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Petula Sik Ying Ho - Pray the Gay Away: Identity Conflict between Christianity and Sexuality in Hong Kong Sexual Minorities

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Petula Sik Ying Ho - Pray the Gay Away: Identity Conflict between Christianity and Sexuality in Hong Kong Sexual Minorities

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Research Methods: Qualitative research, Ethnographic Research

semi-structured in-depth interviews

focus group discussions

Research Participants:

28 Christian sexual minorities in HK

including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender individuals, and pro-gay heterosexual allies.

Age range: 16-50 yo

Data Analysis

Thematic Analysis

word-for-word transcription > coding

Finding:

Sources of Stress for LGBT+ Christians

Religious Discourse and Oppression

churches frame homosexuality as a sin or a disorder that can be "cured."

LGBT+ Christians struggle with theological hegemony, where dominant church narratives force them to reject their identities.

Family and Social Expectations

Confucian (儒家) values, particularly filial piety (孝道), create pressure for LGBT+ individuals to marry and have children.

Some families enforce "silent disapproval", where LGBT+ identities are neither discussed nor accepted.

Discrimination in Schools and Churches

Church sermons repeatedly framed homosexuality as immoral, leading to guilt and internalized homophobia among LGBT+ Christians.

Coping strategies:

Concealment: hid sexual orientation > emotional isolation.

Compartmentalization: adopted different identities in different social spaces:

Heteronormative roles in church

Openly LGBT+ within their social circles

internal conflict and psychological distress.

Confrontation: directly challenged church teachings, engaging in theological debates with pastors; joined LGBT+ advocacy movements

Seeking alternative spaces: left traditional churches and joined LGBT+ affirming Christian communities, safe space to maintain their faith without compromising their identity.

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MA Research Paper:

The length of the Paper should be 6000-9000 in English; 9000-12000 in Chinese, including references.

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基恩之家 Blessed Ministry Community Church

九龍佑寧堂 Kowloon Union Church

基督眾樂教會 One Body in Christ

Hub church

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Travis Kong - Gay and Grey: Participatory Action Research in Hong Kong (2018)

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Travis Kong - Gay and Grey: Participatory Action Research in Hong Kong (2018)

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Research Method:

Initially started as an oral history research project transformed into Participatory Action Research

evolved into a self-help group older (60+) gay men in HK

Difficulties currently faced by older gay men

Many older gay men in HK spent most of their lives hiding their identities, with some even marrying women.

They experience severe social isolation, as there are few Gay inclusive elder care services.

The younger Gay community often marginalizes older individuals, reinforcing their invisibility.

The Impact of Community Engagement:

Through the support group, they built a sense of belonging and empowerment.

Community-based initiatives helped raise awareness about the challenges faced by older gay men.

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As older gay men faced marginalisation, they created alternative networks in response to social exclusion. I think this is similar to the way Christian LGBTQ+ individuals form their own support systems. Maybe I can explore how LGBTQ+ Christians establish these networks to cope with exclusion from mainstream churches...?

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CULS5215 MA Research Paper proposal_CHOI CHIU WING_1155205636

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Interview Consent Form (Chinese Version)_r1

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Leader？

離教者？

4-5個

亦可用現有資源作例子

要注意ethics of interview!

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#Hong Kong Christian

#LGBT

#Intersectionality

#Christianity

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問題：係咪應該將範圍收窄至同性戀基督徒instead of LGBT+基督徒係咪會好啲

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問題：係咪應該將範圍收窄至同性戀基督徒instead of LGBT+基督徒係咪會好啲

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我目前訪問咗6個人

3位係Lesbian，其中一位嘅性別認同係non-binary;

3位係Gay，其中一位嘅性別認同係non-binary

定係我應該再搵下一啲香港BT+ Christian 例子（二手資料）

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Travis Kong - Disclosure as Family Practice: Changing Family Dynamics in Hong Kong after a Gay Son Comes Out (2023)

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Travis Kong - Disclosure as Family Practice: Changing Family Dynamics in Hong Kong after a Gay Son Comes Out (2023)

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Research Method

Qualitative study based on 35 in-depth interviews with 15 gay sons, 14 mothers and 6 fathers.

