“A constant negotiation”: A qualitative exploration and preliminary model of sexual orientation disclosure among gay Chinese/Chinese American male emerging adults

Abstract

Introduction Disclosing one’s sexual minority identity, known as “coming out,” can be challenging for gay Chinese/Chinese Americans due to cultural values such as collectivism, filial piety, and adherence to traditional gender roles. Method A mixed methods exploratory study was conducted with gay Chinese/Chinese American male emerging adults in New York City. Result Nine participants, average age 22.6 years (SD 2.2, range: 19–25), were interviewed; five were raised in a Western country, four were raised in China. Thematic analysis of the qualitative data yielded five themes: (1) discovery and acceptance of sexual orientation, (2) concealment, (3) deciding to disclose, (4) disclosing to others, and (5) consequences of disclosure. Most participants easily accepted their gay identity though concealed this identity from their families. Participants raised in China took longer to disclose their sexual orientation compared to those raised in Western countries. A preliminary, culturally-tailored model of sexual orientation disclosure is proposed with two parallel processes: the personal self (identity awareness, identity acceptance) and public self (identity concealment, identity negotiation). Conclusion Chinese cultural values influence the expression of sexual minority identities. Disclosure is not static, but rather a “constant negotiation” dependent on context. Clinicians should facilitate exploration of sexual orientation alongside racial/ethnic identity.