The Freedom Milestones: A Grounded Theory Exploration of Transgender Youth, Religion, and Mental Health

Abstract

Research has established that more than half of transgender youth have seriously contemplated or attempted suicide. Recent survey data from The Trevor Project, the nation’s leading suicide intervention services for LGBT youth, have revealed that religion and spirituality are important to transgender youth and their mental health. This contradicts previous research which argued there existed no significant connection between transgender youth and religion. However, there exists a scarcity of research exploring the relationship between transgender youth’s mental health and religiosity. This multidisciplinary project will address this gap in the literature by asking “What role does religion or spirituality play in transgender youth’s mental health?”

To explore this inquiry, this dissertation integrates contributions from women’s spirituality, feminist thought, and queer theory to implement a constructivist grounded theory methodology. Twelve youth, ages eighteen to twenty-five, from diverse religious and cultural backgrounds were interviewed. The result from this investigation is a theoretical framework titled the Freedom Milestones. These seven milestones outline a transgender youth’s spiritual journey, from religious indoctrination to the empowered integration of their gender identity and personal spiritual beliefs. Even across different religions, these milestones appeared in all twelve of the research participants’ lives. These milestones will assist medical professionals and religious or spiritual mentors working with transgender youth who are struggling to reconcile their faith with their gender identity.

As of 2023, elected officials continue to propose legislature to legally prevent transgender youth access to gender-related medical care across the United States. Consequently, transgender youth’s mental health continues to decline. The Freedom Milestones offer a novel guide that may fortify and support transgender youth’s mental health and well-being.