Self-identified Gay Research Articles

Body dysmorphia in gay male spaces: the double binds of knowing what you want and simultaneously rejecting it

Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is a distressing mental health disorder with a prevalence of 2.4% among adults in the United States. While research has previously evaluated the impacts of age and gender differences, there has been a limited focus on the intersection of BDD symptomology and the experiences of sexual minority men. This dearth of research contributes to a lack of understanding, both socio-culturally and clinically, of the lived experiences of gay men with BDD. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences 10 self-identified gay men diagnosed with BDD to gain insight into possible intrapsychic and interpersonal factors that are at play for this population. Analysis, informed by a phenomenological approach, yielded three key themes of double binds experienced by the participants: My Armor is my Spotlight, Wanting Intimacy but Rejecting it, and Caught Between Cultural Expectations and Desires for Self.

What’s culture got to do with it? Latino gay men’s perception of their coming out experience

ABSTRACT Research examining the intersectionality of Latino cultural factors and sexual orientation remains dearth, making it difficult to fully understand the impact cultural factors have on the coming out experience for Latino gay men. To better understand how cultural factors play a role in the coming out process, 15 self-identified Latino gay men, aged 27–40, were surveyed using an integrated approach methodology. Findings suggest that multiple cultural factors within the Latino community influence the coming out process for the men in this study.

Still Fighting the God-Vs.-Gays Battle: Twitter Reaction to Presidential Candidate Pete Buttigieg’s Identification as a Gay Member of the Christian Left

ABSTRACT A computational analysis of 2.6 million original tweets from March 2019 to March 2020 about presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg, a self-identified gay man and member of the Christian left, showed more interest in his sexuality than his religion. Examination of the most shared tweets suggests that the Twitterverse did not explicitly portray Buttigieg’s dual identities as contradictory, a departure from the typical “God-vs.-gay” rhetoric associated with religion and sexuality. However, the most shared tweet in the data set, from evangelist Franklin Graham, negatively characterized both Buttigieg’s religious and sexual identities and questioned whether a gay man could be a true Christian.

“People are having lots of other kinds of sex”: Exploring sexual lifeworlds of LGBTQ+ young people in Bangladesh

A lack of recognition of sexual diversity in Bangladesh continues to contribute to a scarcity in in-depth research around lived experiences of sexual and gender diverse young people. In this article, we adapt a phenomenological reflective lifeworld approach to capture the essential aspects of sexual intimacy as described by diverse young people. This article is based on qualitative data collected in Dhaka, Bangladesh over nine months in 2019 as part of the first author’s doctoral research. Using thematic analysis, we draw on experiences of normative sexual expectations from biographical in-depth interviews with 14 self-identifying lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and others (LGBTQ+) individuals aged 18 to 24 years. According to participants, sexual intimacy as experienced by LGBTQ+ young people in Bangladesh meant desiring consensual sexual and romantic relationships with sexually “matched” partner(s) while navigating heteropatriarchal sexuality norms. We observed five interlinked themes which encompassed the sexual lifeworld of young people in our study: desire for romantic intimacy in sexual interactions; need for discretion when navigating sex and relationships; “matching” sexual roles in partnerships; challenges to relational power dynamics of masculinity; and embodying notions of sexual morality. Our findings captured the essence of young people’s sexual lifeworlds in our study and indicate a universality around sexual intimacy while still making space for intersections of diverse lived experiences and social orientations. Further research is required to better understand these nuances in sexual behaviour.

Parenting Desires and Sexual Identities

The paper asks how parenting desires are associated with the construction of sexual identity and what factors most influence whether gays/lesbians, bisexuals, and heterosexuals declaring same-sex attraction want to have (more) children. The subject has been explored mainly in the Western liberal and gay-family-friendly legislation and social environment so far. Our study was conducted in the Czech Republic, a CEE country where sexual minorities face strong legal and social barriers to non-heterosexual parenthood. In an online survey (N = 882) conducted in 2019 among self-identified gay, lesbian, bisexual, and heterosexual people with same-sex attraction, we found a considerable gap in parenting desires by sexual identity. Parenting desires are weaker among homosexuals, especially men, while bisexuals are closer to heterosexuals in their parenting desires. Our research suggests that in the context of discussions of parenthood Czech women are unwilling to identify as lesbians and opt instead to claim a different sexual identity. Our findings indicate that the structural barriers to parenthood thus play a much more important role than the overall liberal-minded atmosphere in the Czech Republic.

