What do I want from a house of worship? Religion and the LGBTQIA+ identity

What are the ways that houses of worship can better support members of the LGBTQIA+ community? In this study, using a survey of more than 1,000 LGBTQIA+ people in the United States, we explore religious identity within the LGBTQIA+ community. Furthermore, we are interested in understanding what the experiences have been for LGBTQIA+ people in houses of worship. Through the coding of 155 qualitative responses, the authors classify five different types of actions that houses of worship take: actively discriminating, general respect, do nothing, internally welcoming, and externally welcoming. By understanding the ways that houses of worship treat the LGBTQIA+ community, as well as what LGBTQIA+ people want from houses of worship, social workers can create a stronger connection between LGBTQIA+ people and the house of worship which suits them best.