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The lack of success of the 'coming out' studies over the last three decades to explain and predict parental responses has motivated an evolutionary psychological reconceptualization. According to this reconceptualization, it was predicted that (a) biological mothers would experience more distress and apply more pressure on gay sons to change than would biological fathers and; (b) obligate investment for fathers on dependent sons would cause fathers to experience more distress and apply more pressure on gay sons to change than it would fathers without this obligate investment. In contrast, a cultural-norm hypothesis predicted that fathers would experience more distress and apply more pressure on gay sons to change than mothers. The majority of predictions were tested using 787 participants from two-biological parent families, who were drawn from a total sample of 891 participants from various family backgrounds. As predicted by the evolutionary hypothesis, biological mothers were reported to have been more distressed and coercive than biological fathers, in spite of a strong, societal expectation to the contrary. Furthermore, the results supported the obligate investment argument for paternal reactions. The model not only correctly explained and predicted parental behavior during coming out, but also was shown to unify within its theoretical framework discrepant results from the literature previously considered inconsistent. KEYWORDS evolutionary psychology, coming out, parental investment, parental reactions, parental distress, reproductive coercion, gay sons, obligate investment, discriminative parental solicitude DOI: 10.1080/00918360903446077

Materials scientist Clara Barker praises the University of Oxford for creating a welcoming space. Materials scientist Clara Barker praises the University of Oxford for creating a welcoming space., Author(s): Josie Glausiusz Author Affiliations: Clara Barker is a materials scientist and manager of the Centre for Applied Superconductivity at the University of Oxford, UK. Credit: Leonora Saunders for Nature [...]

This article comprises one facet of a larger, three-year phenomenological study (1997-2000) of gay and lesbian youth coming out in post-apartheid South Africa. A nonprobability sample of 18 young people, aged between 16 and 21 years, was interviewed. The resultant data was content analyzed, and the trustworthiness of the information was ensured via member checking and utilizing an independent coder. Results consistently revealed that gay and lesbian youth use defense mechanisms, such as denial, avoidance, compartmentalization, suppression, compensation, sublimation, undoing, displacement, rationalization, and intellectualization, in a conscious manner during their coming out process. The young people in this study demonstrated resilience despite the prejudice and inner turmoil that they had experienced. Practice guidelines are suggested in terms of how health and social care practitioners can support gay and lesbian youth in coping with their coming out process. KEYWORDS. Gay and lesbian youth, South Africa, defense mechanisms, coping strategies, homophobia, health and social care

This article reviews previous research on coping strategies of spouses with partners who have come out. The current research on coping strategies has come from the work of Amity Pierce Buxton. Next the article examines previous treatment methods used with spouses of gay, lesbian, and bisexual partners. Solution-focused brief therapy (SFBT) is discussed and suggested as an approach with this population. A case example is presented to show bow SFBT was used with a client struggling with the news of her partner coming out. Finally, the implications of using SFBT and bow the approach helps partners progress through Buxton's stages is discussed.

This study adopted a cognitive--behavioral conceptual framework based on the Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA) in understanding coming out experiences and psychological distress of 187 Chinese gay men. Results showed that participants' coming out experiences were characterized by same-sex sexual fantasy at teenage years, followed by awareness of homosexual tendency, same-sex sexual contact, and then self-identification and disclosure of homosexual orientation in young adulthood. Regarding targets of disclosure, participants tended to disclose their sexual orientation to their gay friends first, followed by heterosexual friends, siblings, parents, and coworkers. This study also supported the extension of the TRA conceptual framework to Chinese societies. Results showed that a low level of psychological distress in Chinese gay men was linked to their coming out experiences, which were in turn related to TRA components of involvement and identification with gay communities and positive attitudes toward coming out. Limitations and implications were also discussed. KEY WORDS: homosexuality; distress; Chinese; Hong Kong.

