‘You're not sure that you are gay yet’: The perpetuation of the ‘phase’ in the lives of young disabled LGBT + people

Abstract

Contemporary discourse on sexuality presents a picture of fluidity and malleability, with research continuing to frame sexuality as negotiable, within certain parameters and social structures. Such investigation is fraught with difficulties, due in part to the fact that as one explores how identity shifts, language terms such as ‘phase’ emerge conjuring images of a definitive path towards an end-goal, as young people battle through a period of confusion and emerge at their true or authentic identity. Seeing sexuality and gender identity as a phase can delegitimise and prevent access to support, which is not offered due to the misconception that it is not relevant and that one can grow out of being LGBT+. This article explores the lives of disabled LGBT + young people from their perspective, using their experiences and stories to explore their identities and examine how this links to the misconception of their sexuality and gender as a phase. Taking inspiration from the work of scholars exploring sexual and gender identity, and sexual storytelling; the article is framed by intersectionality which allows for a detailed analysis of how identities interact and inform, when used as an analytic tool. The article calls for a more nuanced understanding of sexuality and gender in the lives of disabled LGBT + young people, which will help to reduce inequality and exclusion.

Centring the voices of disabled LGBT+ young people in research

“…Corker (2001) argued that it was really important to explore young lives because they are periods of exploration and getting to know oneself. Similarly, Toft et al (2019b) have reported how for disabled young people periods of sexuality and gender exploration are often viewed as a 'phase' and although it is a period of exploration, this study illustrated that this does not mean that there has to be a specific end-goal. It is just the period in which young people begin to question and understand their own identityand thus worthy of study in its own right.…”

“…These studies are often small qualitative studies pro-viding a rich depth of experiences, often shedding light on societal, structural and cultural factors that impact on the lives of LGBT+ disabled young people (e.g., Dinwoodie et al, 2016;Juvva et al, 2020, Michaels andGorman, 2020). These studies have offered an insight into the worlds of this group of young people, but rarely have researchers reported the barriers and facilitators that have enabled them to connect with this groupa group whose authentic lives are often hidden, who are often prevented from making their own choices, decisions and/or being able to express themselves, their views and experiences (Toft et al, 2019b).…”

Identity Management and Community Belonging: The Coming Out Careers of Young Disabled LGBT+ Persons

“…As previously noted I take inspiration from the work of Orne (2011) and his call to explore coming out as a strategic identity management tool which can help to unpick identities and intersections. In order to do this, I use what I have previously called intersectional story-telling, a form of narrative driven intersectional analysis (Toft et al 2019b). I propose that exploring experiences and events, whilst always foregrounding the voices of the participants, is an effective starting point for understanding individual's relation to society and the self.…”

“…One of the prevailing misconceptions young disabled LGBT+ people face is that their sexuality or gender identity can be attributed to going through a phase or being in a position of temporariness (Toft et al 2019b). Taking a metaphor from Plummer (1995) we are seen to be navigating a sea of questions and uncertainties before eventually arriving home.…”

“…Such journeys do not need a defined end-point, as an end-point only enhances the focus upon the time at sea, whilst categorising it as being choppy, uneven and essentially, not representative of one's true identity. For young disabled LGBT+ persons, the reduction of sexuality and gender identity to a phase, is built upon misunderstandings in relation to immaturity, incapability and delegitimisation (Toft et al 2019b). As previously shown (Toft et al 2019a;Toft and Franklin 2020a), young people have to negotiate their identities in light of such pressures, but they also have to navigate decisions on sharing their identities with others.…”