Examining identity development among gay men of color

Abstract

Within the past few decades, there has been an explosion of articles examining “gay identity.” Yet, much of this work continues to center on the experiences of gay White men or fail to adequately examine the process of identity development, even when “identity” is central to the discussion. This review outlines 4 theoretical perspectives used to explore gay men of color and identity development. Taken together, these 4 perspectives can offer a rich opportunity to explore the ways that gay men of color come to develop an identity that simultaneously addresses their racial and sexual identities. I argue that examining identity development among gay men of color can help sociology better understand the identity process and provide new insights into examining intersectionality by demonstrating that identities are not only intersectional but also contextual.

Race and Ethnicity in the Lives of LGBTQ Parents and Their Children: Perspectives from and Beyond North America

“…LGBTQ parents of color are more likely to report that they are supported by their extended families, while rejection by blood relatives after coming out is more common among White LGBTQ parents (National Black Justice Coalition, 2012). Such findings challenge the assumption that LGBTQ people of color are more likely to be rejected by their families due to intersections of race and religiosity and related culturalist and often racist assumptions that communities of color are "more homophobic" (see Han, 2015Han, , 2017. Increased focus on community strengths and assets will help to counter the deficit model that persists in research on LGBTQ families and families of color (Akerlund & Cheung, 2000;Prendergast & MacPhee, 2018).…”

Unspoiling Identity: An Intersectional Expansion of Stigma Response Strategies

“…Stigma scholars contend that passing and covering—hiding or downplaying one’s identity, respectively—are the primary ways that individuals living with stigmatized identities seek to maintain the smoothness of interactions with “normals” (Goffman 1963). While scholarship documents the stigma management options that are available to socially stigmatized groups (see C.-S. Han 2007, 2017; C. W. Han 2015; Lamont et al 2016; Saguy 2012; Yoshino 2006), few studies have adequately addressed how individuals negotiating multiple stigmas create a “coherent sense of self” (Deci and Ryan 2004).…”