Young persons who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) have higher rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior than their heterosexual peers. It has been suggested that suicidal behavior may be a painful but unavoidable rite of passage for LGB youths at the coming out stage. Could this mean that suicidal behavior is considered understandable and even permissible behavior for LGB youths at this stage? In this study we explored reactions to a suicidal decision when coming out was the precipitant of the suicidal act. Specifically, we compared attitudes toward a suicidal decision after coming out and being rejected by one's parents with attitudes toward a suicidal decision after experiencing other stressors (i.e., a physical illness, a relationship loss, or an academic failure). Contrary to expectation, the decision to engage in suicidal behavior following coming out was not viewed in relatively accepting terms. Rather, it was perceived as unsound and weak. As in previous studies, physical illness was singled out as a relatively understandable motivation for suicidal behavior. In addition, we found that androgynous persons viewed the suicidal decision as more unsound than other gender-identity types, independent of precipitant. Given similar evidence from other studies, future research might explore the role of androgyny in the protection against suicidal behavior. KEY WORDS: attitudes; lesbian; gay; bisexual; suicidal behavior; androgyny.

Rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior among gay and lesbian youth surpass those recorded among their heterosexual peers. A frequently cited precipitant of gay and lesbian nonfatal suicidal behavior is the turmoil associated with coming out to one's family. This study investigated young adults' attitudes toward peers who engaged in suicidal behavior after coming out and being rejected by their parents, and compared them with attitudes toward persons who had become suicidal in response to other stressors (a physical illness, a relationship loss, or an academic failure). Our goal was to explore whether young persons hold beliefs that may encourage lesbian and gay suicidal behavior. We found that gays and lesbians who engaged in suicidal behavior following coming out were not viewed in particularly forgiving or empathic ways, as was the case for persons who became suicidal following an incurable illness. All suicidal persons were perceived as relatively feminine. At the same time, suicidal males were rated as more masculine if they engaged in suicidal behavior because of an academic failure or a physical illness, while suicidal females were viewed as more masculine only if their suicidal behavior followed an academic failure. Finally, we found that both respondent sex and respondent gender-identity influenced evaluations of suicidal persons. Building on these findings, future research should explore attitudes toward the permissibility of a suicidal decision by lesbian and gay persons.

Community psychology as a discipline has not focused its attention on the lives of lesbians, gay men, and bisexual (LGB) people, despite the field's potential to collaborate with this population in dealing with the many psychosocial challenges they face. Professional and personal barriers that community psychologists must confront conducting research and developing interventions with the LGB community are described. Community psychology work with LGB communities is often a 'coming out' experience for LGB community psychologists, and a questioning of sexual orientation fot heterosexual community psychologists. Conceptual analyses and empirical reports are presented that exemplify how community psychologist can contribute to decreasing the pervasive stigma LOB people face. The use of an ecological model, a focus on the development and evaluation of preventive interventions, and a recognition of the diversity within the LOB population are core perspectives that can direct future work by community psychologists. Issues ranging from testing ways to empower young LOB people to analyses of the impact of the sociopolitical climate on LGB lives demonstrate the rich range of contributions community psychologists can make. KEY WORDS: sexual orientation; homosexuality; homophobia; heterosexism.

This study examined disclosing sexual orientation at work for 220 gay men and 159 lesbians. Self-acceptance, the centrality of one's identity, how 'out' one is to friends and family, employer policies, and perceived employer gay-supportiveness were associated with disclosure behaviors at work for gay/lesbian employees. Disclosing at work and working for an organization perceived to be more gay supportive was related to higher job satisfaction and lower job anxiety. Reactions of coworkers to gay or lesbian workers mediated the relationship between disclosure and gay/lesbian workers' job attitudes. Implications and solutions for management ate discussed.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) can be adapted to a wide range of clinical difficulties and presenting problems that face lesbians, gay men, and bisexual persons. The following article presents general guidelines for and two case examples of the use of CBT. The first case is a gay male struggling with social phobia. This case is an example of how to adapt a structured, empirically supported cognitive-behavioral treatment focusing on social phobia to situations that are associated with his sexual orientation. The second is a woman struggling with multiple issues including coming out. This case provides an example of how to add specific cognitive-behavioral techniques to coming-out issues within the context of a more eclectic, longer-term therapy. Keywords: cognitive-behavioral therapy; lesbian, gay, bisexual clients; coming-out; social phobia

