Mainline Christian Pastors’ Perspectives on Therapists Refusing To Work with Transgender and Nonbinary Clients

Abstract Some therapists continue to refuse to work with transgender and nonbinary clients by consistently referring all clients who hold a marginalized gender identity to other therapists. The rationale that therapists provide is often based on their own personal religious beliefs. Thus, this exploratory phenomenological study focused on Christian religious leaders’ perceptions and insight for therapists who refuse to work with transgender and nonbinary clients. Nineteen religious leaders from mainly diverse Mainline Christian Protestant traditions were interviewed. Queer theory-informed thematic analysis revealed two themes summarizing participants’ perceptions of family therapists referring all clients with a marginalized gender identity: (1) Therapists Should be Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive and (2) Refusal is Informed by Religious Beliefs. Additionally, two themes were identified that focused on advice religious leaders have for therapists who engage in the practice of referring all clients with a marginalized gender identity (1) Re-Examine Religious Beliefs and (2) Embrace Gender Inclusivity. These findings offer key insights for family therapists about developing competent and ethical clinical practices with transgender and nonbinary clients.