, Flickr CC<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Originally published on June 29, 2018.<\/em><\/p>\n

In the United States, tension between religious institutions and the LGBT community persists, even after the legalization of same-sex marriage. While some faith groups are becoming <\/span>open and affirming<\/span><\/a>, the recent Supreme Court decision in <\/span>Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission<\/span><\/i><\/a> and stories of LGBTQIA+ exclusion at religiously-affiliated institutions like <\/span>Hope College<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>Wheaton College<\/span><\/a> show continued conflict between religion and sexuality, even in an era when Americans have become more accepting of same-sex relationships. Social science research shows that these challenges continue, but it also demonstrates how people don’t always have to choose between faith and being faithful to who they are. <\/span><\/p>\n

Religious institutions are clearly changing. Even churches without formal welcoming statements often accept LGBT members, sometimes in contrast to the policies of their national organizations. At the same time, queer students are both learning to navigate their identities on religious campuses, and engaging in direct activism to create more welcoming and inclusive organizations.<\/h5>\n