Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span

by Ski Hunter

Overview

LGBT persons face multiple challenges when entering the coming out process, regardless of their age or place in society. Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span is a comprehensive guide to the coming out process for LGBT individuals, how to prepare for disclosure, and how disclosure is received in various groups. The book examines sexual orientation and identities; developmental models of coming out; disclosure in adolescence, midlife, or later; coming out to parents and family members; and disclosure outside the family. The book also provides practitioners with guidelines for working with clients who want to make disclosures.

Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span brings together into a single source the latest research and current thought on the experiences of LGBT persons in a heterosexist society. This resource, which is also useful as a supplemental textbook, can be used as a guide to practice for professionals and can be used for in-service training and workshops. This invaluable book has an extensive bibliography.

Topics in Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span include the meaning of sexual identity across various populations, an overview of coming out in the heterosexist world, detailed analysis of the coming out process, examination of the coming out process at different ages, an overview of disclosures in the heterosexist world, detailed analysis of disclosures to parents and family members across various cultures, suggested interventions based on coming out models, special issues experienced in coming out, strategies to facilitate disclosures, and more.

Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span is an essential guide for any LGBT individual preparing to enter the coming out process, and practitioners in the helping professions, such as social work, counseling, and mental health.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780789026903
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	08/21/2007
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	232
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Ski Hunter, PhD, MSW, is a professor at the School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington. She teaches a course on LGBT issues, and has presented numerous workshops on this topic. Dr. Hunter has authored two books on midlife, including Midlife and Older LGBT Adults: Knowledge and Affirmative Practice for the Social Services . She was also the lead author of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths and Adults published in 1998, co-author of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Social Work published in 2001, and lead author of Affirmative Practice: Understanding and Working with Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons .

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments. Introduction. PART I: FIGURING OUT WHO ONE IS AND COMING OUT. Chapter 1. Sexual Orientation and Sexual Identity. Chapter 2. Coming Out: Overview. Chapter 3. Critique of Coming-Out Models. Chapter 4. Coming Out Across the Life Span. PART II: DISCLOSURES ACROSS THE LIFE SPAN. Chapter 5. Disclosures: Overview. Chapter 6. Disclosures to Parents. Chapter 7. Disclosures to Others Inside and Outside the Family. PART III: PRACTICE WITH CLIENTS WHO ARE COMING OUT AND MAKING DISCLOSURES . Chapter 8. Chapter 9. Chapter 10. References. Index.

What People are Saying About This

Michael C. LaSala

THIS IS THE COMPREHENSIVE, RESEARCH-BASED BOOK ON COMING OUT THAT CLINICIANS, SCHOLARS, AND TEACHERS HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR. The inclusion of the coming out and disclosure processes of transgender persons, bisexuals, and older adults is especially valuable and informative. The excellent chapter on intervening in schools, the workplace, and society at-large make this volume a standout among its peers. (Michael C. LaSala, PhD, LCSW; Associate Professor, School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey)

Yolanda C. Padilla

Brings together the existing body of empirical research on coming out and synthesizes the models that have been developed to understand this life transition of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender persons. . . . Clearly delineates the often blurred processes of coming out and disclosure, creatively organizing them within a coherent life course perspective. Special attention is given to the significance of the contextual effects of race, class, age, immigration, and historical period in our understanding of private discovery and public revelation of LGBT identity. The section on working with clients who are coming out or who want to reveal their sexual orientation or gender identity offers relevant information for practitioners. . . . This comprehensive compilation of research on the coming out experience can SERVE AS A SOUND FOUNDATION FOR EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICE with LGBT people, their families, and their community and social system, including schools and the work place. (Yolanda C. Padilla, PhD, LMSW-AP, Professor of Social Work and Women's Studies, School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin)

Robert B. Ridinger

Hunter's SOLIDLY WRITTEN book addresses the topic from the perspective of social service practitioners, in particular the persistent omission of training in issues important in the provision of effective services to LGBT populations from their professional preparation and continuing education. . . . Of greatest value is the detailed discussion and exploration of the concept of heterosexism as framing the environment within which all coming out actions and events take place—and some of its consequences such as antigay violence, and the separation of 'coming out' from 'disclosure', the meaning often assigned to it. (Robert B. Ridinger, MA, MLS; Full Professor, Northern Illinois University Libraries; Author)

Editorial Reviews

"...very useful as a supplemental text in a class focused on or including discussion relating to LGBT issues and would provide not only insight into one of the most difficult and impactful processes in the lives of LGBT individuals but also concrete techniques and approaches for use in counseling practice and advocacy. This book is highly recommended for students and practicioners alike."

— The Family Journal, October 2008

From the Publisher