Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Questioning

Terms

•      "Homosexual" a clinical and somewhat derogatory term

–   Formerly used as a term for disorder in DSM-II

–   1973 - term "homosexual" removed from diagnostic nomenclature

–   1975 APA passed a resolution in support of the civil rights of gays and lesbians

•      Preferred terms are "gay", "lesbian"

–   Gay is generic term for gays and lesbians

•      "Straight" implies that which is not straight is crooked

–   "Nongay"

Dimensional model of sexuality (Coleman, 1987)

•      Self-identification

–   Exclusively gay, predominantly gay, bisexual, predominantly heterosexual, exclusively heterosexual, unsure

•    Not necessarily biologically-based

•    Person may not have self-identified as gay, despite apparent sexual behavior

–   Ideal self-identification that person would like in the future

•    Discrepancies between current self-identification and ideal self-identification may produce identity conflict

Dimensional model of sexuality (Coleman, 1987)

•      Relationship status

–  # of sexual partners: 0, 1, multiple

–  Sex of partners

•   Sexual experiences and gay identity may be independent of sexual orientation

•   Many nongay persons have had sexual experiences with a same-sex partner

–  Sex of persons to whom there has been emotional attachment

Dimensional model of sexuality (Coleman, 1987)

•      Satisfaction with sexual orientation

–  Internalized homophobia

Dimensional model of sexuality (Coleman, 1987)

•      Male-female aspects of self

–  Biological sex at birth

–  Perceived physical self

–  Most gay persons do not take on the stereotyped role of the opposite gender

Dimensional model of sexuality (Coleman, 1987)

•      Fantasy

–  Perceived sex of self in fantasy

–  Perceived sex of partner in fantasy

Heterosexuality script for males and females: Perceived likelihood of  being gay (Deaux & Lewis)

Heterosexuality script for males and females

•      Role violations are more serious for the male than the female role

•      Homosexuality is perceived as a more serious role violation for males than for females, with males holding more negative attitudes

Attitudes of heterosexuals toward gays and lesbians (Herek, 2000)

•      Heterosexual men more hostile toward gay men

–   Heterosexual men may feel that rejecting gay men = proving one’s masculine identity

•      Rejection of lesbians less relevant to heterosexual women’s self-image

•      Contextual cues

–   When heterosexual men were first asked about gay men and then about lesbians, their attitudes toward lesbians were more negative than when first asked about lesbians

–   No contextual effects for heterosexual women’s responses

Thermometer Ratings of Gays, Lesbians, and Bisexuals
(Herek, 2000)

Gay identity development
(Troiden, 1988, 1989)

•      Progression not necessarily linear

•      1. Sensitization

–   Occurs during years following puberty

–   Gay children may feel "different" or "isolated" from peers, perceive self as outsider

–   Gay children often engage in stereotypically gender-inappropriate behaviors (e.g., boys playing with dolls, girls interested in sports) and may lack interest in stereotypically gender-appropriate activities

–   Few gay children identify themselves in terms of a gay sexual identity

Gay identity development
(Troiden, 1988, 1989)

•      2. Identity confusion

–   Adolescents begin to wonder whether they are gay

•    Conflicts occur because of stigma associated with being gay

•    Stage may persist beyond adolescence

–   By mid to late adolescence, most gay and lesbian children consider themselves as probably gay/lesbian

•    But portray themselves as nongay to family and friends

•    Stigma associated with being gay may lead to self-imposed isolation

•    Fear of ridicule and abuse if others discovered that they were gay

Ways of coping with identity confusion

•      Denial

•      Repair - attempts to eradicate gay feelings and behaviors

–    May include psychotherapy

•      Avoidance of stimuli that remind them of being gay, sometimes imposing a nongay lifestyle (e.g., having sex with a different sex partner, getting pregnant, getting married), substance abuse

•      Redefinition - homoerotic behavior is really bisexuality or situation-specific (person was special, being drunk)

•      Acceptance - seek social support from other gays

Gay identity development
(Troiden, 1988, 1989)

•      3. Identity assumption

–  Gayness becomes a self-identity, coming out

•   Self-label of gay first shared with a few others

–  Although gay identity is assumed or tolerated, it is not considered permanent or desirable

–  Quality of interactions with other gays determines acceptance

Ways of coping with the stigma of a gay identity

•       Capitulation - experiencing gay arousal and desire, but avoiding gay activity

–    Self-hate, suicide risk without social support

•       Minstralization - adopting stereotypic homosexual roles (e.g., male appearing effeminate, female appearing masculine)

•       Passing - portraying self as nongay to nongays, gay to gays

–    May be most common coping strategy

•       Group alignment - active involvement in the gay community - social, political, financial, professional

–    Avoidance of antagonistic settings, e.g., neighborhood, stores, job, church

–    Gay lifestyle is viewed as superior to nongay lifestyle, which is viewed as abnormal, unhealthy

Gay identity development
(Troiden, 1988, 1989)

•      4.  Commitment

–  Self-esteem increases, gay identity accepted as more than just tolerable

–  Sexuality and emotionality integrated in same-sex relationships

–  Initiation of same-sex relationships that often result in long-term commitments

–  Coming out to a larger audience, including nongay persons

Methods of coping with stigma

•      Covering - admit gay identity if asked, but not openly displaying identity

•      Blending - neither acknowledging or denying being gay and coming out to gays, lesbians, and a few nongay persons

•      Converting - philosophy that a gay identity is a strength and something to be proud of

–  Political action common

African American lesbians:
Triple jeopardy (Greene, 2000)

•      1. Racism:

–    African Americans viewed as subordinate to European Americans

–    European American men who sexually victimized African American slave women blamed the women as being sexually out of control

–    White standards of beauty make African American less feminine and less attractive

–    Assertive African American women are viewed as nonfeminine

–    African American lesbians more likely to have interethnic relationships than African American heterosexual women

•    African American women may experience racism from non-African American partners

 

Triple jeopardy

•      1. Racism within the African American community

–  Self-blame for African American men’s problems, subordination to African American men

–  Minority status does not necessarily make African American families and communities more insightful about lesbian issues

–  African American churches have been homophobic

African American lesbians:
 Triple jeopardy (Greene, 2000)

•      2. Sexism

–  Women viewed as subordinate to men

–  African American women historically have violated gender role norms by working outside the home

–  Some African American men resent African American women for being in competition with them for jobs

 

African American lesbians:
 Triple jeopardy (Greene, 2000)

•      Heterosexism

–  Lesbians viewed as defective and subordinate to heterosexual women