Essay on Sexual Identity Crisis: Overcoming Labels in Our Society

Introduction

Sexual identity crisis is basically an issue that has gripped this generation very much. Everyone wants to feel sexually authentic and not to be discriminated against by anybody in the society, be it in school, churches, or even in our peer groups. This is a result of the society that we live in, where we are hooked to identity tags or labels, so to speak. Due to these identifications in our society, we end up being separated from the others and especially from our loved ones.

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One may look at the way the gay community has been fragmented and separated from the other people. Additionally, the acronym LGBT has been used widely to identify the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender. Where this kind of labeling has been used to reduce the individuals into a narrative of sexual alignment or orientation, and despite all this, they still want to be identified, considered, and labeled as authentic and hence no need for segregation.

This identity issue has penetrated into the where we have different groups are being labeled differently. Recently, there are two groups that are becoming common in most of the churches and nations, and they are being accepted; these are gay Christians and gay celibate Christian (Kann et al., 2016). Some of them say, especially those who have same-sex attraction, that the changes and the evolution that we have in the modern Christian life and experience make it acceptable, and these terms should be adopted. Hence, a crisis arises as a result of this label and sexual identity. The question that we need to ask is, are such identity and tags compatible with the Christ identity that we in and have been into? From this question, there are several things that we need to consider

Identity alteration or reductionism

It is of great essence for each and every person to understand his or her identity well for a better living. When an individual is born again, he or she automatically receives a new identity in Christ, and that person is complete. And from that day on, that person becomes heir in Christ. But once this person starts to add anything else in his identity, then it will basically imply that the identity he received was deficient (Evangelista et al., 2016). Anytime we add another label or identity on top of what we received, be it sexual orientation, interests, occupations. Then we detract our original identity, and hence we will be identified based on our desires and actions instead of reflecting the identity that we received first just like a mirror image.

Sexual Segregation

The moment we have an identity that is based on same-sex attractions; potentially, we build up a separated church. This will make those being identified with same-sex attraction have self-pity and tempted to compulsive introspection. Yet everybody in the church community is suffering and struggling with very many problems and challenges (Evangelista et al., 2016). Additionally, most of the younger people in this generation who have same-sex attraction assume that they have to take the gay label so that they can be authentic. Authentic basically implies original and not false, and yet true authentic in Christianity can only through conforming to the image of Christ instead of any desirers or experience, hence making those who want to be identified this being segregated even further from the others in the church community.

Cultural mix-up and confusion

According to (Evangelista et al., 2016), many people may reason that language keeps on evolving and that the use of a label such as gay Christian or gay celibate Christian could be accepted based on the commands of today's culture. This may not be the case in gay sexual identity. This is mainly because the word gay may have very many cultural, political, and social connotations or implications and may raise questions as to whether the individual still holds to the dictates and traditions on homosexuality as laid down by the Christian doctrines. This promotes misunderstanding and confusion when one tries to communicate his or her experience.

Recently, I managed to attend a meeting where the issues of LGBT were raised and discussed at length. At first, I was interested in getting the basis of LGBT identity, where I realized that these people actually came up to bring about diversity in sexuality. The main reason aim was recognition and inclusion. As a result, the letter Q and I that stands for questioning and intersex were added. This was to help those who question their sexuality and those who are intersex to be identified and included in society (Kann et al., 2016).

Based on the facts that I got from the meeting, I realized that the intention of the LGBTQI initially was recognition and identification. But inclusion into the Christian life brings about confusion. Based on the experience with this group of labels and identity, it is better to be identified on one side instead of being on the middle ground. This is mainly because, in Christianity, there is specific sexuality that one can be identified with (Chen, 2016).

If one wants to be identified with Christ, let that person choose to be identified with Christ only. If, on the other hand, the person chooses to be identified with LGBTQI, then the person should be identified with this group only. This will help in bringing to an end the confusion and separation amongst different groups.

Self-identity and satisfaction of how one looks like are very important. For that reason, I can advise my client who is faced with this kind of conflict to choose the identity and label that will make him or her feel accepted and contented of whom he or she is (Chen, 2016). This will help in raising the self-esteem, and this person will not feel inferior separated because he or she will have a specific group to associate with at all times (Ebner et al., 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the dilemma on the issue of sexual identity is amongst the most challenging and extremely separated individuals in society. This may lead to anxiety, depression, loss of happiness, and liveliness. These conflicts require professional care and support. This will help the client by providing the essential guidelines that will resolve the identity conflict in a manner that the diversity of the client will be preserved. Additionally, client exploration will be promoted, and he or she will synthesize a valued personal and also sexual identity. Assuming any other label or identity while still being identified as a Christian brings a crisis and conflict that should not exist at all.

References

Ebner, K., Soucek, R., & Kauffeld, S. (2020). Incongruities between values, motives, and skills: exploring the negative effects of self-exploration in career coaching. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 1-23.Chen, L. M. (2016). The journey from self-exploration to self-identity.

Kann, L., Olsen, E. O. M., McManus, T., Harris, W. A., Shanklin, S. L., Flint, K. H., ... & Thornton, J. (2016). Sexual identity, sex of sexual contacts, and health-related behaviors among students in grades 9-12-the United States and selected sites, 2015. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report: Surveillance Summaries, 65(9), 1-202.

Wilkerson, W. (2016). Ambiguity and sexuality: A theory of sexual identity. Springer.

Evangelista, Z. M., Dumaop, D. E., & Nelson, G. (2016). Journeying to a Safe Space: Sexual and Religious Identity Integration of Filipino LGBT-affirmative Church Members. PHILIPPINE JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY, 49(2), 101-133.