| Preface and Acknowledgments | ix |
| Part I | Issues, Oppression, and Community | |
| 1. | Introduction | 3 |
| Perspectives on Causes of Same-Gender Sexual Orientation | 5 |
| Same-Gender or Bisexual Sexual Orientation: Choice or No Choice? | 6 |
| Changing Views on Language | 6 |
| Racial and Ethnic Groups: Terminology and Membership | 10 |
| Perimeters: Who Are Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Persons? | 11 |
| Problems With Numbers | 17 |
| Research Issues | 17 |
| Summary | 19 |
| 2. | The Oppression of Heterosexism | 21 |
| Terms and Definitions | 22 |
| Different Levels of Heterosexism | 22 |
| Mental Health Consequences of Heterosexism for Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Persons | 31 |
| Summary | 36 |
| 3. | Development of Community and Culture | 37 |
| History of Community Development | 38 |
| The Personal Story of HIV/AIDS | 42 |
| Community: Different for Women | 43 |
| Contemporary Lesbian and Gay Communities | 44 |
| Diversity of Communities | 46 |
| Hostility of Lesbians and Gay Men Toward Bisexual Women and Men | 50 |
| Summary | 53 |
| Part II | Identity Development and Disclosure | |
| 4. | Coming Out | 57 |
| Coming Out: Models, Critiques, and Missing Pieces | 57 |
| Psychological Adjustment to Coming Out | 66 |
| Summary | 67 |
| 5. | Disclosure Challenges | 69 |
| Dilemmas of Disclosure | 70 |
| Dilemmas of Disclosure to Specific Audiences | 71 |
| Disclosure Management | 86 |
| Summary | 88 |
| Part III | Family | |
| 6. | Couples | 91 |
| Couple Criteria and Terminology | 92 |
| Desire for a Partner | 92 |
| Meeting and Dating | 93 |
| Linkup Arrangements for Bisexual Men and Women | 94 |
| Linkup Scripts for Lesbians and Gay Men | 96 |
| Linkup Themes | 98 |
| Satisfaction With One's Primary Linkup | 99 |
| Commitment and Duration | 104 |
| Breakups: Contributions of Individual, Interpersonal, and External Factors | 107 |
| Dissolutions and the Emotional Effects | 110 |
| Summary | 111 |
| 7. | Mothers, Fathers, and Children | 113 |
| The Varieties of Lesbian and Gay Families With Children | 113 |
| How and Why Lesbians and Gay Men Become Parents | 114 |
| Interactions With Other Systems | 114 |
| Research on Lesbian and Gay Families | 118 |
| Services for Lesbian and Gay Families | 123 |
| Summary | 124 |
| Part IV | Life Course | |
| 8. | Youth | 127 |
| Adolescence | 128 |
| Young Adults on Campus | 137 |
| Summary | 139 |
| 9. | Middle Adulthood | 141 |
| Lesbians at Midlife | 142 |
| Gay Men at Midlife | 150 |
| Summary | 154 |
| 10. | Older Adulthood | 155 |
| Positive Adjustment and Life Satisfaction: Overview | 157 |
| Factors Contributing to Adjustment and Satisfaction | 157 |
| Concerns and Downturns of Aging | 164 |
| Community Services | 167 |
| Summary | 167 |
| Part V | Human Services Practice With Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgenderist Clients | |
| 11. | Affirmative Practice: Overview | 171 |
| Mental Health Practice Before 1973 | 171 |
| Mental Health Practice Since 1973: Overview | 174 |
| Ecosystems Model | 179 |
| Summary | 182 |
| References | 183 |
| Index | 209 |
| About the Authors | 221 |
