Religious Trauma & Deconversion
Queer individuals raised in evangelical environments often face challenges reconciling their sexual or gender identity with their religious beliefs. Evangelical churches, influenced by fundamentalist views, typically reject ‘practicing’ LGBTQ+ individuals. While some promote ‘unconditional love,’ this acceptance is often limited, particularly regarding same-sex relationships. This qualitative study explores the deconversion experiences of queer individuals from evangelical backgrounds in the Netherlands through in-depth interviews with 10 participants. It examines how they navigate the dual challenges of leaving their evangelical environment, confronting religious trauma and embracing their queer identities. This paper investigates how they reclaim agency, challenge traditional religious narratives, and construct new, inclusive identities. This paper aims to fill gaps in existing literature on religious disaffiliation, highlighting the intersection of queer identity, deconversion, and personal empowerment, while providing insights into the mental and physical health implications of leaving one’s faith.