With Disclosure, Parents of Black Sexual Minority Men and Transgender Women Can be an Important Buffer Against Discrimination
Black sexual minority men and transgender women (BSMM and BTW) face race- and sexuality-based stigma and discrimination from society and their family members that may make them decide not to disclose their sexuality. Considering existing research about discrimination leading to poor mental health outcomes, and potentially progressing to substance use, suicidality, and sexually transmitted infections, researchers set out to explore whether:
- Discrimination resulted in depression among BSMM and BTW and
- The relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms changed when BSMM and BTW were open about their sexuality to parents.
The researchers were particularly interested in BSMM and BTW living in U.S. southern states, referred to as the “Deep South,” because stigmatizing beliefs regarding sexual and gender minorities are especially prevalent there, according to researchers. The team performed a secondary analysis of data from the study, “Rationale, Design and Methods of the Ecological Study of Sexual Behaviors and HIV/STI Among African American Men Who Have Sex with Men in the Southeastern U.S.” also known as The MARI Study.
The MARI Study participants included 580 people self-identifying as Black or African American, assigned male gender at birth (94% cisgender males, 6% transgender women), 18 years or older, residing in the Jackson, Mississippi or Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan areas from 2013 to 2015, and having had oral or anal sex with a man in the previous 6 months. Of the participants, 52.3% were unemployed, and 10% had an annual income of $30,000 or more.
The secondary analysis of data for the current study showed that among all participants, depressive symptoms were prevalent, with 79.9% reporting feelings like sadness, hopelessness, and/or a loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed. Participants who reported higher discrimination tended also to report higher depressive symptoms.
Data showed 58% of participants were very open with their parents about their sexuality, and 19.3% said these discussions with parents did not occur. Among participants who said they had been open with their parents, the association between discrimination and depression diminished significantly. Younger age was also associated with high discrimination among those with very open or somewhat open parental disclosure.
These findings emphasize the buffering role of parents who have adult children identifying as BSMM/BTW. The researchers say BSMM/BTW who feel safe to be open and honest with their parents about their sexuality are better able to cope with discrimination and develop greater resilience. A caveat is that a parent’s role as a buffer is dependent on that parent also being supportive.
Citation
Turpin, R. E., Dangerfield, D. T., Oke, T. & Hickson, D. A. (2023). Parental sexuality disclosure, discrimination, and depression among Black sexual minority men and Black transgender women. Family & Community Health, 46(2), 95-102. https://doi:10.1097/FCH.0000000000000360
Page published April 11, 2024
