Lesson 5: Sexual Orientation/Sexual Identity

Covert

• in the closet

  • married, children, respected member of community

  • infrequent secret same sex activity

Overt

• out of the closet - all or partial

  • openly in their gay community

    • self contained

  • easier to do in major urban centers

Two spirit

• both genders, separate from orientation

  • term unifying various gender identities and expressions of Native American/First Nations/Indigenous individuals

Gay relationships

• gay couples like other couples

  • sex declines with time when together more than 10 years

  • Problems

    • who initiates sex

    • other sexual dysfunctions and relationship issues

• lesbians tend to value equality

  • most satisfying relationship

    • equality of power

    • equal commitment

    • equally in love

Influence of prenatal hormones

• the evidence strongly suggests that prenatal androgens influence human sexual orientation during an early critical period of neural organization, like other mammals

  • androgens likely exert these effects through androgen-receptor binding

  • early estrogen action may feminize sexual orientation, but more work needed

Stage model of coming out

• exploration → experimenting with new self-definition

• first relationships

  • short-lived & turbulent like many hetero relationships

• integration stage

  • capable of committed relationships, but may decide not to do so

Social constructionist perspective

• one’s sense of sexual self maintained through social interaction

• more fluid process suggested

  • a better model for people whose orientation may shift a number of times

  • separate out desire, behavior, identity [gay, lesbian]