Non-probability purposive sampling, selecting individuals from diverse social, educational, and religious backgrounds.

Analytical Framework:

“Doing Family” Theory: Views family not as a fixed institution but as a dynamic social practice.

Life Course Approach: Connects individual life experiences with broader historical and social transformations.

Moral and Emotional Economy: How families navigate the moral and emotional challenges of a son coming out.

Key Question:

How does a gay son negotiate his gay identity, and how do his parents reconcile that identity with heteronormative family life? (i.e. how does gay sons' sexual orientation disclosure affect the moral and emotional economy of everyday family practices?)

Key Findings:

Challenge to Heteronormative Family Life:

A son’s coming out forces the family to acknowledge and negotiate the presence of a queer component within the family.

Both sons and parents attempt to construct a socially acceptable gay identity by adopting sexual essentialism (viewing homosexuality as inborn) and conforming to the “good homosexual” image (e.g. being career-focused, getting a decent job , avoiding radical activism).

Shifting the Emotional Burden:

Coming out transfers the burden of the closet from the son to the parents, especially mothers.

Mothers experience significant emotional distress as they struggle with societal pressures to hide their son’s sexuality from relatives and the community.

Identity Construction in Social Context:

Younger gay men in HK have more resources (social media, LGBT+ support networks) than older generations but still face strong traditional family expectations.

The high cost of living in HK > young adults continue to live with their parents > intensifying family influence on their personal lives and delaying full independence.

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How LGBT+ Christians manage their faith-related emotional burden within religious communities?

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Disclosure as family practice- Changing familydynamics in Hong Kong after a gay son comes out

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做咗一次訪問先！

Send Sample consent form & Questions to Prof Tan

Interview

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中文/ 英文有咩問題要考慮？

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其實寫論文用中文定英文好？

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Travis Kong - Be a Responsible and Respectable Man: Two Generations of Chinese Gay Men Accomplishing Masculinity in Hong Kong (2019)​

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Travis Kong - Be a Responsible and Respectable Man: Two Generations of Chinese Gay Men Accomplishing Masculinity in Hong Kong (2019)​

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Research Methods： Life Course Approach (生命歷程方法)

Conducted in-depth interviews with two generational groups:

Older Generation: 15 older gay men (born before the 1950s)

Younger Generation: 25 younger gay men (born after 1990)

how masculinity is shaped by sociohistorical transformations in HK

Analytical Concepts

Responsibility: How Chinese masculinity is tied to fulfilling societal expectations (filial piety, marriage, financial success).

Respectability: How gay men manage their public image to align with societal norms.

Key Findings: Generational Shifts in Identity Construction:

OG:

Often married women and lived double lives due to strong societal taboos.

Homosexuality was criminalized until 1991, so many remained deeply closeted.

YG:

More likely to openly identify as gay, but still struggle with family expectations.

Must navigate both heteronormative ideals (e.g., pressure to marry) and homonormative ideals (e.g., expectations within the gay community to be fit, masculine, and financially successful)

Dual Pressures on Gay Masculinity:

Younger gay men must conform to two different standards:

The heterosexual ideal (family and society’s expectations).

The gay ideal (body image, wealth, social status within the LGBT+ community).

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Dual Pressures on "Good Christian"; How churches construct “ideal” Christian identities and impose expectations on believers?; The concept of “respectability” in religious spaces—do LGBT+ Christians adopt strategies to appear more “acceptable” within the church? I guess some of them may feel the need to hide their sexual orientation and, in doing so, compensate by emphasizing/ showing other aspects of their religious devotion or moral character. By excelling in areas such as church service, theological knowledge, or personal piety, they seek to gain respect and legitimacy within their faith communities. This strategy may help them appear more convincing and acceptable in a space where heteronormativity is often the default expectation.