This article underscores the very important role that parental acceptance and support plays in furthering the psychological well-being of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), an organization dedicated to this goal, has as its mission the support for family members, education of the public, and advocacy for equal rights for lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals. By 'coming out' themselves, straight parents and relatives--including those in the mental health field--not only can extend the support they offer to their gay/lesbian/bisexual children and relatives but also play a significant role in reducing the stigma of being gay, lesbian, or bisexual and in mainstreaming gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues. Keywords: gay men; lesbians; bisexuality; family; parents

Therapists, having recently come to terms with treating gay and lesbian clients, now must consider the issues that bisexual clients face. This article reviews the literature on what it means to identify as bisexual in a world where sexual identity is viewed as dichotomous, heterosexual at one end and gay or lesbian at the other end. The article explores sexual identity and its biological versus social origins, internalized biphobia, coming out, relationship patterns, and therapist issues. Two cases illustrate issues that might arise when a therapist is treating a bisexual client. The first case is a 17-year-old young woman who is accepting of her bisexual identity, and the second case is a 56-year-old woman, heterosexually identified and married, who suddenly fell in love with a woman. Concluding remarks focus on some future directions for research and work with bisexual clients. Keywords: bisexual; bisexuality; lesbian; gay; sexual orientation; sexual identity; sexual identity development; sexual identity fluidity; coming out; monogamy; nonmonogamy; homophobia; biphobia; antigay violence; heterosexism; essentialism; constructionism; women's studies

A retrospective study of the adolescent experience of 18 gay, lesbian, or bisexual young adults with high ability (12 males, 6 females) using a postpositivistic mode of inquiry found significant themes of danger, isolation, depression, and suicidal ideation, together with high achievement and extreme involvement in activities, in their narrative responses to an extended questionnaire. Participants described personal responses to wondering about sexual orientation, being convinced, and eventually coming out, and the effects on school and family relationships. Half reported awareness by the end of elementary school, and almost all were convinced by grade 11. Most participants offered suggestions for educators in general and for those involved in gifted programs, and many of the suggestions have implications for staff development.

This exploratory study applied grounded theory methodology to examine what coupled gay men thought were the relationship impacts of being out to parents and in-laws. Data were collected from an accidental sample of 40 men in 20 homosexual couples using a standardized, open-ended interview. Virtually all of the respondents who had come out to their parents experienced initial and ongoing parental and in-law disapproval for their lifestyles and relationships. However, most men believed that it benefitted their unions to be out to their parents and partner's parents. Not having to hide the relationship was seen as a primary relationship advantage. Inclusion of one's partner in family events also emerged as a significant benefit. In contrast to the existing literature, a large proportion of respondents believed that parental/in-law antagonism had no adverse impacts on their dyads. They shielded their relationships by maintaining a strong sense of independence and in turn solid intergenerational boundaries. This study provides evidence to suggest that disclosure of sexual orientation to parents may be a distinctive, important developmental task for gay men which is critical to their relationships with their partners. Based on the findings of this research, mental health practitioners would be advised to assist gay men in the establishment and maintenance of strong intergenerational boundaries to protect their unions from parental/in-law disapproval. Keywords: Gay male couples, coming out to parents, relationships and disclosure to parents

