Frightened Criminals: Internalized Homophobia, Self-Loathing and Damaged Identity Development

• In Event: LGBTQ Youth and Adults in Carceral Settings

Abstract

This case study of an internally homophobic gay man, incarcerated for armed robbery found that his intermittent denial, fear, and hatred of his gay identity led to his history of deviant behavior. Firstly, this grounded theoretical analysis illustrated that his chronic alcoholism and depression were preceded by early physical abuse and sexual abuse. Secondarily, by his own admission, his on-going struggle in achieving long-term intimacy with an adult male or female was related to his self-loathing with regard to his sexual orientation. This case study elucidates a theoretical model in which early trauma and internal self-hatred among self-denying and internally homophobic GLBT, prohibits healthy ego identity development leading to pro-longed substance abuse and deviant or criminal behavior.

Author

• Rebecca Sue Katz, Morehead State University