Music and the closet: The roles music plays for gay men in the “coming out” process

Abstract

Previous studies that examined the roles music plays in homosexual life focused on how it was used after "coming out." In the present study, we qualitatively examined whether music played special roles before and during the "coming out" process. Seven gay men of varying ages and cultural backgrounds were interviewed and asked to describe their "coming out" process and to specify whether music was somehow involved in the process. An analysis of the transcribed interviews revealed three main roles: music as a companion (music offered the support that a friend might have provided); music as a means for concealing and exposing (music helped to regulate the extent of exposing homosexuality); and music as means of making change (music served as a catalyst for "coming out"). The results are discussed in light of Cass's (1979) model of homosexual identity formation and suggestions for further studies are provided.

Melanie’s Story: A Narrative Account of a Transgender Music Educator’s Journey

“…Within the music education community, educators and researchers have begun to consider how we as music teachers have a responsibility to adapt our practice to accommodate the needs of students of diverse gender and sexual identities. This concern is evidenced by a growing number of articles dealing with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) matters in music education contexts (Aronoff & Gilboa, 2015;Bergonzi, 2009;Carter, 2013;Freer, 2013;Garrett, 2012;Nichols, 2013;Paparo & Sweet, 2014;Silveira & Goff, 2016;Taylor, 2011) as well as the symposium, Establishing Identity: LGBTQ Studies and Music Education, now in its third iteration. In the original call for papers (Establishing Identity, 2009), symposium organizers noted, "Music education has yet to consider research, theory, and practice from a LGBT perspective" (p. 280).…”

Musical identities in action: Embodied, situated, and dynamic

“…These are all critical aspects of youth identity construction. Musical activities have been argued to play a significant role in the identity processes of different youth minorities, for exploring, negotiating, and expressing sexual identities (Aronoff & Gilboa, 2015; Scrine, 2019), and supporting identity formation and social engagement in young people who have experienced forced migration (Smith, 2018).…”

If your girl only knew: The effects of infidelity-themed song lyrics on cognitions related to infidelity.

“…In addition to being an important part of adolescents’ and young adults’ identity development and sexual socialization (Aronoff & Gilboa, 2015; L’Engle, Brown, & Kenneavy, 2006), music has been shown to influence the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors of listeners. Much attention has been paid to the influence of exposure to music videos, which contain song lyrics and are accompanied by visual imagery.…”