The Coming Out Experience of Latino Gay Men

Abstract

Coming out to family, especially parents, can be very daunting. How parents react to their child’s disclosure can have a significant impact on the individual’s self-esteem, mental health, and ability to tolerate adversity. Moreover, an individual’s culture may influence this process further. A modified phenomenological inquiry was used to understand the lived experiences of 15 Latino gay men after coming out to their families, specifically fathers, and whether their disclosure affected their mental health and substance use behaviors. Participants reported fear of being rejected by their families, particularly their fathers, once coming out. These men reported drinking alcohol to cope with the anxieties of being out to their families. Findings suggest that cultural norms influence the coming out process for the men in this study. Implications for research and practice are discussed.