Coming out process of Taiwanese gay men

• Main Author: Hsiang-Ya, Lin
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2004
• Subjects: Gay men > Taiwan; Taiwanese
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/3153
• Institution: De La Salle University

This qualitative research participated in by Taiwanese gay men, explores the coming out process among male homosexuals and how this process compares with the Western model of coming out. It also identifies factors that motivate or prevent gay men from coming out, problems they encounter and their manner of coping. There were eight (8) respondents in this study. The research used an interview guide to gather narrative accounts regarding the coming out process of Taiwanese gay men. The individual face-to-face interviews were audio taped. As part of the analysis, the researcher identfied significant incidents that the respondents considered to be their initial coming out. An attempt was made to determine if there are clear stages that can be identified in the coming out process. The result showed that Taiwanese gay men pass through the same stages as those from the West, and these stages are stage 1 - identify confusion stage 2 - identify comparison stage 3 - identify tolerance and stage 4 - identify acceptance. Results indicated that Taiwanese gay men as compared to Westerners have different viewpoints in stage 5 - identify pride and stage 6 - identify synthesis. In stage 5 - identify pride, Taiwanese gay men do not take pride in being a homosexual, but instead, they give more importance to their career. In stage 6 - identify synthesis, Taiwanese gay men do not want to be labeled as homosexuals because they think all of us are one of big family (humankind). Socio-cultural factors such as: oppressive Chinese culture (gays are expected to get married, in order to carry on the family's lineage), to have the desire to be understood by family and avoidance of rejection by friends are more influential than the emotional factors, as far as the gay Taiwanese decision to come out or not is concerned. The parents of Taiwanese gay men in this study do not accept their children's sexual identity, and the respondents hope for the day when they will be finally reconciled with their parents and the painful memories will be forgotten.