HIV Status and Coming Out among African American Gay and Bisexual Men

Abstract

It is possible that disclosing one's HIV status can further a person's coming-out process as a gay or bisexual man and can have other mental health benefits. Using samples of gay identified and bisexually identified African American men, this study examined the relationship between HIV status and several variables: use of mental health services, levels of internalized homonegativity, levels of stigma associated with same-sex activity and disclosure about same sex activity to community and family. Compared to individuals without HIV, the African American HIV+ men who had sex with men in this study reported using more mental health services, having lower levels of internalized homonegativity and experiencing lower levels of stigma associated with same sex activity. Duration of HIV+ status was positively associated with disclosure about same-sex activity. This pattern of results was more pronounced for gay identified African American men than those who identified as bisexual. These findings highlight how disclosing one's HIV status can be associated with the coming-out process, but minority stress associated with a bisexual identity among African American men who have sex with men may minimize these potential benefits.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• disclosure
• coming out
• bisexual
• gay
• African American
• Black

Acknowledgments

Brian D. Zamboni, PhD, is a clinical psychologist who specializes in sexuality. He is an AASECT certified sex therapist and sexuality educator who works at the University of Minnesota where he provides sex therapy for a variety of populations.

Beatrice “Bean” E. Robinson, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, licensed marriage and family therapist, and an associate professor at the Program in Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota. Her current area of emphasis within human sexuality is exploring and developing sexual health via HIV prevention in minority communities, most notably the African American, African-born, Hmong, men who have sex with men, bisexual, and transgender communities.

Walter O. Bockting, PhD, is a licensed psychologist, associate professor, and coordinator of transgender health services at the Program in Human Sexuality at the University of Minnesota. His research interests include gender identity development, transgender health, sexuality and the Internet, and HIV prevention, and his work has been supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health.