Safe, Seen, and Supported: Navigating Eating Disorders Recovery in the 2SLGBTQ+ Communities.

Purpose: Our purpose was to explore the experiences of self-identifying Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (2SLGBTQ+) Canadians in treatments for their eating disorders (EDs). By knowing more about their experiences, we hoped to better understand how dietitians and ED service providers can better support 2SLGBTQ+ clients.Methods: Ten self-identifying 2SLGBTQ+ individuals reporting concerns regarding body image or eating patterns, as well as accessing support services or treatments, within Canada were recruited through social media platforms. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews. Data were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.Results: Four themes are presented: (i) feelings of judgement and otherness, (ii) experiencing shame in EDs and 2SLGBTQ+ identity, (iii) perceiving a lack of understanding and knowledge, and (iv) sharing lived experiences with the care team.Conclusions: Increased focus on trauma-informed approaches to ED treatment in 2SLGBTQ+ populations are indicated so that 2SLGBTQ+ clients feel comfortable to share. Increased education in 2SLGBTQ+ terminology and gender expression is recommended for dietetic professionals. We also recommend increased recruitment efforts for more diverse care teams.

Aging out: Place and sexuality

This paper explores LGBT retirees as agents of change who are renegotiating the terms of healthy aging in place and expanding our understanding of lifestyle and retirement migration. For the first time in history, a generation of self-identified lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender individuals have entered retirement. However, their subjective experiences have largely been glossed over in popular discourses of successful aging and migration in heteronormative society. This article explores why and how older LGBT people are choosing housing options to age “out of place” in order to support their sexual lives and identities. Examining the everyday experiences of these seniors—members of a double minority, both aged and LGBT—allows us to disrupt the idea of what healthy “aging in place” means and when it might actually be unhealthy. Employing standpoint theory pushes the analysis of marginalized voices to the fore and allows us to ask about these seniors’ subjective realities. What results is a reimagining of the aging landscape. Interview data from LGBT seniors who have migrated to LGBT naturally occurring retirement communities or LGBT-focused housing complexes in France, Sweden, and Germany are used to stretch our notions of wellbeing and aging in place for these diverse retirees. One finding is that for these LGBT seniors, disrupting social norms by aging out of place is not escapist or amenity-seeking, but is key to honoring their sexuality and aging process in a safe and supportive environment.

The Phenomenology of Disclosure among Filipino Male Gays

Disclosing one's homosexuality in a heterosexual-dominated community will always be a continuous decision Filipino gay men need to deal with. The choice may not be as easy due to the perceived and actual stigma, judgment, or misconceptions on knowledge of being gay may arise that could hinder their disclosure phase. This research is aimed at exploring the lived experiences of Filipino gay men in the coming-out phase. This phenomenological study interviewed 12 self-identified gays who disclosed their homosexuality to at least one of his/her immediate environments - friends and family members. The recruitment process is through snowball sampling. Findings of the study show that in disclosing their gay identities there is a connection between their positive and negative experiences, disclosure dilemmas, and their reason to finally come out of the closet. The phase is considered a continuous process of choosing and self-expressing one's homosexuality. Lastly, this study emphasized the interconnections of the different aspects of individuality that led to the development of their chosen identity.

