This book confronts myths about gay and lesbian youth and explores their real experiences of coming out. The research for the book was conducted at the Horizons lesbian and gay social service agency in Chicago, Illinois. Chapter 1 takes a historical look at homosexuality and proposes a new theory of gay and lesbian development to explain a…

Speculates on gay and lesbian identity formation as individuals progress through Super's life stages. Notes that there is a dearth of empirical research on the impact of gay/lesbian identity development on the completion of career stages. (SK)

Recent studies show that those lesbians and gays who are comfortable and "out" with their identities exhibit better psychological adjustment than those who are unaccepting and hidden. This paper explores the experiences of bisexuals within the gay and lesbian movement and shows how what is known about sexual orientation and the development of a…

Psychometric properties of the Workplace Sexual Identity Management Measure were tested with 172 professionals. Results suggest it successfully assesses a continuum of lesbian and gay identity management strategies (passing, covering, implicitly out, explicitly out). (Contains 27 references.) (SK)

Scientists should reconsider traditional empirical and theoretical paradigms that narrowly define sexual-minority adolescents in terms of those who adopt a culturally defined sexual identity label such as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. This will lead to a different understanding of sexual-minority youths than is apparent in most published studies.…

Seven essays by youths ages 14-18 describe their experiences of pain, alienation, and secrecy as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. (SK)

The cultural world of the Two Spirit, the traditional role of Native individuals believed to possess both male and female spirit, is explored in both "old ways" and current-day experiences. Cultural beliefs and meanings around sexual identity are discussed from a Native perspective with recommendations for counseling Two Spirit clients.…

An analysis of 12 structured clinical interviews with lesbians ranging in age from 22 to 46 reveals limited support for Cass' stage theory. Implications for theory development, counseling, and counselor training, are presented, along with suggestions for future research. (Author/JDM)

Outlines the ethical considerations for sexual orientation conversion therapy for lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals. There are numerous reasons not to acquiesce to a client's desire to change his or her sexual orientation. Presents guidelines for responding to a client seeking reorientation and evaluating one's biases regarding lesbian, gay,…

Proposes visibility management as a key construct in gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) identity development. Visibility management refers to the dynamic, ongoing process by which GLB youth make careful, planned decisions about whether they will disclose their sexual orientation, to whom and how they disclose, and how they continue to monitor the…

Sexual identity development and environmental factors are central to the career assessment of lesbian, homosexual, and bisexual clients. Counselor biases and biases in career assessment tools must be recognized and dealt with. (SK)

The Gay and Lesbian Affirmative Development model, a proactive, gay-affirmative counseling approach, is proposed. Parallels are drawn between Cass's Homosexual Identity Formation model and Ivey's cognitive-behavioral Developmental Counseling Therapy model to help counselors assess and facilitate gay and lesbian clients' cognitive development…

Investigates risk factors associated with internalizing and externalizing problems among 169 gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents. Data were gathered on individual, family, and community risk factors and youths' mental health and behavioral functioning. Results suggest that adolescents should be carefully assessed for concerns related and not…

In this culture a person's sexual identity falls into one of four groups: heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual, and asexual. Essentialism assumes that one is fixed with a core identity of either heterosexual or homosexual. Constructionism posits that categories of sexuality are constructed to meet the needs of a particular culture, society, and/or…

Reviews methodological issues constraining research on the career development of gay/lesbian/bisexual people. Suggests a broader span of content, theory-based research, increased representation of populations, quantitative and qualitative methods, and designs that investigate within-group and between-group differences in career experiences. (SK)