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.

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.

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.

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:

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.

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