Asian Cultural Values, Internalized Heterosexism, and Sexual Orientation Disclosure Among Asian American Sexual Minority Persons

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine how cultural-specific influences effect dimensions of sexual identity experience among 143 Asian American lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning (LGBQ) persons using a web-based Internet survey. Findings revealed that more adherence to Asian values was positively related to internalized heterosexism (also known as internalized homophobia) and negatively related to sexual orientation disclosure to others. Results also indicated that internalized heterosexism mediated and moderated the relationship between adherence to Asian values and sexual orientation disclosure. In terms of mediation, findings were consistent with the notion that more adherence to Asian cultural values leads to more internalized heterosexism, which in turn leads to less willingness to be out. In terms of moderation, results revealed that the difference between the high and low internalized heterosexism groups occurs at the lower levels of adherence to Asian values when LGBQ persons who have less internalized heterosexism have more sexual orientation disclosure. Results illustrate the complex ways that culture specific values and processes influence two important aspects of the coming out process.

KEYWORDS:

• Asian cultural values
• coming out
• gay
• internalized heterosexism
• internalized homophobia