Last spring, LGBTQ Andrews University students planned a bake sale to raise funds for a regional LGBTQ youth housing/anti-homelessness project. Thanks to off-campus attention, the students raised thousands of dollars from hundreds of donors around the US.
Over a year later, Andrews University researchers are still contributing to this conversation in their own professional way.
Curtis Vanderwaal, chair of Andrews University’s social work department, and David Sedlacek, professor of family ministry and discipleship, have co-developed a survey-based study to gather qualitative data on LGBTQ Adventist youth and young adults’ experiences with relatives, peers, and their church.
What’s it like for this demographic as they learn about their gender and sexuality and/or disclose it to others? What feedback do they receive from their families or friends? What roles do their congregations or community leaders play in their story?
The survey invites responses from LGBTQ people from an Adventist background who are currently between 18 and 35 years old. Active church membership is not required.
It isn’t a quick survey. Questions include items on family acceptance and rejection, and other topics that might be challenging.
But this study gives people in this demographic an opportunity to share their experiences frankly and contribute to the community record. The researchers are following standard research and data collection protocols with the survey design and with the way they’ll store and process submitted responses.
Expect to hear their reports on this study by the end of the summer.
A note from one of the researchers, Curtis Vanderwaal:
This research study is examining the impact of growing up Seventh-day Adventist and LGBT+, particularly focusing on the role that families played as LGBT+ adolescents explored and expressed their sexuality and identity. We are requesting that ONLY persons who grew up Seventh-day Adventist, identify as LGBT+ and are between 18 – 35 years old complete this survey. Participants DO NOT need to be current members or attend the SDA church.
This survey should take approximately 20-25 minutes. We know this is a long survey, but we believe the wide range of issues we included are important in understanding the Adventist LGBT+ experience. Your participation will be completely anonymous.
After completing the survey, PLEASE use email, Facebook and other forms of social media to distribute this message and link to LGBT+ friends and family members who grew up Seventh-day Adventist and are between 18-35 years old. We believe this survey is the first of its kind in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. You can complete the survey at the following link:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/LGBTAdventist
—Curt
If you meet the criteria for this survey, consider participating. If you know people who meet the criteria, share it with them.
Thank you!