Religion, identity formation, and effects on well-being: a study on LGBTQ+ youths in Singapore

• Main Author: Dany Alfian Bin Ashady
• Other Authors: Shirley Sun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Sociology
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/168521
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

In Singapore, there has been contention between religious communities and the LGBTQ+ community; recently highlighted after the decriminalisation of an anti-gay law. However, what about LGBTQ+ individuals who also identify with a religion? This paper explores how youths in Singapore who are LGBTQ+ and religious form their identities and navigate their experiences within religious communities. The study also looks at how these experiences impact their mental well-being. By interviewing 19 LGBTQ+ religious Muslim and Christian youths on such issues, along with observing events at an LGBTQ+ friendly Muslim organisation and secondary research from an LGBTQ+ friendly Christian Church, several insights were determined. Relationship with God, alternative interpretations to fit the LGBTQ+ identity with religion, and approach from religious communities and religious family members affect identity formation. These then determine a sense of achievement or separation of identities in terms of mental well-being of these youths.