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關於香港基督教LGBT的研究很少⋯⋯

Although growing interest has occurred on the part of the academics toward LGBT+ identities in Hong Kong, research concerning the perceptions of LGBT+ Christians is very scant. The existing literature mainly concentrates on the ethnographic study of LGBT+ experience, legal recognitions, and queer communities; yet, the notion of the intersection of sexuality, faith, and religious exclusion in Hong Kong's Christian context remains understudied.

In Hong Kong, LGBT+ Christians experience a disjunctive form of marginalization whereby they are subjected to instances of "otherness" twice -- firstly, by a Christian community that espouses heteronormative values and often rejects non-heterosexual identities, and secondly, by the main body of the LGBT+ community, where religiousness may at times be viewed suspiciously due to Christianity's historical opposition to queer rights.

Thus, this paper fills a significant research gap by looking at the negotiation of identity versus faith versus community rejection among LGBT+ Christians, as well as survival strategies employed to mediate religious beliefs with one's sexual orientation. In this regard, this paper envision the discussion further contributing to the large debates on religious inclusivity, processes of identity negotiation, and the changing roles of faith communities in Hong Kong.

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Denise Tang - Everyday Erotics in Urban Density: An Ethnography of Older Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Hong Kong (2021)

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Denise Tang - Everyday Erotics in Urban Density: An Ethnography of Older Lesbian and Bisexual Women in Hong Kong (2021)

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Research Methods:

Qualitative ethnographic study: Conducted in-depth interviews with 12 older lesbians and bisexual women (60+ years old) in HK.

Participant observation: Engaged in daily activities such as community events, shopping, and doctor’s visits.

Theoretical framework: urban neoliberalism and disjunctive modernity -> how urban space affects

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Denise Tang - Of Longing and Waiting: An Inter-Asia Approach to Love and Intimacy Among Older Lesbians and Bisexual Women (2022)

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Denise Tang - Of Longing and Waiting: An Inter-Asia Approach to Love and Intimacy Among Older Lesbians and Bisexual Women (2022)

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Research Methods: Qualitative interviews & participant observation conducted in HK, SG, and TW.

Inter-Asia comparative approach: How Confucian (儒家) family values and Asian modernity shape LGBT+ relationships across different cultural contexts.

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Home >Research Integrity > Research Ethics Compliance > HREC: Sample Consent and Related Forms

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一、研究背景

在香港，基督教雖然不是主流宗教，但其影響力卻不容忽視，尤其是在教育、社會政策和倫理議題上的發聲。許多香港的基督教會團體對LGBT+群體持明確的反對立場，並強調傳統的異性戀規範（heteronormativity）。在這樣的宗教環境下，LGBT+基督徒的身份建構面臨極大的挑戰，他們不僅需要面對來自社會大眾的歧視，也要面對來自自己所信仰的宗教的壓力。

這種壓力往往以「愛的語言」包裝，例如：「我們愛罪人，但恨惡罪」，但實際上，這樣的話語在無形中強化了LGBT+信徒的內在衝突。許多LGBT+基督徒從小在教會中成長，接受基督教教義的教育，被教導「同性戀是一種罪」，「同性戀者無法進入天國」，甚至有信徒被送往「拗直治療」（Conversion Therapy）或接受「祈禱治療」（Pray the Gay Away），希望透過宗教的力量改變其性取向。然而，當他們發現自己的性取向無法改變時，便陷入信仰與自我身份的矛盾之中，這種內在衝突可能導致嚴重的心理壓力、焦慮甚至抑鬱。