Research on women and depression has neglected to explore how the factors that put women at risk for depression apply to lesbians. The present study examined four of the risk factors consistently cited in the women and depression literature (relationship status, relationship satisfaction, social support from friends, and social support from family), and two unique factors (outness and relationship status satisfaction), to determine their ability to predict depression among lesbians. Data were collected from 167 lesbians between the ages of 20 and 60. Perceived social support from friends, relationship status satisfaction, and perceived social support from family, were found to be significant predictors, accounting for 17.8% of the variance in depression, as measured by the Center for Epidemiologic Study Depression Scale (CES-D). A second multiple regression equation focused on the 110 lesbians who were in committed relationships, using the variables relationship satisfaction, perceived social support from friends, perceived social support from family, and outness, to determine if relationship satisfaction added to the amount of variance which could be predicted in depression. Social support from friends was the only significant predictor in this equation, accounting for 5.8% of the variance in depression scores.

This research investigated the coming out decision and process for 23 lesbian and gay custodial stepfamilies. We argue that lesbian and gay stepfamilies represent a unique type of family, distinct from heterosexual stepfamilies and from lesbian and gay families who have children within the context of a lesbian or gay relationship. The coming out process is one developmental challenge that distinguishes lesbian and gay stepfamilies from these other types. Through interviews with both lesbian and gay parents and stepparents we explored their coming out process to significant others: the children, families of origin and ex-spouses. We discuss those factors influencing the decision and the consequences that developed in light of these decisions. Findings show that the coming out process for lesbian and gay co-parents is a flexible and familial one, primarily influenced by and centered around the needs of the children.

To understand what happened when young women come out as bisexual or lesbian, 6 college-age bisexual or lesbian women who had recently come out, and 25 of their family members and friends, were interviewed about how the woman's coming out affected their relationships. Each was analyzed separately, using grounded theory coding techniques. The overall findings across the six relationships are presented here. Inductive qualitative analysis revealed changes in communication, relationship structure, and beliefs. Communication changes included talking about coming out, engaging in conflict, and asking questions of self and others. Changes in relationship structure included building community and negotiating closeness and distance. Changes in beliefs included testing one's own sexuality and changing one's mind about bisexual and homosexual people. Overall, coming out was embedded within the relationships and events of everyday life. Keywords. Bisexual, lesbian, coming out, social networks, grounded theory, family, friendship

Research is presented on distinct themes that emerge after a family member has gone public with his or her same-sex preference. These themes include setting rules for discussion of homosexuality, seeking information, exposure to normative homosexual lifestyles, and creating new expectations for the future.

The present study investigated relations between lesbians' disclosure of their sexual orientation and psychological adjustment. The 499 participants responded to a questionnaire assessing level of self-disclosure, sources of social support, forms of socializing, self-description of sexual orientation, and length of self-identification as a lesbian. The more widely a woman disclosed her sexual orientation the less anxiety, more positive affectivity, and greater self-esteem she reported. Degree of disclosure to family, gay and lesbian friends, straight friends, and co-workers was related to overall level of social support, with those who more widely disclosed reporting greater levels of support. Participants who more widely disclosed their sexual orientation were less likely to engage in anonymous socializing, had a larger percentage of lesbian friends, and were more involved in the gay and lesbian community. Path analyses revealed a mediating effect of social reactions (both initial and current) on the relation between identity development and self-disclosure.

Poet J.D. McClathy had not planned on pursuing contemporary writing until 1968. He became friends with poets like Anne Sexton, Mark Strand, and John Hollander. McClathy believes the most intense period of his life was when he frequented gay bars and discos to make up for years of keeping his homosexuality secret. He describes his 'coming-out story' as a poet is still in the working.

Coming out for lesbians is discussed as a multidimensional process. Four dimensions are presented and explored. First is sexual identity formation which encompasses development of lesbian sexuality and awareness of being a lesbian. Second is disclosure of sexual orientation to others. Third is sexual expression and behavior. Fourth is lesbian consciousness which refers to how lesbians see themselves in relation to the social environment, including lesbian and gay communities. These dimensions are examined in relation to existing theories and research about lesbian coming out processes. Further, there is a discussion of coming out and demographic differences among lesbians. The possible impact of age, race, ethnicity, religion, geographic location, income, employment, and education on lesbian coming out are considered.

