Generational Attitudes Toward Christianity and Homosexuality
Christian views on homosexuality have long impacted American society beyond church walls. Since before the US gained sovereignty, Christian beliefs have influenced American legislation, culture, and other normative powers—often to the detriment of many non-majority groups, including non-heterosexuals. Although Christians are rapidly declining in number while the number of queer or non-heternormative adults has doubled in the last decade, large American populations remain vulnerable to discrimination in many important avenues of life.
Perhaps surprisingly, almost half of all LGBTQIA+ (including about one-third of LGB) Americans are also religious; most, in fact, are Catholic or Protestant. Historically, the perceived conflict between faith and queerness has left countless individuals grappling with the spiritual, emotional, and social complexities of Christian homosexuality. Their experiences, however, have varied significantly as the result of related generational attitudes.
Over the course of recent generations, there have been radical shifts in secular and religious views on non-heteronormativity. Here are a few facts about the general perspectives of recent generations:
Baby Boomers
About 43% of Baby Boomers (born 1946-1961) identify as religious, and Christians in this group are the least likely to view homosexuality as morally and socially acceptable, with only 32% of Christians expressing this belief. As this generation grew up, most of even secular society deemed any non-heterosexual relationship as psychologically aberrent and legally abhorrent.
Generation X and Millennials
About 53% of Generation X adults (born 1965-1980) say that religion is “very important” to them. 70% are Christian, yet about 59% of all Generation X individuals support gay marriage. Overall, the majority of Millenials (born 1981-1996) believe homosexuality should be accepted as a social norm—including 51% of Evangelical Protestants. Both Generation X and Millennials grew up in an era when homosexuality and LGBTQIA+ status were decriminalized, if not fully protected by law. It was also more widely accepted in secular, if not Christian, society.
Generation Z
Generation Z is the least religious in recent history, and is only about 56% Christian. A full 21% of Generation Z adults (born after 1997) identify as LGBTQIA+, compared with only about 10% of Millenials and less than 5% of Generation X. Of all recent generations, this one generally cares the most about equality for LGBTQIA+ individuals, and is growing up at a time when the majority of Americans support human rights protections for this group.
Major Historical Events Impacting Views on Homosexuality
Here are just a small number of ways that religion, law, politics, and social leaders have impacted generational attitudes toward homosexuality and queerness from the 1950s onward:
In 1950, a report issued by Congress labeled homosexuals as “sex perverts” and homosexuality as a mental illness that “constitutes security risks” to the nation. Being gay was illegal in all states until Illinois decriminalized it in 1962.
In the 1969 Stonewall Riots, over 400 LGBT and heterosexual people drove police away from Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, after an unprovoked raid there. This event is largely considered the beginning of the LGBT movement.
In 1970, the first gay pride parade marches were held in multiple US cities.
In the 1970s, the Christian religious right became a prominent political movement, led in part by Christian leaders Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, and it sought to prohibit same-sex marriage. Evangelical preacher Billy Graham, leader of the famous Billy Graham Crusades, is largely credited with laying the groundwork for this movement and its anti-LGBTQ rhetoric.
1981 was the beginning of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
In 1993, Congress passed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) bill allowing gay and lesbian people to serve in the military forces—if they kept their orientation secret.
In 2010, Congress passed a bill repealing DADT so that gay and lesbian people could serve openly in the military.
From 2013 to the present, Pope Francis has stated that non-heterosexual Catholics should not be judged or abandoned, but treated as family among the faithful. However, he has been careful not to fully flout Church doctrine regarding non-heterosexuals.
In 2015, the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage in all 50 states, ruling against related state bans as unconstitutional.
During his 2020-2024 term, President Biden reversed Donald Trump’s law banning transgender people from serving in the military. He also appointed Pete Buttigieg as the first openly gay Secretary of Transportation and Rachel Levine as the first openly transgender federal official (Assistant Secretary for Health).
In response to this, several conservative politicians have described the Supreme Court’s ruling to legalize same-sex marriage as a serious threat to conservative and Christian Americans.
An excellent way to explore the intersection between homosexuality and Christianity is to watch performances dealing with this subject, especially those that do so in unexpected ways. In His Hands by Benjamin Benne is a contemporary queer rom-com that promises to offer enlightening new perspectives on religion and sexuality.
See IN HIS HANDS at Mosaic Theater Company June 22 - July 17, 2022
The Mosaic Theater Company in Washington, DC produces bold, culturally diverse theater that illuminates critical issues, elevates fresh voices, and sparks connections among communities throughout our region and beyond amid the most important events of our times.
Dedicated to making our theater an inclusive model of diversity at every stratum, on stage and off, Mosaic invests in the new as we keep abreast of our changing and challenging times. We do this to ensure that our theater is a responsive gathering space, all the while nurturing and producing art of the highest order.
From June 22 through July 17, 2022, Mosaic will feature performances of Benjamin Benne’s IN HIS HANDS, directed by José Carrasquillo. Join us to witness this radically contemporary, queer rom-com that asks provocative questions about faith and desire, with a gentle and lyrical voice.
June is Pride Month! Mosaic supports and encourages its audiences to attend the Washington DC Pride Parade on June 11 and the Pride Festival on June 12, 2022.
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