Relational Contexts and Information Management among Gay Men

Abstract

Deciding whether to tell others about their sexual orientation is an important feature of gays' social interactions. Thirty-eight gay men were interviewed to see how they manage this personal information across four types of relationships: parental relationships, sibling relationships, friendships, and relationships with acquaintances and more distant others. Findings are discussed in light of current models of gay identity development. The implications of the study for our understanding of the social relationships of gays and nongays and for clinical practice with gay men are addressed.