Sexual Identity and the Christian College Campus

One of the things I enjoy most about directing the Institute for the Study of Sexual Identity (www.sexualidentityinstitute.org) at Regent University is the opportunity to conduct original research on the topic of sexual identity in ways that are particularly relevant to the Christian community. I tend to look at how topics are studied in the mainstream gay, lesbian, and bisexual research and consider the questions that might be asked on behalf of the Christian community. Because of the ways in which the broader culture and specific organizations have engaged the topic of homosexuality and sexual identity (and fostered a kind of “culture war” approach), it has been helpful to conduct research that speaks to some of the complexities in this area. One of those questions has to do with the experiences of sexual minorities on Christian university and college campuses. (I am using the phrase “sexual minority” to simply recognize that most people do not experience same-sex attraction or have a homosexual orientation; they are in the numeric minority. I am not making a political statement or suggesting anything associated with the civil rights movement.)