This worksheet is meant for clients struggling with the intersectionality between their race, religion, and sexual orientation.

The approach my worksheet takes to help clients with these problems is having them reflect on their experiences with their race and sexual orientation within the context of their religious experience as well. The worksheet starts with numerical questions asking the client to rate their experiences with their sexuality and race within their religion. The second part of the worksheet asks for short answers to reflect on the specifics of treatment within their religion, and any conflict that may have arisen from this treatment. I think it would then be helpful to reflect on their answers to all of these questions at the end of the document, either personally or with their counselor.

I would like for it to help allow the client to judge and reflect on their personal views of both their sexuality and racial identity. I created this resource because I haven't seen very many resources to help counseling clients work through internalized heterosexism and racism that may stem from past experiences with religion. From the research I've linked at the bottom of this page, certain levels of religiosity have been shown to foster a positive sense of community and lower stress within LGBTQ+ individuals, but not everyone has the same positive experience within religious settings. Allowing reflection may shed new light on their beliefs about their past or current religion.