The Phenomenology of Disclosure among Filipino Male Gays

Disclosing one's homosexuality in a heterosexual-dominated community will always be a continuous decision Filipino gay men need to deal with. The choice may not be as easy due to the perceived and actual stigma, judgment, or misconceptions on knowledge of being gay may arise that could hinder their disclosure phase. This research is aimed at exploring the lived experiences of Filipino gay men in the coming-out phase. This phenomenological study interviewed 12 self-identified gays who disclosed their homosexuality to at least one of his/her immediate environments - friends and family members. The recruitment process is through snowball sampling. Findings of the study show that in disclosing their gay identities there is a connection between their positive and negative experiences, disclosure dilemmas, and their reason to finally come out of the closet. The phase is considered a continuous process of choosing and self-expressing one's homosexuality. Lastly, this study emphasized the interconnections of the different aspects of individuality that led to the development of their chosen identity.

Art therapy for chemsex: A pilot study of representations of memories among this subset of self-identified gay men as expressed in gouache painting

This pioneering art-based qualitative phenomenological study examined expressions and representations of memories among Israeli self-identified gay males who engaged in chemsex11A term associated with the gay community int Israel. (combining drugs such as crystal meth and GHB with sexual behavior) as expressed in gouache painting. Fourteen openly self-identified gay secular Jewish men (25-45) represented their chemsex experiences and then described their feelings in semi-structured interviews. The interviews and artwork were analyzed according to the principles of thematic analysis and the phenomenological approach to shed light on gouache paint as a medium that prompts access to the thoughts and feelings of the gay male community involved in chemsex. Four main themes emerged from the analysis: 1. From longing to belonging and visibility, 2. Lack of excitement during sex, 3. Elicitation of the original feelings and sensations when under the influence of drugs, 4. Recalling sexual experiences as reflected in the artwork. The analysis suggested that coming-out processes have certain similarities to immigration processes and are characterized by attempts to affiliate with the peer group while embracing its behavior patterns, even when these are not in line with the individual’s desires. The shame elicited when recalling these sexual experiences generates a need for emotional disengagement to continue functioning. Without a suitable therapeutic response, this may lead to addiction. The gouache medium helped identify a reemerging desire for control the participants felt they had lost.

Bodies becoming art: Using a Deleuzian approach to explore the bodies and health of gay men

The ways gay men navigate socially constructed body tensions are explored through a post-structural lens. Nine self-identifying gay men in Canada used photovoice to create images that expressed their beliefs, values and practices about their bodies. Participants took part in semi-structured interviews to discuss the meanings of their images. Three discursive considerations were created from the analysis of both interviews and the photographs. Participants attempted to create bodies aligned with the dominant body ideals for gay men but, in doing so, often suffered from emotional harm that negatively shaped their health and well-being. Some participants, however, through the process of creating their bodies were able to find new connections and new understanding of their bodies. They were able to find new ways of being outside the rigid body ideals set before them. Through the post-structural lens of the research, participants’ bodies can be conceptualized as bodies becoming art.

Queer family intimacies: sex and love between primos in Mexico

ABSTRACT This paper presents the rich and detailed sex life stories of two self-identified cisgender gay men. Both recalled in retrospect their romantic and sexual experiences with their respective close in age first cousins during their adolescence. Both men described their experiences as voluntary and a positive influence on their emotional and sexual development as self-identified gay men. The men were born and raised in contrasting contexts: the first in a small town in Jalisco, the second in Mexico City. Both men participated in a larger study that gave life to experiences of incest as documented through storytelling, and the stories men shared speak for themselves. However, they also provide insightful reflections on cultures of family intimacy in Mexico.

The diverse joys of sex and relationships in straight, gay, and bisexual Polish men.

