_____________________________________________ Promoting the Health of Gender and Sexual Minorities
COMMON DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCES
Milestone
Findings
Timing of development milestones
All ethnic groups included in the sample (e.g., White, African American, Latino, Asian American) experienced the following timing in a similar way.
Same sex attractions
15 to 17 years of age
First disclosure
Usually about 17 years of age to a close female or gay friend
Disclosure to family
Common experience in that the timing differed
Internalized homophobia
No increased level noted in this sample population, contrary to the authors’ predictions. Many youths reported that they felt pressure to choose between their ethnic and sexual identities. About half of the ethnic minority youths felt that they fully accepted their ethnic and sexual identities. Rates of sexual involvement were a function of age and disclosure. Findings suggested that youths of all ethnic groups develop same-sex relationships after they disclose their identity to others. No ethnic differences emerged in rates of same-sex involvement.
Integration of ethnic and sexual identities
Same-sex romantic and sexual involvement
Source: [55]
Table 1
ETHNIC-SPECIFIC DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERIENCES
Milestone
Findings
Timing of identity milestones
Latino youths reported earlier awareness of same-sex attractions than African American and White youths. Most African American youths in the sample engaged in sex before labeling their sexual identity. Asian American youths overwhelmingly engaged in sex only after labeling themselves as gay or bisexual. Asian American gay and bisexual youths reported first engaging in sex with men about three years later than all other youths. Less than half of ethnic-minority youths reported disclosure to family members, even though models of sexual identity development presume that disclosure to family members is a necessary milestone in the development of a positive sexual identity. Silence about sexuality among Asian American families and the rigid gender roles in Latino families may lead to increased rates of internalized homophobia in addition to feeling that their same-sex attractions are reprehensible, thus becoming less likely to disclose their sexual identity to members of their family and ethnic community. Asian American youths were found to be the least likely to report sexual and romantic relationships with women. Among White, African American, and Latino cultures, not dating has implications for homosexuality. Youths may develop heterosexual relationships to mask their same-sex attractions from family members and peers and/or to test whether these relationships will “cure” them.
Sequencing of identity milestones
Disclosure to family members
Opposite-sex romantic and sexual relationships
Source: [55]
Table 2
defined by sex and sexual identity varied in milestone timing and pacing, with gay males reporting an earlier onset of some milestones. Participants who used newer identity labels (e.g., pansexual, queer) reported younger ages of milestones relative to bisexual participants but similar ages to lesbian and gay participants. Black and Latinx participants reported some milestones at younger ages than White participants [57]. Models of the sexual identity process suggest that there are certain behaviors that a healthcare professional might observe related to the different stages of “coming out.” Application of cognitive dissonance theory helps to explain the origins
of behaviors that could be matched to some of the stages of a model. According to this theory, there is a tendency for individuals to seek consistency among their cognitions (i.e., beliefs and opinions) because they want to conform to society’s expectations and attitudes. When individuals perceive that their beliefs and opinions do not conform to those of society, intrapersonal tension and discomfort develop. In an effort to reduce the tension or dissonance, individuals will try to adjust their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors, thus attempt- ing to conform. Those individuals who first recognize feelings of same-sex attraction may experience emotional turmoil.
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MDDC1026
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