The "Coming Out" Process of Latino Gay Men: An Ongoing Negotiation

• In Event: 25.068 - Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: 25.068-17 - Intersectional Identity Development in School and Community Contexts

Abstract

This paper narrates a study regarding the coming out process of Latino, gay men who must negotiate “coming out” or self-disclosure of their non-normative sexual identity in a heteronormative and now homonormative society, while simultaneously negotiating cultural affiliations. Both systems privilege those from the dominant group with regards to race, gender, class, able-bodied status, and English fluency and continually marginalize queer identities that do not reflect these attributes. A thorough understanding of how Latino, gay men experience coming out can help educators recognize and improve their praxis when interacting with their heterogeneous student populations, many who may experience multiple oppressions.

Author

• Henry Alexander Santos, Chapman University