Qualitative study uncovers four core phases of parental acceptance among Latter-day Saints, highlighting how faith reconstruction supports LGB youth well-being.
Family acceptance is strongly associated with improved mental health outcomes for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) youth. Using podcast interviews with members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (CJCLDS), we use interpretative phenomenological analysis to explore how CJCLDS parents came to accept their lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) child. We analyzed 10 episodes and produced four themes characterizing families’ acceptance journeys: Self-education and internal reflection/growth, creating support and finding community, encouraging spirituality, and sacred advocacy and spiritual work. We expound on these themes demonstrating how parents navigated thorny church culture and doctrinal issues, ultimately leaning into their faith in a loving God. Implications include research on theological affirmation for LGBTQ+ youth as well as clinicians helping parents strive for maintaining connection and flexibility with their LGBTQ+ children.
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Peterson et al. (2026) studied this question.
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