Reconciling christianity and positive non-heterosexual identity in adolescence, with implications for psychological well-being

Journal of Gay and Lesbian Issues in Education

Volumn 2, Issue 3, 2005, Pages 19-36

  Ream, Geoffrey L ^a   Savin Williams, Ritch C ^a  

^a Department of Obstetrics Gynecology   (United States)

Author keywords

Adolescence; Christianity; Depression; Internalized homophobia; Religion; Self esteem; Youth

Indexed keywords

EID: 41449092508     PISSN: 15410889     EISSN: 15410870     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1300/J367v02n03_03     Document Type: Article

References (56)

1. Allen, D., and Oleson, T., 1999. Shame and internalized homophobia in gay men. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Issues in Education, 37(3):33–43.
2. American Psychological Association. 1999. “Just the facts about sexual orientation & youth:A primer for principals, educators and school personnel”. Available online at Last accessed April 30, 2004
3. Associated Press. 2004. School board rejects discrimination code Available online at Last accessed April 30, 2004
4. Bhugra, D., 1997. Coming out by South Asian gay men in the United Kingdom. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 26(5):547–557.
5. Birken, L., 1997. Homosexuality and totalitarianism. Journal of Homosexuality, 33(1):1–16.
6. Bontempo, D., and D'Augelli, A., 2002. Effects of at-school victimization and sexual orientation on lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths' health risk behavior. Journal of Adolescent Health, 30(5):364–374.
7. Callahan, C., 2000. Schools that have not protected and worked with gay and lesbian students have been sanctioned by the courts. Education, 121(2):313–326.
8. Diamond, S., 1998. Not by politics alone:The enduring influence of the Christian Right. New York:Guilford Press.
9. Dobson, J., 2001. Bringing up boys. Wheaton, IL:Tyndale House.
10. Donahue, M., 1995. Religion and the well-being of adolescents. Journal of Social Issues, 51(2):145–160.
11. Downey, J., and Friedman, R., 1995. Internalized homophobia in lesbian relationships. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 23(3):435–447.
12. Downey, J., and Friedman, R., 1996. “The negative therapeutic reaction and self-hatred in gay and lesbian patients.”. In Textbook of homosexuality and mental health Edited by:Cabaj, R., and Stein, T., 471–484. Washington, DC:American Psychiatric Press.
13. Dupras, A., 1994. Internalized homophobia and psychosexual adjustment among gay men. Psychological Reports, 75:23–28.
14. Ellison, C., 1993. Religious involvement and self-perception among Black Americans. Social Forces, 71(4):1027–1055.
15. Friedman, R., and Downey, J., 1995. Internalized homophobia and the negative therapeutic reaction. Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis, 23(1):99–113.
16. Friedman, R., and Downey, J., 1999. Internalized homophobia and gender-valued self-esteem in the psychoanalysis of gay patients. Psychoanalytic Review, 86(3):325–347.
17. Friedman, R., and Downey, J., 2002. Sexual orientation and psychoanalysis:Sexual science and clinical practice. New York:Columbia University Press.
18. Goldstein, R., 1999. The “faggot” factor. The Village Voice, May 11:60–61.
19. Gray, E., and Thumma, S., 1997. “The Gospel Hour:Liminality, identity, and religion in a gay bar.”. In Contemporary American religion:An ethnographic reader Edited by:Becker, P., and Eisland, N., 79–98. Walnut Creek, CA:AltaMira.
20. Green, K., and Lieberman, B., 2001. Bullying, ridicule of Williams were routine, friends say. San Diego Union-Tribune, March 10:A1
21. Griffiths, B., Dixon, C., Stanley, G., and Weiland, R., 2001. Religious orientation and attitudes towards homosexuality:A functional analysis. Australian Journal of Psychology, 53(1):12–17.
22. Herek, G., 1996. “Heterosexism and homophobia.”. In Textbook of homosexuality and mental health Edited by:Cabaj, R., and Stein, T., 101–113. Washington, DC:American Psychiatric Press.
23. Herman, D., 1997. The antigay agenda. Chicago:University of Chicago Press.
24. Herr, K., 1997. “Learning lessons from school:Homophobia, heterosexism, and the construction of failure.”. In School experiences of gay and lesbian youth Edited by:Harris, M., 51–64. New York:Harrington Park Press.
25. Hershberger, S., and D'Augelli, A., 1995. The impact of victimization on the mental health and suicidality of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths. Developmental Psychology, 31(1):65–74.
26. Hershberger, S., Pilkington, N., and D'Augelli, A., 1997. Predictors of suicide attempts among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth. Journal of Adolescent Research, 12(4):477–497.
