Outness, concealment, and authenticity have all been theorized to be important to lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) well-being and psychological outcomes. Using a sample of 373 LGB participants, the current study tests the unique contributions of each of these constructs to outcomes measuring psychological well-being, depressive symptoms, and perceived stress. Hierarchical regressions revealed that increased outness was a significant predictor of increased depressive symptoms (counter to the hypothesis but consistent with prior research suggesting that being out may increase risk for experiencing discrimination and minority stress, thus increasing risk for depressive symptoms). Higher levels of LGB-specific concealment were significantly associated with lower psychological well-being and more depressive symptoms. Higher levels of LGB-specific authenticity were significantly associated with higher psychological well-being, fewer depressive symptoms, and lower levels of perceived stress. We suggest that future research on psychological outcomes look beyond outness (and disclosure) to consider more fully the negative impact of actively concealing LGB identities and the contribution of positive identity factors such as authenticity. Public Significance StatementThe present study suggests that concealing LGB identity may be associated with increased risk of depression and lower psychological well-being. Having a sense of authenticity as an LGB person may help to decrease depressive symptoms, lower stress, and enhance psychological well-being. It is important to remember that disclosing or being "out" about one's LGB identity can increase exposure to experiences of discrimination, which may create a risk for depression.

Given the societal, political, and cultural divide on the topic of same-gender parenting, there is a need for a stronger body of evidence that accurately identifies outcomes for children and adolescents of gay and lesbian parents. In addition, attention should be paid to the validity of the argument that parenting capabilities are gender-exclusive and children need both a mother and a father. The present study was a quantitative synthesis of the available literature to investigate the effects of parental gender and sexual identity on child and adolescent outcomes. An electronic search of relevant databases resulted in 33 unpublished and published studies (N of children = 5,272) that included a comparison of same-gender or different-gender parents and their children. Results indicated several significant findings for the parent-child relationship and child gender role behavior outcomes. Other outcomes, including child sexual orientation, cognitive abilities, psychological adjustment, and gender identity, were not moderated by parent gender or sexual orientation. Implications for future research are discussed.

Prior research describes significantly worse health outcomes experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people relative to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. A prevalent research focus on urban LGBT populations has created a gap in understanding rural LGBT health care and outcomes from a holistic perspective. The present article provides a literature review focusing on the health and health care experiences of LGBT people living in rural areas and highlighting challenges and opportunities for growth in providing culturally competent rural health care. We conducted a systematic review that resulted in the inclusion of 58 articles focused on the health of rural LGBTQ people published between 1998 and February 2016. Findings clustered around 3 themes: (1) individual health outcomes and risk behaviors, (2) experiences of health care and interactions with the health care system, and (3) sociocultural factors at the intersection of rurality and health. Evidence-based recommendations for systemic change and interventions to promote health among rural LGBT people are provided.