The Hidden Margin of Sexuality within the Clinic and the Church: Caring for the Body, Mind, and Soul of LGBTQ/SSA Christians on Side B
Micah Bucy, MD, Fort Walton Beach, FL and Mark Wells, MD, Columbus, OH
Christians with minority experiences of sexuality who remain adherent to traditional Christian sexual ethics often remain overlooked within both medical care and Christian traditions. Whether pursuing celibacy or monogamous heterosexual marriage as their relational vocation, adherents to these ethics find themselves challenged by how to use accurate yet acceptable language of self-description among both clinicians and clergy within the closet of their lived experience. Challenges navigating societal, religious, and familial pressures weigh on the physical and mental health of these adherents, but fear often prevents them from pursuing healing services out of concern that medical providers and therapists will endorse and encourage affirmation of a worldview to which these Christians do not subscribe. Simultaneously, hesitance to approach religious leaders or medical chaplains within their faith tradition with their struggles remains prevalent out of fear of rejection and isolation from their faith communities.
Considering these physical, mental, and spiritual challenges, this workshop session endeavors to engage participants in discussion of how best to provide holistic care to this marginal population. Education will be provided to participants on the contemporary diversity of views within Christian traditions about sexuality, often referred to as Sides A, B, X, and Y. Distinguishing factors of each Side will be explored, such as whether a Side is affirming or non-affirming of same-sex marriage, whether sexual identity language is permissible, etc., alongside the recognition of variability and fluidity of language within these groups, e.g., using “gay” as a description of patterned attractions vs sexual practice. Thereafter, Side B will be discussed as an underappreciated minority of a minority within both religious traditions and LGBTQ communities, leading to erasure from consideration of their needs within environments of care.
As part of this workshop, case-based presentations will examine challenges faced within these environments of care. Turning to the ambulatory clinical setting, participants will explore how best to accommodate this population within health care. Subjects ranging from inflexibility of language for self-description in electronic medical records to the role of the clinician in exploring identification vs behavioral practice will be probed regarding their utility in serving this population. Furthermore, participants will engage their own assumptions and unconscious bias regarding this population, whether with respect to clinicians’ expectations surrounding sexual activity and testing for sexually transmitted infections, or regarding clinicians’ fears of internalized homophobia by this population.
Attention will then turn toward mental and spiritual wellbeing of Side B Christians, paying special attention to safety within therapeutic relationships and religious communities. Participants will come to recognize the specific mental health challenges faced by the population living intentionally in celibacy or in mixed-orientation marriage, as well as potential delays in seeking mental health services secondary to the history of conversion therapy and fears of unwanted affirmations of how their sexuality ought to be explored. The degrees of safety in expressing sexuality will thereafter be considered within religious communities, recognizing how these members may be actively rejected, passively tolerated, or graciously welcomed. Lastly, this workshop will highlight various groups and communities spanning these traditions to which participants may reference to help better support the Side B population.
Disclaimers: This presentation does not advocate for or against a traditional Christian sexual ethic, but recognizes the existence of the population and their need for accessible, holistic healthcare. The views presented here do not represent the views of the authors’ institutions of employment, and as such, authors have each chosen not to list an affiliation.
Considering these physical, mental, and spiritual challenges, this workshop session endeavors to engage participants in discussion of how best to provide holistic care to this marginal population. Education will be provided to participants on the contemporary diversity of views within Christian traditions about sexuality, often referred to as Sides A, B, X, and Y. Distinguishing factors of each Side will be explored, such as whether a Side is affirming or non-affirming of same-sex marriage, whether sexual identity language is permissible, etc., alongside the recognition of variability and fluidity of language within these groups, e.g., using “gay” as a description of patterned attractions vs sexual practice. Thereafter, Side B will be discussed as an underappreciated minority of a minority within both religious traditions and LGBTQ communities, leading to erasure from consideration of their needs within environments of care.
As part of this workshop, case-based presentations will examine challenges faced within these environments of care. Turning to the ambulatory clinical setting, participants will explore how best to accommodate this population within health care. Subjects ranging from inflexibility of language for self-description in electronic medical records to the role of the clinician in exploring identification vs behavioral practice will be probed regarding their utility in serving this population. Furthermore, participants will engage their own assumptions and unconscious bias regarding this population, whether with respect to clinicians’ expectations surrounding sexual activity and testing for sexually transmitted infections, or regarding clinicians’ fears of internalized homophobia by this population.
Attention will then turn toward mental and spiritual wellbeing of Side B Christians, paying special attention to safety within therapeutic relationships and religious communities. Participants will come to recognize the specific mental health challenges faced by the population living intentionally in celibacy or in mixed-orientation marriage, as well as potential delays in seeking mental health services secondary to the history of conversion therapy and fears of unwanted affirmations of how their sexuality ought to be explored. The degrees of safety in expressing sexuality will thereafter be considered within religious communities, recognizing how these members may be actively rejected, passively tolerated, or graciously welcomed. Lastly, this workshop will highlight various groups and communities spanning these traditions to which participants may reference to help better support the Side B population.
Disclaimers: This presentation does not advocate for or against a traditional Christian sexual ethic, but recognizes the existence of the population and their need for accessible, holistic healthcare. The views presented here do not represent the views of the authors’ institutions of employment, and as such, authors have each chosen not to list an affiliation.