Editing Coming out (section)

== Effects ==
In the early stages of the LGBTQ identity development process, people can feel confused and undergo turmoil. In 1993, [[Michelangelo Signorile]] wrote ''[[Queer in America]]'', in which he explored the harm caused both to a closeted person and to society in general by being closeted.<ref>re-released in 2003 by University of Wisconsin Press, {{ISBN|0-299-19374-8}}</ref>

Because LGBTQ people have historically been marginalized as [[Sexual minority|sexual minorities]], coming out of the closet remains a challenge for most of the world's LGBTQ population and can lead to a [[backlash (sociology)|backlash]] of heterosexist [[discrimination]] and [[Violence against LGBT people|homophobic violence]].

Studies have found that concealing sexual orientation is related to poorer mental health,<ref>{{Cite journal |author-link=John Pachankis |last=Pachankis |first=John E. |date=2007 |title=The psychological implications of concealing a stigma: A cognitive-affective-behavioral model. |journal=Psychological Bulletin |volume=133 |issue=2 |pages=328–345 |doi=10.1037/0033-2909.133.2.328 |pmid=17338603 |s2cid=12836716 |issn=1939-1455}}</ref> physical health,<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Cole |first1=Steve W. |last2=Kemeny |first2=Margaret E. |last3=Taylor |first3=Shelley E. |last4=Visscher |first4=Barbara R. |date=1996 |title=Elevated physical health risk among gay men who conceal their homosexual identity. |journal=Health Psychology |volume=15 |issue=4 |pages=243–251 |doi=10.1037/0278-6133.15.4.243 |pmid=8818670 |issn=0278-6133}}</ref> and relationship functioning. For example, it has been found that same-sex couples who have not come out are not as satisfied in their relationships as same-sex couples who have.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=2392712 |year=1990 |last1=Berger |first1=RM |title=Passing: Impact on the quality of same-sex couple relationships |volume=35 |issue=4 |pages=328–332 |journal=Social Work}}</ref> Findings from another study indicate that the fewer people who know about a lesbian's sexual orientation, the more anxiety, less positive affectivity, and lower self-esteem she has.<ref>{{cite journal |pmid=9524921 |year=1998 |last1=Jordan |first1=KM |last2=Deluty |first2=RH |title=Coming out for lesbian women: Its relation to anxiety, positive affectivity, self-esteem, and social support |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=41–63 |doi=10.1300/J082v35n02_03 |journal=Journal of Homosexuality}}</ref>  Further, Gay.com states that closeted individuals are reported to be at increased risk for [[suicide]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007%2F05%2F04%2F1 |title=Study: Closeted men at suicide risk |date=4 May 2007 |website=Gay.com |access-date=21 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070506131301/http://www.gay.com/news/article.html?2007%2F05%2F04%2F1 |archive-date=6 May 2007}}</ref>

Depending on the relational bond between parents and children, a child coming out as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can be positive or negative. Strong, loving relationships between children and their parents may be strengthened but if a relationship is already strained, those relationships may be further damaged or destroyed by the child coming out.<ref name="Nielsen2012">{{cite book |author=Linda Nielsen |title=Father-Daughter Relationships: Contemporary Research and Issues |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=E0BLxVDTpOoC&pg=PA256 |access-date=25 October 2012 |date= 2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-84872-933-9 |page=255}}</ref> If people coming out are accepted by their parents, it allows open discussions of dating and relationships and enables parents to help their children with coping with discrimination and to make healthier decisions regarding [[HIV/AIDS]] and other [[sexually transmitted diseases]].<ref name="LamannaRiedmann2011">{{cite book |author1=Mary Ann Lamanna |author2=Agnes Riedmann |author3=Ann Strahm |title=Marriages, Families, and Relationships: Making Choices in a Diverse Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=heu0KLoVVnMC&pg=PA265 |access-date=25 October 2012 |date=2011 |publisher=Cengage Learning |isbn=978-1-111-30154-5 |page=265}}</ref> Because parents, families, and close others can also reject someone coming out, the LGBTQ individual may not always enjoy positive effects from the decision.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Legate |first1=Nicole |last2=Ryan |first2=Richard M. |last3=Weinstein |first3=Netta |date=March 2012 |title=Is Coming Out Always a 'Good Thing'? Exploring the Relations of Autonomy Support, Outness, and Wellness for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals |journal=Social Psychological and Personality Science |volume=3 |issue=2 |pages=145–152 |doi=10.1177/1948550611411929 |s2cid=52215152 |issn=1948-5506}}</ref> For example, teens who had parents who rejected them when they came out showed more drug use, depression, suicide attempts, and risky sexual behaviors later on as young adults.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Ryan |first1=C. |last2=Huebner |first2=D. |last3=Diaz |first3=R. M. |last4=Sanchez |first4=J. |s2cid=33361972 |date=1 January 2009 |title=Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes in White and Latino Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Young Adults |journal=Pediatrics |volume=123 |issue=1 |pages=346–352 |doi=10.1542/peds.2007-3524 |issn=0031-4005 |pmid=19117902}}</ref> Some studies find that the health effects of coming out depend more on the reactions of parents than on the disclosure itself.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=D'Augelli |first=Anthony R |date=1 July 2002 |title=Mental Health Problems among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths Ages 14 to 21 |journal=Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry |volume=7 |issue=3 |pages=433–456 |doi=10.1177/1359104502007003039 |issn=0000-0000}}</ref>

