Disclosure of homosexuality, perception of social support and community integration in Portuguese lesbian, gay, and bisexual people

1. Disclosure of homosexuality,
perception of social support and
community integration in Portuguese
lesbian, gay, and bisexual people
Pedro Alexandre Costa
Ph.D. in Psychology
UIPES-ISPA-IU
University of Beira Interior
pcosta@ispa.pt
Ph.D. Grant

2. Background
 Disclosing one’s sexual orientation – coming-out – is a
complex process albeit significant for one’s sense of
identity and self-esteem.
 Coming-out signifies the acknowledgment of a
homosexual or bisexual sexual orientation and the
disclosure of this sexual orientation to others.
 It is one important milestone for LGB people for their
self-acceptance and in constructing their sense of
identity.

3. Background
 Nowadays, coming-out may also be a strategy to attack
prejudice and to reduce stereotypes, as well as to
relieve personal isolation.
 LGBT communities are based on shared identity derived
from sexual orientation.
 3 disempowering problems of LGBT people
. Stress related to coming-out;
. Heterosexism;
. Difficulties identifying with the community.
[Garnets & D’Augelli, 1994]

4. Method
 The purpose of this empirical study was to characterize
Portuguese LGB people in their process of coming-out
and its relation to involvement with the LGBT
community.
 Sample was recruited to participate in a larger study
about attitudes toward gay and lesbian parenting.
Participants were contacted by email through LGBT
associations, and by posts in lesbian and gay-interest
social networks. All participants filled-in an online
questionnaire.

5. Sample characteristics
Participants
N=455
Age: 18–57 years old (M=30; sd=9)
Gender: 62% men, 38% women
Sexual orientation: 57% gay men, 25% lesbians, 18%
bisexuals
LGBT affiliation: 21% associated or volunteers
LGBT events: 54% participated in events

6. Results: Coming-out
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Parents Close
friends
Parents Close
friends
Parents Close
friends
Gay men Lesbians Bisexuals
not disclosed
in process

7. Results: Acceptance of coming-out
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Parents Close friends Parents Close friends Parents Close friends
Gay men Lesbians Bisexuals
no acceptance
difficulties today
dificulties in
beggining

8. Results: Correlations
Support
parents
Support
friends
Acceptance
parents
Acceptance
friends
Disclosure
parents
Disclosure
friends
LGBT
affiliation
LGBT
events
Support parents
,34* ,31* ,09 ,10** ,10** ,05 ,09
Support friends
,34* ,17* ,37* ,16* ,30* ,03 ,17*
Acceptance
parents ,31* ,17* ,17* ,77* ,14** ,17* ,31*
Acceptance
friends ,09 ,37* ,17* ,15** ,80* ,10** ,19*
Disclosure
parents ,10** ,16* ,77* ,15** ,16* ,23* ,34*
Disclosure
friends ,10** ,30* ,14** ,80* ,16* ,07 ,15**
LGBT affiliation
,05 ,03 ,17* ,10** ,23* ,07 ,37*
LGBT events
,09 ,17* ,31* ,19* ,34* ,15** ,37*
*p<.001; **p<.05

9. Results: Community involvement
Test results revealed that:
1. Participants were more likely to come-out to both parents
and friends when they were actively involved with a LGBT
association (p<.001).
2. Participants were more likely to feel accepted by their
parents and friends after coming-out when they were
involved with a LGBT association (p<.05).

10. Discussion
Coming-out and acceptance
 Gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals are more likely
to come out to their friends than their family, and 3x
more likely to feel accepted by their friends;
 Bisexual individuals are less likely to come-out to
either friends or parents than gay men or lesbians.

11. Discussion
Community involvement
 Willingness to come-out, and feelings of acceptance
are correlated with levels involvement with LGBT
associations, even if the involvement is only
occasional.
 Involvement with LGBT associations helps to predict
disclosure of sexual orientation and acceptance by
parents and friends.

12. Reflections
 If involvement with the LGBT community is associated
with disclosure and acceptance, why so few people are
actively engaged with the LGBT community, namely
LGBT associations?
 Literature has documented that not only coming-out is an
important milestone in the development of a positive
LGBT identity, but also integrating within the community.
 In fact, LGBT individuals maintain self-esteem most
effectively when they are integrated with a LGBT
community.
[Crocker & Major, 1989; Garnets & D’Augelli, 1994

13. Implications & Conclusion
 Community Psychologists doing research and working
with LGBT people should focus on assisting LGBT
youth in particular to identify and to develop social
networks close to their communities in order to help
them develop a strong and positive sense of identity.
 In conclusion, only a sense of community
can break the cycle of oppression and
discrimination.

14. Thank you for your attention!
Any further query or comment, feel free to contact
me
pcosta@ispa.pt
Acknowledgments:
My colleague Cláudia Rita
My supervisors Dr Henrique Pereira
and Dr Isabel Leal