Gay and lesbian christians: Homosexual and religious identity integration in the members and participants of a gay-positive church

In this study we explore individual's experiences of identity integration b etween their sexual orientation and religious beliefs. Using both qualitati ve and quantitative research methods, we examined identity integration in f orty members and participants of the Metropolitan Community Church of New Y ork (MCC/NY), a gay-positive church located in Mid-town Manhattan, The surv ey and interview data collected showed that: (1) a majority of the research participants reported that they had successfully integrated their homosexu al and religious identities, (2) being integrated was related to higher rol e involvement at MCC/NY, being a member of the church, attending more MCC/N Y workship services and activities/ministries, and attending MCC/NY fore mo re years, (3) lesbians were less likely than gay men to report past conflic t between their identities, and more likely to report being fully integrate d, and (4) MCC/NY played an important role in helping these participants ac hieve integration between their homosexual and religious identities.