The Coming-Out Process in Family, Social, and Religious Contexts Among Young, Middle, and Older Italian LGBQ+ Adults

Abstract

The coming out (CO) process is fundamental for identity integration among LGBQ+ people, and its impact can vary greatly depending on personal and contextual factors. The historical, cultural, and social contexts in which LGBQ+ people develop their sexual identity can mediate the relationship between CO and health outcomes. The present study aimed at clarifying the CO process in three generations of Italian LGBQ+ people (young adults: aged 20–40 years; middle adults: aged 41–60 years; older adults: aged 61–80 years) by providing data on: (a) sexual orientation milestones, such as age of first awareness, age of first self-label, and age of first CO, as well as the rate of disclosure during different life stages; (b) the rate and average age of CO to significant others; and (c) CO within the religious context and its effect on participants’ minority stress experiences. A total of 266 Italian LGBQ+ people participated in the study, with ages ranging from 20 to 80 years (M = 41.15, SD = 16.13). Findings indicated that, on average, the older adult group became self-aware, self-labeled, and disclosed their sexual identity at a significantly older age than the other groups. Older adults were also more Catholic and had CO more frequently to their Catholic community, relative to young and middle adults. CO within the Catholic context was associated with distal and proximal minority stressors, such as discrimination, vigilance, and internalized sexual stigma. Catholic community reactions to participants’ CO were distinguished through thematic analysis in three main types: unconditional acceptance, invitation to change, and open rejection. The present research extended current knowledge on CO and minority stress experiences in different generations of LGBQ+ people. Several differences emerged between generational groups on sexual orientation milestones, highlighting the potential impact of historical and cultural contexts in determining sexual minorities’ experiences related to sexual identity. It is recommended that mental health professionals working with LGBQ+ clients implement targeted interventions based on their clients’ multiple salient aspects, including age and religious background. Clinicians should also be aware of the potentially detrimental effects of CO within an unsupportive context, rather than encouraging CO tout court.

Gender Identity Milestones, Minority Stress and Mental Health in Three Generational Cohorts of Italian Binary and Nonbinary Transgender People

“…In Italy, that is the context of the current study, except for one study analyzing the coming out milestone in three generations of Italian sexual minority people [29], no previous studies have assessed gender identity milestones, minority stress, and mental health of TGNC individuals matching the MST and LCP by considering different generational cohorts. However, some studies have applied the MST to samples of Italian TGNC individuals, highlighting that the Italian socio-cultural context is not highly supportive for these people [30][31][32][33][34].…”

“Here in the Bible Belt, It’s Predominantly Negative”: Sexual Identity Stigma in the American South, 50 Years After Stonewall

“…The Evolving American Sociopolitical Landscape for Lesbians, Gays, and Bisexuals Stigmatization of LGB+ identities in the United States is primarily attributed to conservative social, political, and religious beliefs that prescribe "traditional values" (Bean and Martinez, 2014;Schnabel, 2016;Costa et al, 2019). Linked religious doctrine and political beliefs have furthered sexual minority stigmatization (Schnabel, 2016) and historically, theological beliefs frequently precluded acceptance of people who identified as LGB+, constructing them as immoral, criminal, and mentally ill (Boswell, 1980;Herek et al, 2007;Rosati et al, 2020).…”

“I Come Out Because I Love You”: Positive Coming Out Experiences among Latter-day Saint Sexual and Gender Minorities

“…SGMs raised in conservative religions may be more likely to receive negative reactions to the coming out process than those outside of conservative religions (Dahl and Galliher 2012 ). Indeed, coming out may be particularly harmful when negatively received by close ones, such as friends and family (Baiocco et al 2020 ; Rosati et al 2020 ). Religious parents of SGMs may also be more likely to respond to their children’s coming out with distancing and rejecting behaviors (Baiocco et al 2015 ; Snapp et al 2015 ).…”