27. Hetrick, E., and Martin, A., 1987. Developmental issues and their resolution for gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Homosexuality, 14(1–2):25–43.
28. Kelley, J., and De Graaf, N., 1997. National context, parental socialization, and religious belief:Results from 15 nations. American Sociological Review, 62:639–659.
29. Kinsey, A., Pomeroy, W., and Martin, C., 1948. Sexual behavior in the human male. Philadelphia:Saunders.
30. Kryzan, C., and Walsh, J., 2000. Outproud/Oasis Internet Survey of Queer and Questioning Youth Available online at Last accessed April 1, 2004
31. LaBarbera, P., 2003. “Heath to confront biased “Civil Rights Team Project” in Maine”. Available online at Last accessed April 30, 2004
32. Lukenbill, W., 1998. Observations on the corporate culture of a gay and lesbian congregation. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(3):440–452.
33. Malyon, A., 1982. Psychotherapeutic implications of internalized homophobia in gay men. Journal of Homosexuality, 7(2–3):59–69.
34. Morris, P., 2002. Redemptive therapy:The science of Christian counseling Available online at Last accessed April 30, 2004
35. Pargament, K., Smith, B., Koenig, H., and Perez, L., 1998. Patterns of positive and negative religious coping with major life stressors. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 37(4):710–724.
36. Pastorino, E., Dunham, R., Kidwell, J., Bacho, R., and Lamborn, S., 1997. Domain-specific gender comparisons in identity development among college youth:Ideology and relationships. Adolescence, 32(127):559–577.
37. Ream, G., 2003a. “Religion and sexual orientation in America.”. In Encyclopedia of human ecology Edited by:Miller, J., Lerner, R., Schiamberg, L., and Anderson, P., Vol. 2, 608–613. Santa Barbara, CA:ABC-Clio. I-Z,)
38. Ream, G., 2003b. Religion's role in the development of youth Available online at Last accessed October 28, 2003
39. Ream, G., and Savin-Williams, R., “Religion and the educational experiences of adolescents”. In Adolescence and education, volume IV:Contemporary practices and challenges in the education of adolescents. Edited by:Urdan, T., and Pajares, F., Green-wich, CT:Information Age Publishing. (in press). In
40. Ream, G., and Witt, P., 2003. “Organizations serving all ages.”. In Handbook of youth development Edited by:Hamilton, S., and Hamilton, M., 49–74. Thousand Oaks, CA:Sage.
41. Rosenberg, M., 1979. Conceiving the self. New York:Basic Books.
42. Savin-Williams, R., 1990. Gay and lesbian youth:Expressions of identity. New York:Hemisphere.
43. Savin-Williams, R., 2001. A critique of research on sexual-minority youths. Journal of Adolescence, 24(1):5–13.
44. Savin-Williams, R., and Diamond, L., 1999. “Sexual orientation.”. In Developmental issues in the clinical treatment of children Edited by:Silverman, W., and Ollendick, T., 241–258. Boston, MA:Allyn & Bacon.
45. Savin-Williams, R., and Diamond, L., 2000. Sexual identity trajectories among sexual-minority youths:Gender comparisons. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 29(6):607–627.
46. Taylor, K., 2003. All for one?. Principal Leadership, 3 January:65–68.
47. Thumma, S., 1991. Negotiating a religious identity:The case of the gay Evangelical. Sociological Analysis, 52(4):333–347.
48. Tomsho, R., 2002. Schools' efforts to protect gays face opposition. Wall Street Journal, February 20:B1
49. Udry, J., and Chantala, K., 2002. Risk assessment of adolescents with same-sex relationships. Journal of Adolescent Health, 31(1):84–92.
50. Wagner, G., Serafini, J., Rabkin, J., Remien, R., and Williams, J., 1994. Integration of one's religion and homosexuality:A weapon against internalized homophobia?. Journal of Homosexuality, 26(4):91–110.
51. White, M., 1994. Stranger at the gate. New York:Simon & Schuster.
52. Wood, M., 2000. How we got this way:The sciences of homosexuality and the Christian right. Journal of Homosexuality, 38(3):19–40.
53. Yip, A., 1996. Gay Christians and their participation in the gay subculture. Deviant Behavior:An Interdisciplinary Journal, 17:297–318.
54. Yip, A., 1997. Attacking the attacker:Gay Christians talk back. British Journal of Sociology, 48(1):113–127.
55. Yip, A., 2002. The persistence of faith among nonheterosexual Christians:Evidence for the neosecularization thesis of religious transformation. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 41(2):199–212.
56. ZENIT. November 16, 2003 2003. Recognizing and treating same-sex attractions in children:Father John Harvey gives tips for parents November 16, 2003, (. Available online at Last accessed April 30, 2004