Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Conclusion

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church

  • 258 Accesses

Abstract

Returning to Fritz Klein (1978), the concluding chapter ponders, are bisexual people sociologically non-existent in churches as elsewhere? This Chapter contains conclusions drawn from interviews with bisexual Christians and bisexual pastors, supporters and educators in the UK and USA. The author discusses how churches might be more welcoming of bisexual congregants and the potential of current discussions on gender and sexuality generated by the bathroom bills to lead to more nuanced debates on human sexuality. She ponders what a positive bisexual identity might look like and highlights the need for bisexual people to mobilise at national/international level. The mental health implications for bisexual Christians are also outlined, if bisexuality continues to be overlooked by religious and health practitioners.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Alford-Harkey, M. H., & Haffner, D. W. (2014). Bisexuality: Making the Invisible Visible in Faith Communities. Westport: The Religious Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E. (2008). “Being Masculine Is Not About Who You Sleep with…:” Heterosexual Athletes Contesting Masculinity and the One-Time Rule of Homosexuality. Sex Roles, 58(1–2), 104–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, E., & McCormack, M. (2016). The Changing Dynamics of Bisexual Men’s Lives Social Research Perspectives. New York: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barker, M. J. (2015). Depression and/or Oppression? Bisexuality and Mental Health. Journal of Bisexuality, 15(3), 369–384.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Barker, M., Richards, C., Jones, R., Bowes-Catton, H., Plowman, T., Yockney, J., & Morgan, M. (2012). The Bisexuality Report: Bisexual Inclusion in LGBT Equality and Diversity. Milton Keynes: The Open University Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance and Faculty of Health and Social Care.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang, H. (2016). Autoethnography as Method. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Charmaz, K. (2006). Constructing Grounded Theory: A Practical Guide Through Qualitative Analysis. London: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Church of England. (1991). Issues in Human Sexuality. London: Church House Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Colledge, L., Hickson, F., Reid, D., & Weatherburn, P. (2015). Poorer Mental Health in UK Bisexual Women than Lesbians: Evidence from the UK 2007 Stonewall Women’s Health Survey. Journal of Public Health, 37(3), 427–437.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • George, S. (1993). Women and Bisexuality. London: Scarlett Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gibbs, J. J., & Goldbach, J. (2015). Religious Conflict, Sexual Identity, and Suicidal Behaviors Among LGBT Young Adults. Archives of Suicide Research, 19(4), 472–488.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gutiérrez, G. (1974). A Theology of Liberation: History, Politics and Salvation. London: SCM Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hutchins, L., & Lani, K. (Eds.). (1999). Bi Any Other Name: Bisexual People Speak Out. Los Angeles: Alyson Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, F. (1978). The Bisexual Option: A Con-cept of One Hundred Percent Intimacy. New York: Arbor House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Koenig, H. G., McCullough, M. E., & Larson, D. B. (2001). Handbook of Religion and Health. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kolodny, D. (2000). Blessed Bi Spirit: Bisexual People of Faith. London: Bloomsbury Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lingwood, S. (2010). Bi Christian Unitarian: A Theology of Transgression. Journal of Bisexuality, 10(1–2), 31–43.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Longo, J., Walls, N. E., & Wisneski, H. (2013). Religion and Religiosity: Protective or Harmful Factors for Sexual Minority Youth? Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 16(3), 273–290.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, I. H., & Frost, D. M. (2013). Minority Stress and the Health of Sexual Minorities. Handbook of Psychology and Sexual Orientation, 252–266.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ochs, R., & Rowley, S. E. (2005). Getting Bi: Voices of Bisexuals Around the World. Boston, MA: Bisexual Resource Center.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pew Research Center. (2013). US Religious Landscape Survey. http://religions.pewforum.org.

  • Ross, L. E., Dobinson, C., & Eady, A. (2010). Perceived Determinants of Mental Health for Bisexual People: A Qualitative Examination. American Journal of Public Health, 100(3), 496–502.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rust, P. C. (2003). Monogamy and Polyamory: Relationship Issues for Bisexuals. In L. Garnets & D. C. Kimmel (Eds.), Psychological Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences (p. 475). New York: Columbia University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Savin-Williams, R. C., & Vrangalova, Z. (2013). Mostly Heterosexual as a Distinct Sexual Orientation Group: A Systematic Review of the Empirical Evidence. Developmental Review, 33(1), 58–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sommers, J. (2016). 119: My Life as a Bisexual Christian. London: Darton Longman & Todd.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thatcher, A. (2014). The Oxford Handbook of Theology, Sexuality, and Gender. Oxford: Oxford University Press, USA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toft, A. (2011). Bisexual Christian Identity: A Sociological Exploration of the Life Stories of Female and Male Bisexual Christians (Doctoral dissertation), University of Nottingham.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toft, A., & Hunt, S. (2009). Bisexual Christians: The Life Stories of a Marginalized Community. Contemporary Christianity and LGBT Sexualities, 67–85.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vespone, B. M. (2016). Integrating Identities: Facilitating a Support Group for LGBTQ Students on a Christian College Campus. Christian Higher Education, 15(4), 215–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weinberg, M. S., Williams, C. J., & Pryor, D. W. (1994). Dual Attraction: Understanding Bisexuality. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolff, J. R., & Himes, H. L. (2010). Purposeful Exclusion of Sexual Minority Youth in Christian Higher Education: The Implications of Discrimination. Christian Higher Education, 9(5), 439–460.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woodhead, C., Gazard, B., Hotopf, M., Rahman, Q., Rimes, K. A., & Hatch, S. L. (2016). Mental Health Among UK Inner City Non-heterosexuals: The Role of Risk Factors, Protective Factors and Place. Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences, 25(5), 1–12.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Winchester, Winchester, UK

    Carol A. Shepherd

Authors
  1. Carol A. Shepherd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carol A. Shepherd .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 The Author(s)

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Shepherd, C.A. (2019). Conclusion. In: Bisexuality and the Western Christian Church. Palgrave Studies in Lived Religion and Societal Challenges. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94679-5_12

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-94679-5_12

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-94678-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-94679-5

  • eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation