Abstract
Purpose
While many studies have addressed the intersection between sexual orientation and religious/spiritual identity development, few studies have explicitly explored the interaction between transgender and gender diverse (TGGD) identities and religious/spiritual identity development. As such, the role of religion in TGGD identity development is not well understood, particularly as to how experiences in childhood may shape current identities.
Materials and methods
The authors analyzed a series of semi-structured interviews with seven TGGD individuals. The participants were all assigned female at birth (AFAB) andhad been raised in the Christian faith. Interview questions focused on participants’ experiences with gender and religious identity development during childhood and adolescence.
Results
Four major themes emerged among participants: invisibility within faith communities, rejection, conflict/ambivalence about gender and religion, and intellectual curiosity (e.g., questioning religious doctrine).
Conclusion
Implications for identity development, clinical intervention, and faith community outreach are discussed regarding TGGD people who were AFAB.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.