Religion-based bigotry is the narrow-mindedness, intolerance and prejudice toward LGBT individuals that is created in part through misguided religious teachings that say homosexuality is immoral or sinful. Such bigotry and prejudice creates and justifies the attitude that it is acceptable to discriminate against LGBT persons and to look upon them with condemnation and contempt. Sadly, religion-based bigotry places a religious and moral stamp of approval on the degradation and rejection of others. Some people of faith experience inner conflict when they consider the role church teachings play in fostering attitudes of prejudice, intolerance and non-acceptance of LGBT people and the harm that is done to them.
Imagine the harm caused to a gay person, especially a young person who sits in church on Sunday only to hear their minister rail against homosexuality – calling gay people immoral, sinful and degenerate. This rejection by faith leaders has caused family members to reject their gay child, brother or sister.
Rejection from faith leaders and family members is the biggest reason LGBT youth suffer severe depression and suicide at much higher rates than straight people.
More than a million LGBT teens are suffering debilitating depression because their families and religious institutions see them as deviants. Suicide rates among LGBT youth are four times higher than straight youth.
Some churches go so far as to tell parents that their child should go through a damaging process called Reparative Therapy that forces a person to reject their homosexuality. Others simply tell parents they must reject their child.