Living Out Proud: Factors Contributing to Healthy Identity Development in Lesbian Leaders.

Due to the negative view of homosexuality in our society, an individual oftentimes goes through an adjustment process, also known as the coming-out process, in an attempt to come to terms with her identity. Research has indicated that a positive gay/lesbian identity is related to healthy psychological adjustment (Hammersmith & Weinberg, 1973; Miranda & Storms, 1989). It is unclear, however, what factors lead to psychological adjustment or the achievement of a positive lesbian identity. A study was conducted surveying national leaders and role models in the lesbian community in an attempt to identify factors that contributed to success in the coming-out process. This article will address the five areas of support that were identified in the study and how counselors can utilize this information in working with clients during the coming-out process. Historically, mental health care professionals have viewed homosexuality as pathology. Past research often used prisoners and in-patient samples as subjects for studies on homosexuality (Gonsiorek, 1977). Many of these studies focused upon causality, assessment, and diagnosis, so that homosexuals could be cured, because such an orientation was considered to be psychopathological (Bullough, 1974). Although homosexuality was deleted from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (2nd ed.; as cited in Glenn & Russell, 1986), practices such as conversion, also known as reparative, therapy were only recently condemned by the American Psychological Association (Bart, 1998). According to Bart, the American Counseling Association (ACA) does not specifically address conversion therapy; however the Governing Council approved a motion stating that ACA "opposes the portrayal of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth and adults as mentally ill due to their sexual orientation; and supports the dissemination of accurate information about sexual orientation" (p. 1). GAY AND LESBIAN IDENTITY MODELS Gay and lesbian identity models are similar to other identity models describing racial and ethnic identity (Atkinson, Morten, & Sue, 1989; Cross, 1971) development in that both describe an evolving process. However, there is also a significant difference in that typically gay and lesbian identity development is delayed due to society's stigmatization (Cass, 1979; Coleman, 1982). Unlike ethnic or racial identity, sexual orientation is invisible, therefore, contributing to the stigmatization and lack of role models. Cass (1983/84) argued that ethnic and racial identities develop more readily due to the presence of a group identity. In looking at the relationship between heterosexual and homosexual identity development, researchers have found no difference in the biological and cognitive development of adolescents of heterosexual and homosexual orientations (Hetrick & Martin, 1987). However, Hetrick and Martin (1987) noted that gay/lesbian adolescents progress differently in the psychological and social arenas and believe this is related to the stigmatization of homosexuality. The majority of gay/lesbian theorists see the achievement of a gay or lesbian identity as a developmental process (Cass, 1979; Coleman, 1982, Minton & McDonald, 1984; Plummer, 1975; Troiden, 1989). The process of achieving a positive gay/lesbian identity can take several years, with many people getting stuck during this process and never achieving a positive, integrated identity (Coleman, 1982). Because many of the earlier theories of homosexual identity were largely based upon the experiences of gay men (Cass, 1979; Coleman, 1982; Troiden; 1989), it is likely they are limited in validity and utility in describing the experiences of lesbians. In an attempt to fill the void of lesbian research, Sophie (1987) developed the first model of lesbian identity. Sophie's findings noted two aspects that varied from previous research. …