An APA symposium sponsored by Division 44 (The Society for the Psychological Study of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Issues) focused on an interesting dilemma. What happens to individuals who Come Out as gay or lesbian, only to discover that they also have heterosexual attractions? Then, there is a second Coming Out as bisexual (which does not fit for some). Does Coming Out as nonheterosexual work better? For some of the researchers in this symposium, it was difficult to define or characterized this sexual/gender orientation fluidity, and they resorted to terms like "gender nonconforming persons."
To explain the "prejudice" associated with this second Coming Out, Jonathan Mohr and Ray Sheets (from George Mason University and Western Michigan State Universities respectively), used an interesting term: binegativity. The term appears similar to homophobia (some individuals do use the term biphobia instead of binegativity), focusing on the distress experienced by this sexual minority group.
These researchers concluded that being "out" may mean different things for different people, and that labels do not adequately represent how individuals construct their sexual identities. The fluidity of nonhetersexual forms of sexuality was a noticeable theme in this symposium.
An interesting finding was reported by Tera Beaber, M.A., a student from the California School of Professional Psychology of Alliant International University - San Francisco: the bisexual participants in her study reported more stigma from the lesbian/gay community. That is, individuals who first identified as gay or lesbian and subsequently identified as bisexual, experienced rejection from the gay/lesbian community.1 (Where is the tolerance?)
Perhaps the most interesting presentation during this symposium was the one given by Seth T. Pardo, a student at Cornell University (his advisor is Ritch C. Savin-Williams).2 Mr. Pardo's research focused on the "Empirical challenge to dichotomous thinking about sexual orientation," and the "Empirical support for the fluid and/or shifting partner preferences over the life course" (Slide 3).
Pardo's basic research question was "In a sample of gender nonconforming persons, how do partner preferences and sexual behaviors contribute to a sexual identity?" (Slide 5).
Consider the following representative responses from the subjects in this qualitative study:
In response to partner preference,
"I'm still trying to figure that out. I used to identify as lesbian, but that assumes gender synchrony. I now just say that I'm attracted to femininity" (Slide 15).
"Unsure, I just know that I'm attracted to feminine qualities" (Slide 15).
"Don't know yet. I've never been sexually attracted to anyone, male or female. I started fantasizing about gay male romances at an early age though" (Slide 15).
"I am certainly attracted to women...but to say I know my sexual orientation for certain would be absurd because I have not been able to fully live my life as the person I feel I am inside...with a body that would allow me to be comfortable enough to explore my options" (Slide 16).
"How I see myself has affected how I see my orientation. I wasn't really attracted to men until I could see myself in a same sex male relationship. If I felt the guy saw me as a woman or if I wasn't sure, it was uncomfortable for me. This had a lot to do with why I identified as a gay female before (I never liked the word 'lesbian'). It felt more right, but it still wasn't quite 'it'. I see myself as always having been attracted to people in general. That is, I'm not homo, hetero, or bisexual. I'm just sexual" (Slide 16).
The following representative responses were offered regarding sexual orientation identity.
"Prior to transition, I ID'd as lesbian. I now ID as a gay male. I do not often have sex with others. I have found that most gay men are interested in others who have a penis, since I don't, I am pretty cautious about how I proceed in being with others" (Slide 19).
"I'm a pansexual man, so I have multiple partners some of whom I have sex with. They are of various sexual orientations and gender identities themselves. Primarily I date queer people and have sex in 'queer' ways whatever that means to those involved. Leather, SM, power exchange, and other such things are definitely a part of my 'sexual behavior" (Slide 19).
In response to gender and sexuality as separate constructs, the following representative responses were offered.
"Just as my gender identity is not related to my biological sex, my sexual proclivities are not related to my gender identity" (Slide 21).
"My sexual behavior intersects but is not dictated by my gender identity" (Slide 21).
The author's conclusions include the following:
"Gender identity conceptualizations and sexuality (identity labels and partner preferences) may be separate constructs (Slide 24).
"Traditional sexual orientation identity language (LGB) is not fully adequate for summarizing gender nonconforming sexuality" (Slide 24).
It is important to note that narrative information derived from such qualitative studies provide sources of rich data. However, such studies allow the researchers to reach no conclusions. Indeed, considering the nature of qualitative research, especially the notion that such research is hypothesis generating and not hypothesis testing, social scientists must ask the following questions:
Finally, the most interesting questions that emerge from this research are these.
If an individual Comes Out the first time and claims a gay or lesbian identity (has to deal with "homophobia,"), discovers that he/she has some heterosexual attractions, Comes Out the second time as a bisexual (has to deal with biphobia or binegativity), what happens if the person Comes Out the third time as heterosexual?
Does he or she then have to deal with heterophobia? Or do such individuals have to deal with all of the stressors, negativism, discrimination associated with just being ex-gay?
Where is the APA-sponsored research and recommendations supporting individuals who Come Out the third time? Does APA plan to have open discussions supporting client respect, client self-determination, and client autonomy for those who Come Out the third time as heterosexual?
Diversity and social justice would demand that APA address the issues associated with this other/additional minority population---those who Come Out the third time---as heterosexual.
(1) Beaber, T. (2008) Well-Being among bisexual females: The roles of internalized biphobia, stigma consciousness, social support and self-disclosure. Paper Presented at the American Psychological Association, August 16.
(2) Pardoe, S. (2008) Sexual Orientation, behaviors, and identity among gender nonconforming persons. Paper presented at the American Psychological Association, August, 2008.