Coming out of the desi closet: disclosure of same-sex sexuality in metropolitan-India. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Achar, Meghna; Gopal, Baiju
• Is Part Of: Journal of LGBT youth. Volume 20:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 160
• Page End: 178
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Coming out of the closet -- same-sex sexuality in India -- disclosure; Sexual minority youth -- Periodicals; Sexual minority youth -- Education -- Periodicals; 306.76083505
• DOI: 10.1080/19361653.2021.1958121
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1936-1653

Abstract

Abstract: Coming out of the closet is a psychosocial process that entails the disclosure of one's non- heteronormative sexual orientation to family, peers, and the wider public – a phenomenon that is necessitated by the prevalence of societal heteronormativity. With the recent legal decriminalization of consensual same-sex sexual relationships in India, there is renewed interest in and emergent necessity to expand upon the existing academic discourse on the lives, rights, health and well-being of same-sex attracted individuals in India. The present study accumulates detailed narratives of disclosure of sexual orientation of five male and five female young-adults of same-sex sexuality from ages 18 to 25 in metropolitan cities of India. Thematic narrative analysis is used to gain insight into the factors of being "in the closet", those underlying coming out of the closet, and the expectations from and impact of coming out to one's family. Five major themes have emerged – three restraint factors and two propulsion factors influencing sexual identity disclosure. Restraint factors are those that reduce the probability of coming out and these are – an incessant pressure to conceal, perceived lack of stability and support, and anticipated disintegration of long-standing familial tradition. Propulsion factors act as catalysts of disclosure and these are target congeniality i.e. approachability of the target of disclosure, and parental validation – which, when attained, enables the individual to come out more easily to others. The findings have been critically compared and contrasted with the existing body of literature in the domain, which sets the agenda for further inquiry.