The Coming-Out Process in Family, Social, and Religious Contexts Among Young, Middle, and Older Italian LGBQ+ Adults.

Fausta Rosati,Jessica Pistella,Roberto Baiocco,Maria Rosaria Nappa

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2020.617217

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Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.617217

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Abstract

The coming out (CO) process is fundamental for identity integration among LGBQ+ people, and its impact can vary greatly depending on personal and contextual factors. The historical, cultural, and social contexts in which LGBQ+ people develop their sexual identity can mediate the relationship between CO and health outcomes. The present study aimed at clarifying the CO process in three generations of Italian LGBQ+ people (young adults: aged 20–40 years; middle adults: aged 41–60 years; older adults: aged 61–80 years) by providing data on: (a) sexual orientation milestones, such as age of first awareness, age of first self-label, and age of first CO, as well as the rate of disclosure during different life stages; (b) the rate and average age of CO to significant others; and (c) CO within the religious context and its effect on participants’ minority stress experiences. A total of 266 Italian LGBQ+ people participated in the study, with ages ranging from 20 to 80 years (M = 41.15, SD = 16.13). Findings indicated that, on average, the older adult group became self-aware, self-labeled, and disclosed their sexual identity at a significantly older age than the other groups. Older adults were also more Catholic and had CO more frequently to their Catholic community, relative to young and middle adults. CO within the Catholic context was associated with distal and proximal minority stressors, such as discrimination, vigilance, and internalized sexual stigma. Catholic community reactions to participants’ CO were distinguished through thematic analysis in three main types: unconditional acceptance, invitation to change, and open rejection. The present research extended current knowledge on CO and minority stress experiences in different generations of LGBQ+ people. Several differences emerged between generational groups on sexual orientation milestones, highlighting the potential impact of historical and cultural contexts in determining sexual minorities’ experiences related to sexual identity. It is recommended that mental health professionals working with LGBQ+ clients implement targeted interventions based on their clients’ multiple salient aspects, including age and religious background. Clinicians should also be aware of the potentially detrimental effects of CO within an unsupportive context, rather than encouraging CO tout court.

Highlights

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer, and other non-heterosexual (LGBQ+) people are consistently exposed to cis-heteronormative and cis-heterosexist pressures to fit heterosexual and binary gender roles
Similar to what found by previous authors (D’Augelli et al, 1998; D’Augelli and Grossman, 2001) in family and unspecified contexts, the present study found that, the more LGBQ+ people had disclosed their sexual identity to their religious community, the more at risk they were of experiencing discrimination and harassment
The coming out (CO) process is fundamental for identity integration among sexual minorities

Summary

Introduction

Gay, bisexual, queer, and other non-heterosexual (LGBQ+) people are consistently exposed to cis-heteronormative and cis-heterosexist pressures to fit heterosexual and binary gender roles. Trans/non-heterosexual people must come out to be recognized and become visible, while cisgender and heterosexual people do not have to define who they are because it is assumed that their identity and relationship experience is the norm. For these pressures and beliefs system, coming out (CO) – the act of disclosing one’s sexual orientation or gender identity to others – appears as one of the most stressful and pivotal experiences faced by LGBQ+ people (Cass, 1979). Age and religiosity may interact with the CO process at least at two main levels: (1) LGBQ+ older adults are more likely (currently and in the past) to be part of religious contexts and, they may feel a greater need to come out in such contexts than their younger counterparts; (2) the majority of LGBQ+ older adults started the CO process inside the religious contexts some years ago in a period in which Church and the whole society were more negative regarding sexual and gender minorities: In such hostile environments, LGBQ+ older were more likely to receive negative reactions to CO process than the new generations of LGBQ+ people (Dahl and Galliher, 2012)

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