Articles
Coming Out Issues for Asian Pacific Americans
The diversity of language and ethnicity among Asian Pacific Americans is as varied as the continents and islands from which they come. While this may mean that cultural backgrounds vary from one person to the next, gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) Asian Pacific Americans still share similar challenges and experiences during the coming out process.
Family and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
In the United States, many Latina/o families are first- or second-generation immigrants, and keeping family relationships strong can be critical to an individual’s identity. The possibility that lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Latinas/os might lose that important support system by coming out to their family is daunting.
Religion and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
The message that many Catholics hear is that merely being gay is sinful. This results in condemnation of LGBT Latinas/os in communities of faith and has led some to remain closeted when involved in religious activities.
Society and Coming Out Issues for Asian Pacific Americans
While many GLBT people are familiar with the intolerance of society at large, Asian Pacific Americans must also deal with cultural differences. Coming out experiences are often intensified by a lack of visibility, racism and language barriers.
Language and Coming Out Issues for Latinas and Latinos
The Spanish language is spoken by many GLBT Latinas/os, and if they don’t speak it in their daily lives, it may still be spoken when they visit home, go to church or attend community events. This presents two challenges for GLBT Latinas/os: The Spanish language itself is limited for discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity issues, and there’s a lack of GLBT resources that are printed in Spanish.