Spiritual/Cultural Well-Being Survey

San Antonio Gay Survey, San Antonio Gay/Lesbian Survey, San Antonio Lesbian Survey, San Antonio Gay/Lesbian Spiritual/Cultural Well-Being Survey

Spiritual/Cultural Well-Being Survey

of San Antonio's Extended* Gay and Lesbian Community

© 2007, Conversation for Awareness and Growth

* By "Extended" we mean to include all people Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning,
Queer, Metrosexual, Mesosexual, Unlabeled, Friends and Family of Gays and Lesbians, Fellow Travelers, etc.

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The aim of this effort is help local leaders to understand San Antonio’s multi-layered extended
Gay and Lesbian community. The survey will identify community needs to assist the variety of
local service organizations and, especially progressive churches, to tailor their offerings and to outreach
to those in need of service.

The idea for the survey originated with the Gay Men's Spirituality Community, a small group of
gay men who’ve been meeting for several years in biweekly gay spirituality discussions. Members
of this group have elicited the interest of progressive church leaders, psychotherapists, and gay/lesbian
community organizers and political activists to form a coalition of community leaders and pastoral service
providers to sponsor the survey.

The organizers hope participation will be an interesting and “consciousness-raising” experience in itself.
The questions deal with issues most of us have feelings and opinions about anyway. Here’s a chance to get
those ideas out to other people, and maybe to give those feelings and opinions the opportunity
to make a difference in the world.

Collection of data though will continue for at least a year.

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Spiritual/Cultural Well-Being Survey

Religious Background

1.What was your family's religious affiliation when you were growing up? None

(e.g. Baptist, Catholic, Jewish, Presbyterian, Episcopalian, Unitarian, UCC, MCC, Unity,
Mormon, Adventist, Buddhist, Nichiren, Hindu, Muslim, Sufi, Pagan, Wiccan, Taoist, etc.)

Please specify, Primary , also ,

2. Growing up, were you involved in your family's religious practices?

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

3. How do you affiliate now, if you do? None

Please specify, Primary , also ,

Is this?

Traditional religion Progressive congregation Specifically Gay/lesbian congregation

I don't like religion. I am creating my own religion.

4. I am involved with a church or religious community now.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

And, if yes, that community is welcoming to sexually variant people.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

5. I am a religious person.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

6. I am a spiritual person.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

7. I have had religious/mystical experiences.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

8. I practice my religion/spirituality in the following ways:

Attend Church/Temple/Mosque/Zendo/etc.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Prayer

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Group Meditation

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Solitary Meditation

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Reading

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Attend AA

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Nature walks/Being in nature

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Service Work

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Retreats/conferences

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Bible study group

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Other kinds of study groups

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Sufi Dancing

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Singing/Chanting

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Other spiritual practices, please specify

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Other 2

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Other 3

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Relationship with Oneself: Affirmation/Coming Out

9. How "out" do you consider yourself to be?

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

10. I like myself.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

11. I like my body.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

12. I feel comfortable with my sexual identity and/or sexual orientaton.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

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13. It is better for people to love me for who I am.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

14. It is better for people to love me for who I pretend to be.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

15. I see my sexual identity and /or gender identity as a blessing.

Strongly disagree1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

16. I was born with my sexual orientation and/or gender identity.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

17. I am a happy person.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

18. I am a lonely person.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

Section Three: Relationship with Another

19. I am: Check all that apply. (Note: check boxes show that mutiple entries are allowed.)

Intentionally single Single and interested in dating Dating Partnered/committed

Widowed Divorced/separated Heterosexually married "Homosexually married"/Registered Domestic Partners

