“Life Is Getting Better”: Understanding Stabilizing Factors in Conservative Christian Families Post-Coming Out

Abstract

This article explores the perceptions of Millennial-age LBGTQ + individuals raised in conservative Christian families (Seventh-day Adventist) about their coming out experiences with family members. The analysis examines six strategies that participants identified as helping regain family equilibrium post-coming out. These strategies included: parent’s expression of unconditional love, passing of time, having a long-term relationship with a partner, communicating openly with parents, creating distance and independence from parents, and avoiding the LGBTQ + topic entirely.