Research at the Intersection of Christianity and Transgender and Gender Non Binary Identity: A Systematic Literature Review

While the impact of Christianity on the experience of lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals has been studied extensively, there is much less research on the intersection of transgender and nonbinary (TNB) individuals and Christianity. The purpose of this systematic literature review is to bring attention to this research gap, to summarize what is currently known at this intersection, and to make recommendations for future research in this field. We examined peer-reviewed articles on TNB identity and Christianity from 2012 to 2022 and found 47 articles (28 research and 19 conceptual) that met our inclusion criteria. We summarize the findings and the social work practice implications for each piece as well as for the overall scope of the research. We provide specific recommendations to help social workers, Christian leaders, and Christian laypersons move beyond dialogue to action for TNB people to exist and thrive as their full selves.