The empirical literature on disclosing a lesbian sexual orientation has explored the circumstantial and demographic variables related to this act. This exploratory study utilized self-efficacy theory (Bandura, 1986) to investigate the extent to which each of the four sources of efficacy information (e.g., performance accomplishments, vicarious experience, verbal persuasion, or emotional arousal) contributed to the coming out self-efficacy of lesbians, that is, the sense of confidence possessed by a lesbian to disclose her sexual orientation to others. Anonymous survey packets were completed by 134 lesbians. Results of regression analyses indicated that emotional arousal was the most potent predictor of coming out self-efficacy. Verbal persuasion and vicarious experience also were significant. The most theoretically salient source of self-efficacy information, performance accomplishments (Bandura, 1986), was not a significant predictor of coming out self-efficacy. Further, significant correlations were found between coming out self-efficacy and outness and life-style satisfaction, which were also significantly correlated to measures of psychological adjustment. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: getinfo@haworth.com]

The major purpose of this study was to investigate premises regarding self-disclosure as proposed in theories of homo-sexual development while gathering baseline empirical data on the coming-out process. Several variables that theoretically influence coming-out, such as, persons to whom a lesbian has self-disclosed, in what order she has chosen to do this, how her internalized homophobia has influenced her behavior and how her coming-out behavior is related to level of sexual identity development, were investigated. Participants were volunteers responding to advertisements (N = 407, 64% return rate). The sample was a diverse group, with not all respondents labeling themselves lesbian. Age of coming-out to themselves ranged from 3 to 63 years; coming-out to another, age 7 to 63; coming-out to another after coming-out to herself, less than one year to 33 years. After coming-out to themselves, respondents tended to come-out to other lesbians next. Despite the theoretical premise that coming-out to family is the most difficult, there was no specific pattern to indicate the respondents came-out to family last or to siblings before parents. Respondents with higher levels of homophobia tended to come-out to fewer groups of people, but their general predisposition to disclose was not related to coming-out behavior. Women at later stages of identity formation had come-out to more groups of people.

Asian American parents of gay and lesbian children learn to isolate their homophobia from their love for their children. The process of coming out for such parents is arduous and slow as it involves compromising on their traditional values to understand their children's sexual deviance. Their struggle to accept their children's sexual orientation and their social status may eventually resolve the complexities surrounding homosexuality in Asian American society.

The loss many lesbians experience when coming out has gone largely unrecognized and should be considered when treating a client in the process of coming out. Feelings of loss are reasonable because by coming out the client is giving up all the privileges of heterosexuality, often including acceptance by their families. Therapists should not attempt to divert that experience of loss by emphasizing the positive aspects of the choice because the only way to resolve the loss is to recognize and accept it as a part of the decision process.

This article examines gay, lesbian, and bisexual teenagers and visibility management, meaning the ongoing dynamic process of how they go about disclosing their sexual orientation, to whom, and how they continue to manage themselves in different environments. The authors argue understanding visibility management is an important process to understand in order to work with the teenagers, their families, and creating safe environments.

Gay and lesbian political activists encourage lesbians to 'come out' and get involved. Is this good advice for lesbian couples? In these secondary analyses of data collected from 784 lesbian couples in 1979 for the American Couples Study (Blumstein & Schwartz, 1983), we examined whether social involvement and disclosure of sexual orientation were systematically associated with the quality of women's relationships. We predicted and found that partners matched on level of social involvement were happier than mismatched couples. The extent of women's social involvement had a curvilinear association with relationship quality: moderately involved couples were the most satisfied. Contrary to predictions, lesbians who had disclosed to a greater number of important others did not have more satisfying romantic relationships, nor did partner matching on self-disclosure enhance relationship quality.