A number of studies have been done on the effect of people coming out to their parents. A 1989 report by Robinson et al. of parents of out gay and lesbian children in the United States found that 21 percent of fathers and 28 percent of mothers had suspected that their child was gay or lesbian, largely based on gender atypical behavior during childhood. The 1989 study found that two-thirds of parents reacted negatively.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Robinson |first=BE |author2=Walters, LH |author3=Skeen, P |title=Response of parents to learning that their child is homosexual and concern over AIDS: a national study. |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |year=1989 |volume=18 |issue=1–2 |pages=59–80 |pmid=2794499 |doi=10.1300/j082v18n01_03}}<!-- |access-date=6 October 2013--></ref> A 1995 study (that used young people's reactions) found that half of the mothers of gay or bisexual male college students "responded with disbelief, denial or negative comments", while fathers reacted slightly better. 18 percent of parents reacted "with acts of intolerance, attempts to convert the child to heterosexuality, and verbal threats to cut off financial or emotional support".<ref>{{cite journal |last=Savin-Williams |first=Ritch |author2=Eric M. Dubé |title=Parental Reactions to Their Child's Disclosure of a Gay/Lesbian Identity |journal=Family Relations |date=January 1998 |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=7–13 |doi=10.2307/584845 |jstor=584845}}</ref>

If rejected by their families, many LGBTQ youth can become homeless during the coming out process. LGBTQ youth are among the largest population of homeless youth; this has typically been caused by the reaction of others, especially parents, to self-identification and acknowledgment of being gay, or identifying with the LGBTQ community.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Tierney |first1=William G. |last2=Ward |first2=James Dean |date=December 2017 |title=Coming Out and Leaving Home: A Policy and Research Agenda for LGBT Homeless Students |journal=Educational Researcher |volume=46 |issue=9 |pages=498–507 |doi=10.3102/0013189x17733964 |s2cid=148753736 |issn=0013-189X}}</ref> About 20 to 30 percent of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=Choi |first1=Soon Kyu |last2=Wilson |first2=Bianca DM |last3=Shelton |first3=Jama |last4=Gates |first4=Gary J |website=eScholarship |date=1 June 2015 |title=Serving Our Youth 2015: The Needs and Experiences of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning Youth Experiencing Homelessness |url=https://escholarship.org/uc/item/1pd9886n}}</ref> Native and Indigenous LGBTQ youth make up the largest population to suffer homelessness: 44 percent, compared to any other race.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=February 3, 2023 |title=Homelessness and Housing Instability Among LGBTQ Youth |url=https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/homelessness-and-housing-instability-among-lgbtq-youth-feb-2022/ |access-date=March 28, 2023 |website=The Trevor Project}}</ref> 55 percent of homeless LGBTQ and 67 percent of homeless transgender youth were forced out of their homes by their parents or ran away because of their sexual orientation or gender identity and expression.<ref name=":0" /> Compared to transgender women and non-binary youth, transgender men have the highest percentage of housing instability.<ref name=":2" /> Homelessness among LGBTQ youth also affects many areas of an individual's life, leading to higher rates of victimization, depression, suicidal ideation, substance abuse, risky sexual behavior, and participation in more illegal and dangerous activities.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Reck |first=Jen |date=20 July 2009 |title=Homeless Gay and Transgender Youth of Color in San Francisco: "No One Likes Street Kids"{{snd}}Even in the Castro |journal=Journal of LGBT Youth |volume=6 |issue=2–3 |pages=223–242 |doi=10.1080/19361650903013519 |s2cid=143765694 |issn=1936-1653}}</ref> A 2016 study on homelessness pathways among Latino LGBTQ youth found that homelessness among LGBTQ individuals can also be attributed to structural issues such as systems of care, and sociocultural and economic factors.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Castellanos |first=H. Daniel |date=26 October 2015 |title=The Role of Institutional Placement, Family Conflict, and Homosexuality in Homelessness Pathways Among Latino LGBT Youth in New York City |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |volume=63 |issue=5 |pages=601–632 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2015.1111108 |issn=0091-8369 |pmc=4930864 |pmid=26503713}}</ref>

New data was collected by Amit Paley, the CEO and executive director of the Trevor Project, in regards to how the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] affected LGBTQ youth. The 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health shows that COVID-19 had made 80 percent of the LGBTQ youth housing situation much more stressful due to economic struggles, initially affecting their ability to have safe and secure housing.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Paley |first=Amit |date=2021 |title=National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2021 |url=https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2021/?section=Introduction |website=The Trevor Project}}</ref>

Jimmie Manning performed a study in 2015 on positive and negative behavior performed during the coming out conversation. During his study, he learned that almost all of his participants would attribute negative behaviors only to themselves during the coming out conversations, and positive behaviors to the recipient of the conversation. Manning suggests further research into this to figure out a way for positive behaviors to be seen and performed equally by both the recipient and the individual coming out.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Manning |first1=Jimmie |title=Positive and Negative Communicative Behaviors in Coming-out Conversations |journal=Journal of Homosexuality |date=2015 |volume=62 |issue=1 |pages=61–97 |doi=10.1080/00918369.2014.957127 |pmid=25153806 |s2cid=11388612}}</ref>