When religion and sexuality collide in the workplace The convergence of faith and sexuality is often a volatile space. Gaining LGBTI equality and ending discrimination has always been challenged by conservative religious groups and leaders. With the growing acceptance of diversity not only in society but also being championed in the corporate world the faith/sexuality conflict can arise from time to time. Having an understanding of the issues, mindsets and processes to handle these conflicts can be of great value to LGBTI individuals and groups. This presentation will give insight into: • Why faith and sexuality is such a volatile area • Why gay and lesbian people from faith backgrounds are one of the highest risk groups in our community • How to work with religious employees who are anti-gay • Matching Christian beliefs with corporate values • Creating spaces for dialogue instead of conflict • The key factors that are creating the tipping point Presenter Anthony Venn-Brown was a popular preacher in the mega-churches of Australia. His bestselling autobiography ‘A Life of Unlearning’ details his 22 years attempting to change his homosexuality through counselling, prayer, exorcisms, ‘ex-gay’ programs and 16 years of marriage. Anthony is now a respected community leader and was twice voted one of the 25 Most Influential Gay and Lesbian Australians as well as one of four finalists for the 2011 ACON Community Hero Award. He is the co-founder of Freedom 2 b[e], Australia’s leading organisation for LGBTI people from Christian backgrounds. Currently he is the founder and CEO of Ambassadors & Bridge Builders International. Anthony has presented at conferences in Asia, USA and UK and provided training in Australia for community and religious organisations. Since 2000, Anthony has also worked extensively, one on one, with individuals seeking resolution of faith and/or their sexuality.

1. The conflict between religion and sexuality
&
The experience of LGBT people from
faith backgrounds
Anthony Venn-Brown
Pride in Practice 2015

2. © Anthony Venn-Brown
www.anthonyvennbrown.com
The
LGBT
World
The
Christian
World
•The Enemy
•Judgment & stereotyping
•Accusations
•Feed on misinformation
•Demonising & sensationalising
•Conspiracy theories
•One-way communication
•Conflict & attack
A New Space
Homophobe
Bigot
Haters
Abomination
Sodomite
Pervert

3. © Anthony Venn-Brown
www.anthonyvennbrown.com
The
LGBT
World
The
Christian
World
•The Enemy
•Judgment & stereotyping
•Accusations
•Feed on misinformation
•Demonising & sensationalizing
•Conspiracy theories
•One-way communication
•Conflict & attack
•Willingness to dialogue
•Treat respectfully
•Act with integrity
•Fellow human beings on a
journey of discovery
•Resolution

4. Gay and lesbian people go through several
stages and a process in order to resolve the
perceived conflict between their faith and
sexuality.
Straight individuals , churches and
denominations also move through similar
stages and process to come to a place of
greater understanding about sexuality and
gender identity.
© Anthony Venn-Brown

5. © Anthony Venn-Brown
The Diversity Acceptance Continuum
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6. People have an attitudinal shift and move
along the continuum as they become
more informed and aware
This learning can happen formally through
education, self-learning or experientially
It’s highly unlikely that this change will
occur unless there is some personal
connection with LGBT people
© Anthony Venn-Brown

7. The workplace can be a place where people
learn, evolve and grow
Straight people from non-accepting backgrounds
•Values based not belief based
•Tolerance/acceptance of diversity
•Non discrimination
LGBT people from religious backgrounds
•Safe space to resolve issue
•Support
•Break down stereotypes
•Role models

8. LGBT people of faith and religion have specific
needs that have not always been identified or
catered for. They experience the usual issues of
resolving their sexuality or gender identity, coming
out, finding their place in the community and
learning what it means to live authentically in a
predominately straight world.
However, they often experience these things with
greater intensity and also have additional issues
to deal with.
© Anthony Venn-Brown
www.anthonyvennbrown.com

9. My Observations
• Potential and real suicidality
• Mental health issues
• Self destructive behaviours
• Obsessive behaviours and addictions
• Fragmentation of self
• Closet hokey pokey
• Faith and/or sexuality conflict separate
• HIV & STI infection
• Two way discrimination

10. High Risk Group – Why?
• Having a belief system that says your eternal
destiny is determined by your acceptance or
rejection of your homosexuality creates an intense
cognitive dissonance. Coming out doesn’t
necessarily solve the problems; it can create more
• After coming out, internalised homophobia from
years of negative conditioning and self-hatred
continues to have impact
© Anthony Venn-Brown
www.anthonyvennbrown.com

11. High Risk Group – Why?
• Many invested years attempting to conform to
heterosexuality through secret struggles,
heterosexual relationships, ‘ex-gay’/conversion style
counselling; leaving them damaged and
traumatised.
• For many from faith backgrounds, accepting their
sexual orientation means leaving the
church/religion. Their entire social network is gone,
along with church activities and service. Finding
their place in the LGBT community can be
challenging.

12. High Risk Group – Why?
• Living a life of faith often includes a strong sense of
mission, calling or purpose. Walking away from that
can leave them with a huge void.
• Grief and trauma are common themes. Extricating
oneself from the religion can be traumatic; the loss
of family, friends and faith devastating. The trauma
and the grief are often unacknowledged but play
out in depression, self-destructive behaviours and
suicidiality.
© Anthony Venn-Brown
www.anthonyvennbrown.com

13. High Risk Group – Why?
• Years of secrecy and denial can create unhealthy
addictions, compulsions or obsessions.
• Many have little or no knowledge of safe sex
practices and are therefore at high risk of STI’s &
HIV.
• Although beliefs systems differ, people from
strong Christian, Islamic or Jewish backgrounds
can face similar issues
© Anthony Venn-Brown
www.anthonyvennbrown.com

14. "If you dream of a world in which you can
put your partner's picture on your desk, then
put his picture on your desk and you will live
in such a world. And if you dream of a world
in which you can walk down the street
holding your partner's hand, then hold her
hand and you will live in such a world.
Remember, there are two things that keep us
oppressed: them and us. We are half of the
equation.

15. There will not be a magic day when we wake
up and it's now OK to express ourselves
publicly. We must make that day ourselves,
by speaking out publicly - first in small
numbers, then in greater numbers, until it's
simply the way things are and no one thinks
twice."--Lesbian U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin,
Millennium March on Washington 2000.

16. www.abbi.org.au
info@abbi.org.au
Creating understanding and acceptance for LGBTI people,
empowering community members and building bridges
with religious organisations and leaders.