In a structural equation model of 2,401 lesbian and bisexual women, three variables of lesbian sexual identity were found to predict outness, which predicted lower psychological distress, which, in turn, predicted lower suicidality. The model held true for the subsamples of European-American and African-American women, and to a lesser extent for those of Latina, Asian-American, Native-American, and Jewish women.

Lesbian and gay stepfamilies are unique family forms which must be investigated as such. This paper explores the similarities and dissimilarities between heterosexual stepfamilies and lesbian/gay stepfamilies, arguing that similarity of structure is impacted by gender composition. Utilizing face-to-face and telephone interviews with biological and stepparents in 23 lesbian and gay stepfamilies, the results show that while lesbian and gay stepfamilies share some challenges and strengths with heterosexual stepfamilies, they also evidence a unique and flexible adaptation to becoming a family. The paper is aimed at delineating future areas for lesbian and gay stepfamily research. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: Website: ] KEYWORDS. Stepparents, gay and lesbian families, coming out as parents, gay and lesbian parents and stepparents

This article describes the development of new scales for assessing identity and outness in lesbians and gay men. Relevant measurement issues are reviewed. Over the past several decades, sexual orientation [...]

Prior research on self-disclosure of sexual orientation has focused almost exclusively on the assessment of direct verbal self-declaration by gay men, lesbians and bisexual persons. The Behavioral Self-Disclosure Questionnaire (BDQ) was developed to assess behavioral language in the 'being out' process. One hundred seventy-seven participants completed the BDQ, the Sexual Orientation Disclosure Scale (SODS; Shachar and Gilbert, 1983), and a modification of the SODS, entitled the Acceptance of Sexual Orientation Disclosure Scale (ASODS). Results indicated that the BDQ was comprised of six factors and the overall scale had excellent internal consistency. Pearson Product-Moment Correlations showed a significant and positive correlation between the BDQ and verbal disclosure as assessed by the SODS. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: Website: ] KEYWORDS. Coming out, self-disclosure, homosexuality, homophobia, psychotherapy

SUMMARY. The authors raise questions about several fundamental assumptions and methods regarding study of the development of gay and lesbian youth. Primary among these are the validity of reliance on respondents' recollections regarding ther childhood and adolescent experiences; inferences about developmental processes and outcomes made on the basis of cross-sectional samples; the time-specific, cohort-bound nature of many previous constructs and findings; and the persistent search for continuities between childhood gender behavior and adult sexual orientation. In consequence, the emerging body of theory is largely a developmental psychology of the remembered past. Strategies are suggested for longitudinal, prospective research on homosexual adolescents, shifting attention from child-based, 'causal' models to those of adolescent and adult-centered perspectives. Aimed at understanding life changes and the developmental processes and course of negotiating them, longitudinal methods will more accurately reflect current experiences of gay and lesbian youth coming of age in a unique historical context. Findings from studies of the life course have direct implications for modification of current developmental theories, particularly those that can inform gay and lesbian-sensitive clinical services for all age groups.

The story of Roy Cohn, a homosexual lawyer with AIDS who denounces homosexuality in public, is analyzed. His story is contrasted with that of Jack Smith, a performance artist who never hid the fact that he was gay.

A qualitative and quantitative study of 66 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) respondents examined perceived conflicts between religion and sexual orientation. Nearly two-thirds reported having experienced such conflicts. Sources of conflict included denominational teachings, scriptural passages, and congregational prejudice. Reactions included shame, depression, and suicidal ideation. Resolutions included identifying as spiritual rather than religious, reinterpreting religious teachings, changing affiliations, remaining religious but not attending, and abandoning religion altogether. Respondents listed resources that helped them achieve positive resolutions. The experience of conflict was associated with greater difficulty in coming out and with greater diversity in age at coming out, suggesting that religious conflicts can affect LGB identity formation. Implications for practice with religious LGB clients are discussed. KEYWORDS. Coming out, homosexuality, identity formation, psychotherapy, religion, religious conflict, spirituality