Abstract
This study assesses the influences of ethnic identity, degree of outness and years
lived in the U.S. on the level of internalized homonegativity within the South Asian
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) community. The
majority of the respondents were recruited via the Internet, yielding an analytical sample
of 63, (N=63). Statistical analyses revealed that internalized homonegativity is higher
among individuals who are not out to everyone and for those who have been in the U.S.
for a short period of time. Further analysis indicated that ethnic identity has an inverse
effect on internalized homonegativity, as ethnic identity goes up, internalized
homonegativity goes down. This finding is contrary to expectations. Additional analyses
revealed that ethnic identity is significantly and inversely related to the level of
internalized homonegativity for individuals who are not out and individuals who were not
bom in the U. S. but have lived here for 5-10 years. For this study living in the U.S.
reduces the negative thoughts and feelings associated with a LGBTQ identity, while
simultaneously increasing the ethnic identification of South Asian LGBTQ individuals.
