Abstract
Strong arguments that queer sexualities are un-African, as well as religious moral judgments, serve as the foundation for homophobic sentiments in South Africa. Since democracy, there has been a significant surge in research on homosexuality which focuses on social and religious issues in South Africa. However, there has been fewer studies on the experiences of homosexual individuals who identify as Christian and how they reconcile these identities. This is a study of how black gay men who are Christian negotiate their Christian and Gay identities. In this thesis, I explored the lived experiences of 6 black gay men within the Daveyton Etwatwa Township in order to understand the complexities of the intricate relationship between the church and the everyday lives of gay Christian men. This study particularly focuses on the new Charismatic Pentecostalism as it is statistically the fastest growing movement in the world attracting young and educated generation. Through the use of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) elements, I examine the constructions of identity and the attitudes and preconceived notions of the church and society toward gay men. The study's use of the IPA technique yielded expressive, fluid, intersecting, and embodied narratives and experiences.