The purpose of this study was to describe sexual orientations, intimate relationships, sexual behaviours, and pleasure in self-identified straight, gay, and bisexual men. The analysis drew on a database obtained from a cross-sectional online study of the sexuality of Polish straight (SM; N = 1,079), gay (GM; N = 1,704) and bisexual (BM; N = 713) men. This data was utilised to compare men from these three groups across their sexual orientations, intimate relationships and sexual behaviours, including the most pleasurable sexual activities. In general, the sexualities of GM and BM seem to be more diverse and less oriented to particular sexual activities. Sexual minority men (SMM) tended to be more often in open (nonexclusive) relationships, had more diverse sexual experiences, and enjoyed a greater variety of sexual activities. This particularly concerned BM. Present analysis revealed patterns and significant differences in sexual orientations, intimate relationships, sexual behaviours, and pleasure of SM, GM and BM. The results, pointing to a greater diversity of sexual expression and preferences in SMM, may both trigger reshaping of some of the stereotypical beliefs, as well as positively influence educational (sexual education, specialized teaching) and clinical practice (more accurate assessment of patients' needs and problems).

‘I somehow had the Feeling that I did not belong there’—Experiences of Gay and Lesbian Recreational Athletes in German Sports Clubs

There is little empirical research on the sport experiences of gay and lesbian recreational athletes in Germany and their existence and needs within organized, non-professional sports have largely been ignored. Based on twelve in-depth interviews with self-identified male gay and female lesbian adults, this paper explores how queer recreational athletes experience sport in German sports clubs and which particular challenges or discriminatory situations they are confronted with. Findings show that study participants do not experience much discrimination on an explicit level in the sports clubs. Nevertheless, many respondents try to hide their sexuality in the sports context to prevent possible discrimination and questions about their sexuality. After all, it is mainly the discussion about and reduction of their sexuality that is being experienced as problematic. Five main stressors have been identified: (1) the necessity of an outing, (2) the sports club typical mode of communication, (3) the heteronormative pre-structuring of the sports, (4) the feeling of otherness and the assigned special role, (5) the implicit fear of discrimination. The findings point to the need for increased reflection on and reduction of heteronormative structures in German sports clubs.

La violencia y las escenas cotidianas de convertirse en un hombre

This essay turns to quotidian negotiations of homophobia w ithin an immigrant group of self-identified gay and bisexual men to stress how the construction and sustenance of male privilege and of the very contours of the male subject require vigilance and careful policing of all presumably male bodies regardless of their sexual orientations. Based on an analysis of retrospective life history interviews with Dominican gay and bisexual immigrant men conducted between 2001 and 2002, I will propose w hat is at stake in quotidian exchanges among the participants is the fastidious w ork of calibrating the male body to signify “maleness” properly. By drawing attention to the micro-politics of masculine becoming, the essay suggests that attention to recent instances of homophobic violence should be considered as part of larger and chronic patterns of the aggressive policing of the male body in the social. By looking at the continuing pow er that homophobia has to structure gay male networks, the essay also challenges us to consider how patterns of marginalization continue to be reproduced even among the groupings most directly disadvantaged by them.

“After 25 years of democracy we are still stigmatized and discriminated against…”: Health care experiences of HIV positive older black gay men in a township in South Africa

Older gay black men living with HIV and AIDS have been and continue to be an invisible part of the research landscape in South Africa, with the focus being on the younger LGBTQI+ cohort. Furthermore, aging and health care concerns of this population are ‘swept under the carpet’ due to stigmatization and homophobia. This qualitative study explored the aging and health-care experiences of older gay black men in a selected township in the Cape Metropole, with the purpose of finding strategies to deal with their real life concerns. The first author utilized in-depth interviews with 15 participants, 10 of which were a sample of self-identified gay men, aged between 43-77 and drawn from a selected township in the Cape Metropole in South Africa. Five health professionals working at the local clinic were also interviewed. Interviews were audio-recorded in the language of the participants (isiXhosa) and transcribed verbatim. They were then translated from isiXhosa to English before a thematic analysis was undertaken. One of the key findings of the study was that health-care professionals, particularly nurses at a local clinic, are stigmatizing older black men who are living with HIV and AIDS. This is exacerbated by the rejection by their families and the death of their life partners which leads to isolation, loneliness and depression. Due to comorbidities, COVID-19 has led to some participants passing away. Training of health-care professionals should be prioritized by social workers and workshops should be held in the township to educate families of older LGBTQI+ people on their aging concerns.

