Introduction
While sexuality is a fact, LGBT community members are constantly bombarded with a struggle of coming to reality with their sexuality. Many of LGBT community members face discrimination and societal rebuke that hinders open declaration of sexuality. Gay people often ponder at the thought of coming out. Gay people ask questions such as Am I or am I not, should I come out or not ? Perhaps it is a decent if I stay in the closet and act like heterosexual and not gay. In addition to getting worried about proclaiming or not proclaiming, gay people are also worried about the people to trust. They often wonder when to confide on family, friends or work mates (Simomi, 1996). This study aims to explore how peers pressure influence the willingness of gay people to come out of the closet. While examining these issues, the study grapples with the question: What is the best possible model of research that presents an accurate assessment of gay challenges, particularly in coming out of the closet?
Define LGBT
The word LGBT is an acronym for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community. Together these terms describe different groups of people within the gay community. At the beginning of the struggle for gay rights, gay was synonymous with homosexual men. When women gay people joined the struggle, a new term, lesbian was coined. Contemporarily, the conventional understanding of gay people often ignores the place of transgender. This group refers to people who are both masculine and feminine. For example, some transgender people have two genitalia. While talking about gay rights, it is crucial to include the two groups (Ncadi, 2012). In general, the LGBT community refers people whose sexual orientation varies between preference for same sex or preference for same sex and the opposite sex. Susan Cochran and Vickie Mays argue that sexual orientation comprises of individuals sexual behaviors, sexual attraction, fantasies, and self-identification among others. While talking about gay people, it is essential to understand that the term is a general term that refers to people who has sexual orientation that makes them attracted to people of the same sex (Ncadi, 2012).
Previous Research
Longerbeam et al (2007) reported that gay people often remain closed because of the hostile climate they experience in college campuses. Several researches conducted in1980s documented unwelcoming, threatening, and unsafe for members of the LGBT. Yale University’s 2003 survey reported that 26 percent of gay people received physical assault threats from peers and 50 percent were verbally assaulted. Additional researches have constantly shown a stronger resistance of gay people coming out of the closet because of the fear of their peers and the society. Perhaps a sizeable insinuator for worthlessness among gay people is internalized homophobia. American culture is not particularly friendly for gay people. For this reason, many people make fun of gay people by using derogatory words such as fag, but-fucker and others. Sometimes these words are spoken with people who are unusually close a member of the LGBT. Such situations are difficult to handle and hinder the freedom and happiness of gay people ( Rupp, 2001).
Research Model
It is ethical to conduct research in a manner that gives respect to the participants. The appropriateness and relevance makes having participants feasible. While this should be a common knowledge, few researchers have taken it seriously while tackling gay rights. In the essay, “Perspective on Sexual and Reproductive Health” (p.6), Coffey and Bingham presents a qualitative story of young lesbians and bisexual women about issues pertaining to their sexuality (Baur & Wayne, 2005). This model of research fostered understanding of the participants by mingling with them in their real lives. The research emphasized for researchers to understand participants before reporting on them. I think that immersing into the lives of members of the LGBT will provide a comprehensive analysis of why gay people would rather keep off from coming out.
References
Bauer, G., & Wayne, L. (2005). Cultural sensitivity and research involving sexual minorities. Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health, 37(1), 45-47.
Longerbeam, S., Inkelas, K., Lee, Z., & Dawn, J. (2007). Lesbian, gay, and bisexual college student experiences: An exploratory study. Journal of College Student Development, 48(2), 200-254
Ncadi, S. (2012, February 12). What is the Meaning of LGBT? Retrieved July 5, 2012, from Centersite website: http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7862&cn=55
Rupp, Leila J. ( April, 2001). Toward a Global History of Same-Sex Sexuality. Journal of the History of Sexuality. Vol 10.2: 287-302
Simoni, J. M. (1996). Pathways to prejudice: Predicting students’ heterosexist attitudes with demographics, selfesteem, and contact with lesbians and gay men. Journal of College Student Development, 37, 68-78.
