The Decision to Tell

Abstract

This paper examines the factors which affect the decision by gay men to disclose their sexual orientation to parents, siblings, friends, at school, at the workplace, and in their neighborhoods. The findings indicate that the generation that grew up before Stonewall remains more closeted in most settings than members of the younger generations. The gay individual's level of religiosity was not found to be associated with disclosure in most settings, and parental religiosity affected only disclosure by the youngest generation.

Key Words:

• Disclosure
• coming out
• gay
• homosexuality