Minority Stress and Mental Health of Gay Men in Turkey: The Mediator Roles of Shame and Forgiveness of Self

ABSTRACT Proximal minority stressors (i.e., internalized homonegativity, anticipation of rejection, and concealment of sexual identity) lead to depression and anxiety. General psychological factors mediate the association of proximal stressors with depression and anxiety. Based on this, the present study aimed to investigate the sequential mediating roles of shame and forgiveness of self on the relations of proximal stressors with depression and anxiety in a sample of self-identified gay men in Turkey (N = 200). The findings revealed that proximal stressors significantly predicted depression and anxiety indirectly through shame and self-forgiveness. Thus, the link between minority stress and shame should be considered in clinical practice, and self-forgiveness should be integrated into intervention programs to eliminate the negative impacts of shame on depression and anxiety among this population. Limitations and directions for future studies are presented.

Global Multiple Migration: Class-Based Mobility Capital of Elite Chinese Gay Men

The present study examines how global multiple migration – a pattern of migration characterised by multiple changes of destination internationally in one’s lifetime – becomes a strategy employed by highly educated, Chinese self-identified gay men to navigate social stigmatisation, negotiate family pressure, circumvent state oppression and achieve desired life goals. By examining the intersection between sexuality, migration and class, the present study contributes to the sexuality and migration literature. It explores how relationships between sexuality and migration are related and mediated by class-based capital. It adds to the discussion that migration has increasingly become a multi-directional and open-ended process. For the class and social inequality literature, it seeks to understand how global multiple migration has become an element of social stratification and generates mobility capital. It also highlights how sexuality influences the value of mobility capital for the pursuit of an authentic self.

Sexual Minority Stress, Adverse Childhood Experiences, and Obesity Among Gay Men in Taiwan: Findings from a Panel Study.

Purpose: Obesity is linked to personal behaviors and external stressors. Despite emerging evidence that sexual minority stress (SMS) and adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are associated with the risk of obesity, little is known about their independent and interactive effects on sexual minority men. This study investigated these relationships using panel data. Methods: Self-identified gay and bisexual adult men in Taiwan were recruited through Facebook advertisements to complete an online questionnaire. This study reports only on data from the gay subsample (n = 731, mean age = 28.05 years, standard deviation = 5.75 years) as the bisexual subsample (n = 132) was insufficient for comparative statistical analysis. Over two time points, respondents reported their body weight and height, experiences with SMS, and ACEs on an online survey platform. Data analysis was conducted using multiple logistic regression to determine the individual and interactive effects of the ACE score, ACE components, and SMS on the odds for obesity. Results: Almost 16% of the respondents met the criterion for obesity (body-mass index ≥27). In the adjusted models, neither SMS nor ACEs had significant associations with the likelihood of obesity. Only the interaction term of SMS and childhood sexual abuse was significant, indicating that victims of sexual abuse have an increased likelihood of obesity that SMS may intensify. Conclusions: This study shows that gay men who experience childhood sexual abuse and SMS accumulatively faced an increased risk of obesity. Healthy weight promotion for these men should address these stressors.

Male High School Students’ Perceptions of Nursing as a Professional Career Choice: Nursing Pathway Project

The aim of this study was to understand male high school students' perceptions of nursing as a professional career choice. Nursing is predominantly female, with male nurses accounting for less than 10 percent of the nursing workforce. A 32-item descriptive survey that contained demography items and constructs of the theory of planned behavior was administered to 820 high school students from a large Pacific Northwest school district. Male students scored higher (less positive) relative to female students on all scales. When gay and bisexual male students were compared to female students, there was no statistically significant difference. Gay and bisexual male students scored significantly lower (more positive) than straight male students. Self-identified female individuals and self-identified gay and/or bisexual male individuals have a more positive perception of the nursing profession than other self-identified male individuals. Nurse educators should work with high schools, schools of nursing, and nursing professional organizations to implement strategies to recruit male high school students.