A growing number of LGBTQ+ Americans raised in Christian households are leaving the church or seeking more affirming faith communities as tensions between sexuality and religion continue across the United States. Research from the Williams Institute at UCLA shows nearly two-thirds of LGBTQ+ people raised Christian no longer identify with the faith. Experts point to longstanding anti-LGBTQ+ teachings in many major denominations as a key factor behind the shift.
While some churches, including parts of the Methodist, Presbyterian, Episcopal, and Unitarian Universalist traditions, openly welcome queer members, many conservative denominations still oppose same-sex relationships or require celibacy from gay believers. Religious researchers say younger Americans are also reshaping the future of faith in the U.S. According to Pew Research Center data, only 46% of adults ages 18 to 24 identify as Christian, compared to 80% of Americans who are 74 and older.
Younger adults are also far more likely to identify as religiously unaffiliated. Psychologists and faith leaders say LGBTQ+ inclusion has become a defining issue for many younger believers deciding whether to remain connected to religion.
