Celebrating Bisexuality and Gender Diversity
While some parts of the world have become much more accepting toward LGBT people there are other parts where it can be dangerous to be open about ones sexual orientation. Here in the US the acceptance of our LGBT family and friends is very dependant upon where one lives and the communities one belongs to. Sadly in some areas of the US tolerance and acceptance of our LGBT friends and family has taken a decided turn towards the worse and being out has become more dangerous and one must carefully assess the tolerance in their specific community.
I am a huge supporter of the benefits of living out but now is perhaps a good time to review this 2011 study showing coming out is helpful if its in a supportive envirnment.
Coming Out Always a ‘‘Good Thing’’? Exploring the Relations of Autonomy Support, Outness, and Wellness for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals by Nicole Legate, Richard M. Ryan, and Netta Weinstein very importantly points out that it is perfectly OK to be out to some and not out to others. In other words if it will help by all means be out but self preservation says you are better off being quiet if it will do more harm then good.What this study says makes total sense to me coming out in a supportive environment makes a huge difference on personal well being while being out in a homophobic environment not so much. Coming out to someone who from that day forward will hate your guts or worse beat the crap out of you is not going to help with your sense of well being.
If you like your job and coming out is going to make your job hell or worse get you fired logic says being out at work is not going to be good for your sense of well being.What the article says to me is coming out in a supportive environment is good for your well being and that if possible we should work,study, live and worship in as supportive an environment as possible.
l close with a link to a Science Dailey article about the study
Science Daily article - University of Rochester (2011, June 20). Is coming out always a good thing? Disclosing sexual orientation makes people happier than thought, but mainly in supportive settings.ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/06/110620094419.htm
Original Study published in Social Psychological and Personality Science Is Coming Out Always a ‘‘Good Thing’’? Exploring the Relations of Autonomy Support, Outness, and Wellness for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals Nicole Legate, Richard M. Ryan, and Netta Weinstein DOI: 10.1177/1948550611411929 Social Psychological and Personality Science published online 20 June 2011 http://spp.sagepub.com/content/early/2011/06/10/1948550611411929.full.pdf Note while the originsl study was free in 2011 there is now a fee for the full text.
Selections From My Journal - Miscellaneous informal personal posts, comments and reflections.
TERMS OF USE MUST BE OVER THE AGE OF 18 Published for reading by readers within the United States of America. All other readers must check the laws of their country to insure content that discusses sexuality and variations in sexual orientation do not violate their country or local laws.