在這樣的情境下，許多LGBT+基督徒面對「雙重他者」的處境。一方面，他們作為LGBT+群體的一員，受到社會異性戀霸權（heteronormativity）和基督教傳統教義的壓制；另一方面，他們作為基督徒，又無法完全融入本地的LGBT+社群，因為部分LGBT+社群對宗教持懷疑或批判態度。因此，他們同時被主流教會排斥，也可能被某些激進LGBT+群體質疑，使他們在宗教與性別身份之間感到孤立。

此外，教會作為社會權力機構之一，不僅掌控著宗教話語，也影響著社會倫理與價值觀。傅柯（Michel Foucault）提出「權力／知識」（Power/Knowledge）概念，認為權力機構能夠透過話語生產知識，進而影響個體對自身身份的理解。在香港，主流教會的「知識生產」體系對LGBT+議題的定義往往以傳統異性戀規範為核心，導致許多信徒對LGBT+群體抱持負面態度。因此，LGBT+基督徒的身份認同問題，不僅是個人層面的信仰挑戰，更是一種受到社會與宗教結構性壓迫的結果。

在這樣的背景下，本研究希望探討香港LGBT+基督徒如何在教會的壓力下形塑自身的主體性（subjectivity），以及他們如何尋找或創造新的空間，以調和自身的性取向與信仰認同。

二、研究動機

本研究的動機源於香港LGBT+基督徒所面臨的獨特困境。他們並非單純的LGBT+群體，也並非單純的基督徒，而是同時擁有這兩種身份，並因此承受來自雙方的壓力。對於這群人而言，他們的信仰並非可以輕易割捨的個人信念，而是一種深植於文化、家庭和生活方式中的價值體系。然而，他們的性取向卻與主流基督教教義相衝突，這使得他們在教會內部受到排擠，在社會上則感到孤立。本研究希望透過深入訪談，揭示這群人的掙扎與抗爭，並探討他們如何在這種矛盾與衝突中重新塑造自身身份。

LGBT+基督徒並不像一般的基督徒或LGBT+群體那樣能夠輕易找到歸屬感。他們既無法完全融入主流教會，又可能在某些LGBT+社群中遭受冷落。因此，他們的處境極為特殊及邊緣。本研究希望能夠深入理解這群人的心理狀態、信仰掙扎以及如何在矛盾中尋找出路。

其次，香港的主流教會在LGBT+議題上的態度仍然保守，甚至敵視LGBT+群體。許多教會將LGBT+身份視為「試煉」或「罪」，使得LGBT+基督徒在信仰與身份認同之間產生嚴重衝突，甚至教會視之為一種二元對立，如果仍信神，便應該要放棄異性戀之外的性取向。本研究希望能夠推動更廣泛的對話，讓教會開始正視這個議題，進一步思考如何面對LGBT+信徒的掙扎，促使宗教群體朝向更具共容性的方向發展。

在面對教會壓力時，LGBT+基督徒採取了不同的應對方式。有些人選擇隱藏身份，繼續留在主流教會；有些人則轉向更具開放性的基督徒團體，例如同志基督徒團契（Affirming Christian Fellowship）。另外，也有部分人運用酷兒神學（Queer Theology）重新詮釋聖經，使信仰能夠與其性取向共存。本研究希望能夠分析這些不同的應對策略，並探討其可行性與侷限。

目前，香港關於宗教與LGBT+議題的學術研究仍然較為有限，尤其是在LGBT+基督徒的經驗方面更是缺乏詳細探討。何式凝教授的 "Pray the Gay Away" 一文雖然對此議題進行了初步研究，但仍然有許多值得深入探討的面向，例如不同教會的回應方式、LGBT+基督徒的心理狀態與信仰重構過程等。本研究希望能夠補足這方面的學術空白，為未來相關研究提供參考依據。

總結而言，本研究希望透過深入的質性研究，記錄香港LGBT+基督徒的聲音，並探討他們如何在信仰與性別身份的矛盾中尋找平衡與歸屬。希望本研究能夠為未來的宗教改革與社會包容性對話提供貢獻，讓LGBT+基督徒能夠擁有更公平與尊重的生存空間。