Internalized Homonegativity in the South Asian LGBTQ Community: A Preliminary Investigation of Related Factors

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.