Forgive me father for i have sinned: the role of a Christian upbringing on lesbian, gay, and Bisexual identity development
Jessica Lapinski and David McKirnan
Something any Catholic is familiar with is the concept of confession, also known as the sacrament of reconciliation. When one confesses, we walk inside the confession pew, kneel down and say, “Bless me Father for I have sinned,” indicating that one is ready to confess and proceed by telling the priest everything wrong that we have done since our last confession. In "Forgive Me Father for I Have Sinned: The Role of a Christian Upbringing on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Development," Jessica Lapinski and David McKirnan argue that religion can impact the sexuality of an individual since it plays a major role in when the individual chooses to accept or reject their identity. Identifying with Christianity as a heterosexual individual is completely different in comparison to an individual who identifies as part of the LGBTQ community. Those who had a Christian or religious upbringing either rejected their sexuality or ended up rejecting their faith. Many Christians become former Christians due to the lack of acceptance their religion has of gay communities.
Homophobic describe God as hostile. Having this outlook on God convinces many into believing that if they take part in homosexual activities then they will in some way receive punishment for their sins. This perspective on religion and consequences is what makes it hard for individuals to bring together their multiple identities, which leads individuals in leaving a certain religion. However, it is important to point out that many individuals have learned to integrate their sexual identity with their religion.
As Jessica Lapinski and David McKirnan show, former Christians often demonstrate that they use their Christian teachings in order to positively accept their sexuality. As a result, they exhibit “positive homosexual development” (Lapinski & McKirnan, p 866). Even though we see former Christians positively develop their sexual identity, some who identity as Christians are successfully incorporating both sexuality and religion. In other words, they are involved in a Christian faith and are able to express their sexuality, and this as a result leads into positive development and a positive identity integration.
Jessica Lapinski and David McKirnan demonstrate the important role religion and sexuality can play in an individual’s life, since it gives a sense of how they will perceive and accept themselves. That being said having supportive family, friends can positively impact a person who identifies as LGBTQ.
Lapinski, J., & Mckirnan, D. (2013). Forgive Me Father for I Have Sinned: The Role of a Christian Upbringing on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identity Development. Journal of Homosexuality, 60(6), 853-872.