Gay men

The present study examined the relationship between Action Identification and Homosexual Identity Formation. Specifically, it examines how homosexual male individuals view their actions differently when they are “in the closet” (not open about their sexual orientation) compared to being out today (open about their sexual orientation). Homosexual male participants (N=142) took an online survey containing the internalized Homophobia scale, Self-concept clarity scale, and general demographics questions and took the Behavioral Identification Form with an additional 20 items twice (BIF+). The participants were instructed first to answer the BIF+ as if they were in the closet and later took the same form as they are today, being comfortable with their sexual orientation. Using the original 25-item BIF, a paired t-test revealed a significant difference in the out-of-the-closet (M = .65, SD = .19) from the closeted (M = .60, SD =.21), t(141) = 3.3, p < .001. The effect size measured by Cohen’s d was d=.28, indicating a small effect. With the additional 20 items, a paired t-test for the BIF+ revealed a significant difference in the out-of-the-closet (M = .69, SD = .15) condition, compared to being closeted (M = .63, SD = .19), t(141) = 4.4, p<.001. The effect size, measured by Cohen’s d, was d=.37, indicating a small effect. These findings suggest that when homosexual men are closeted, they tend to view their actions at a lower level compared to when they are open about their sexual orientation.

For many gay men performing a gay-centric identity can be challenging. By adopting a set of expected behaviors known as the gay cultural script, many of these men are potentially met with discrimination from both heterosexual and homosexual communities. The gay cultural script is readily available as it is found within the gay ghettos and through various representations of gay men in the media. This research question examines how the gay cultural script when found within the gay ghetto and through the media's representation of gay men provides a lens to which the performance of a gay-centric identity may be communicated and shared. The focus of this research is separated into three interconnected areas: (1) exploration of gay-cultural script, (2) location to which the gay cultural script operates and, (3) analysis of the relationship between the gay cultural script and gay-centric identity performance.