Semester
Spring
Date of Graduation
2025
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Type
PhD
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Communication Studies
Committee Chair
Christine Kunkle
Committee Co-Chair
Elizabeth Cohen
Committee Member
Elizabeth Cohen
Committee Member
Megan Dillow
Committee Member
Susan Shaw
Abstract
It is not uncommon for passages from the Christian Bible to produce schisms in families, friendships, mentorships, workplace relationships, individual churches, and denominations. These challenging conversations are often around LGBTQ+ topics. Many marginalized LGBTQ+ individuals and allies in these spaces become outgroup members who feel insecure and less confident enacting aspects of their own identities or identities they support. A lack of communication efficacy for how to navigate LGBTQ+ related conversations with Christian loved ones may lead to detrimental physical, mental, and emotional outcomes.
This study surveyed 134 LGBTQ+ individuals and allies as well as conducted semi structured interviews with 24 LGBTQ+ individuals and allies to glean how effective online facilitation modules created for this research study were in increasing communication efficacyand decreasing personal-enacted identity gaps when navigating the revelation of an LGBTQ+ identity, or supporting someone with an LGBTQ+ identity among Christian others.
Results of within subjects paired t-tests reflect a .57244 increase in communication efficacy and a .36955 decrease in the personal-enacted identity gaps for LGBTQ+ individuals and allies who took part in the “COMMable Workshop” online facilitation modules. Themes emerging throughout interviews and open-ended survey data revealed that participants gaining a better understanding of where “the other side” is coming from, experiencing a sense of community that built confidence, learning relevant biblical information, and being intentionally asked to take part in self-reflection all contributed to their increases in communication efficacy. Allyship education and learning to cope with prejudice were themes that emerged contributing to decreases in personal-enacted identity gaps.
Recommended Citation
Leggett-Bradley, Samantha Renee, "Coming Out to My Christian Loved Ones: Online Workshop Effectiveness For Increasing LGBTQ+ Individuals and LGBTQ+ Ally Communication Efficacy and Impacts On Personal-Enacted Identity Gaps" (2025). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 12720.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/12720