A parent Currently raising a child/children Other, please specify

20. My family is supportive.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

21. I have a supportive network of Gay/Lesbian friends.

Strongly disagree1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

22. I have a supportive network of non Gay/Lesbian friends.

Strongly disagree1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

23 My family supports me in my relationship. (if applicable)

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

24. I am "out" to my non-Gay/Lesbian friends.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

25. I have a person who I look to for guidance.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

26. I have a Gay/Lesbian person who I look to for guidance.

Strongly disagree 1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

27. I am a person who others look to for guidance.

Strongly disagree1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

28. I am a person who other Gay/Lesbian persons look to for guidance.

Strongly disagree1 2 3 4 5 Strongly agree

29. Check below what best describes your level of sexual activity:

Not at all Committed relationship only Casually Dating Only by myself

Other, please specify

Section Four: Role of the Community

30. I feel connected to the Gay/Lesbian community.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

31. I feel connected to the Gay/Lesbian spiritual/religious/faith community.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

32. I have attended... (Check all that apply) None

Gay retreats Body Electric Gay Spirit Visions Radical Faerie Gatherings

MCC Dignity Integrity Affirmation Courage

Lutherans Concerned Open & Affirming

Jewish Gay Temple Love's Day

Other

33. I hope or want to attend in the future... (Check all that apply) None

Gay retreats Body Electric Gay Spirit Visions Radical Faerie Gatherings

MCC Dignity Integrity Affirmation Courage

Lutherans Concerned Open & Affirming

Jewish Gay Temple Love's Day

Other

34. Where do you look to connect with the Community? (Check all that apply) I don't connect

Bars Churches Social Clubs Private parties Internet

Advocacy groups (same sex marriage, gays in the military, etc)

Political groups Gay Spirituality Groups Fundraisers Guerrilla Bar

AIDS services Chorale Esperanza Theater/The Arts

Other

35. I would like to be more involved and meet people in... (Check all that apply) None

Book clubs Scripture study Outdoor activities such as hiking Travel Sports events

Volunteer opportunities Advocacy groups Political groups Gay Spirituality Groups

Public discussion groups Chorale Esperanza Theater/The Arts

Other

36. I am interested in discussing retirement issues as they affect Gay/Lesbian persons.

Yes No

37. I am interested in discussing health issues as they affect Gay/Lesbian persons.

Yes No

Section Five: Profile

38. Zip Code

39. Age: 20s 30s 40s 50s 60s 70s 80s 90+

40. Check all that apply:

Male Female Intersexed Gay Lesbian Heterosexual Bisexual

Questioning Queer No Label Transgendered: m2f f2m

Other, Please specify

41. Ethnicity: Please specify

42. Highest Education Grade school High school Some College College degree

Graduate degree Trade school Other, please specify

43. Income: Less than $30K $30K-$70K $70K -$100 $100K-$150K More than $150K

Prefer not to answer

Conclusion

44. I am satisfied with my current state of spiritual/religious development.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

45. My spiritual needs would be best met by traditional mainline religion.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

46. My spiritual needs would be best met through traditional religion with progressive thinking.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

47 My spiritual needs would be best met by non-traditional religion/spirituality.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

48. I would like to be in a different place in my spiritual/religious development.

Not at all 1 2 3 4 5 Very much

Additional comments?

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This form, as is, will take something like eleven pages. You can also access a 4 page printable (blank) form
by clicking here: HardCopyofSurvey.pdf

You can print out this form, fill it out manually and submit it by mail to:
Religious Study
319 Camden St.
San Antonio TX 78215

If you are unable to transmit the data or if you get an error message,
use the browser Back button to return to the survey. Try again and/or print it out
and mail to the address above

View Tabulation of All Responses Submitted to date

This survey will be distributed through local gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex organizations
in San Antonio and, in particular, through religious Church-affiliated groups (like Dignity), gay congregations (like MCC)
and progressive, welcoming churches (like Madison Square Presbyterian and other members of PROSanAntonio).

Clicking this link will open PRO San Antonio in a new window, with referrals to a variety of churches and spiritual groups that welcome our community.

Forms will be available at this summer’s Gay Pride and other gay community events.

New organizations or services may result from the findings of this survey. If you'd like to be notified, you can join a yahoo group called scwbsurvey. This yahoo group is not linked in any way to your answers. It is merely a mailing list to assist respondents in learning about the consequences of the survey effort. One such organization that developed out of the survey is Anthony's Club for single gay men in San Antonio seeking quality, lasting relationships.