Exploring the sudden rise of LGBTQ identification among Americans, especially in Generation Z. Discussing the cultural pressures leading to openness towards various sexual orientations. Investigating the shifting dynamics of LGBTQ acceptance within religious communities and society. Advocating for tolerance, respectful disagreement, and LGBTQ inclusion in church settings.
38:23
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
LGBTQ+ Identification Rise
The number of Americans identifying as LGBTQ+ has doubled in the last 12 years, now at 7.6%.
This rise is largely driven by Generation Z, where over 20% identify as LGBTQ+.
insights INSIGHT
Gen Z's Sexual Fluidity
The rise in LGBTQ+ identification isn't due to more people being homosexual, but generational changes, particularly Gen Z's sexual fluidity.
Gen Z rejects sexual labels, embracing individual freedom and exploring various sexualities.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Stephanie's Story and ROGD
Preston Sprinkle's book "Embodied" tells of Stephanie, a feminine girl who declared herself transgender at 13 after a school presentation.
This reflects the rise of ROGD (Rapid Onset Gender Dysphoria), appearing suddenly in teens, often influenced by peers and social media.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
In this week's conversation between Dr. James Emery White and co-host Alexis Drye, they discuss a recent Gallup poll that found that 7.6% of Americans now identify as LGBTQ+ - a figure that has more than doubled over the last 12 years. When you dive into the generational data from this poll, it revealed that for Generation Z, 22.3% now identify as LGBTQ+, which is a percentage far beyond Millennials or any other generation. The most pressing question is: What is accounting for this very sudden rise?
Episode Links
In Dr. White's book Meet Generation Z: Understanding and Reaching the New Post-Christian World, he noted five primary marks of this generation. One of those marks is that Gen Z are sexually fluid. This means that the rise in identifying as LGBTQ+ is not so much about a true shift in orientation, but rather an openness to all things sexual. And much of that openness is a direct result of cultural pressure that would say you must be open minded enough to explore other genders and sexual orientations. For more on understanding the cultural pressures, Dr. White suggested reading the book Embodied: Transgender Identities, the Church, and What the Bible Has to Say by Preston Sprinkle.
Cultural acceptance, however, does seem to be shifting - at least among religious groups. The PRRI recently released their “Religious Change in America” study, which found that support does tend to be waning. This is likely a result of the cultural overreach that has taken place. And the church does need to speak out on this. Dr. White has delivered two series at Mecklenburg Community Church that we'd suggest you check out: Holy Matrimony and Gender. And this is not the first time we've touched on this topic on the C&C Podcast. Be sure to listen to these past episodes: CCP38: On Attending Diwali Celebrations and Gay Weddings and CCP21: On Gender.
For those of you who are new to Church & Culture, we'd love to invite you to subscribe (for free of course) to the twice-weekly Church & Culture blog and check out the Daily Headline News - a collection of headlines from around the globe each weekday. We'd also love to hear from you if there is a topic that you'd like to see discussed on the Church & Culture Podcast in an upcoming episode. You can find the form to submit your questions at the bottom of the podcast page HERE.
Church & Culture Podcast