Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span

LGBT persons face multiple challenges when entering the coming out process, regardless of their age or place in society. Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span is a comprehensive guide to the coming out process for LGBT individuals, how to prepare for disclosure, and how disclosure is received in various groups. The book examines sexual orientation and identities; developmental models of coming out; disclosure in adolescence, midlife, or later; coming out to parents and family members; and disclosure outside the family. The book also provides practitioners with guidelines for working with clients who want to make disclosures.

Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span brings together into a single source the latest research and current thought on the experiences of LGBT persons in a heterosexist society. This resource, which is also useful as a supplemental textbook, can be used as a guide to practice for professionals and can be used for in-service training and workshops. This invaluable book has an extensive bibliography.

Topics in Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span include the meaning of sexual identity across various populations, an overview of coming out in the heterosexist world, detailed analysis of the coming out process, examination of the coming out process at different ages, an overview of disclosures in the heterosexist world, detailed analysis of disclosures to parents and family members across various cultures, suggested interventions based on coming out models, special issues experienced in coming out, strategies to facilitate disclosures, and more.

Coming Out and Disclosures: LGBT Persons Across the Life Span is an essential guide for any LGBT individual preparing to enter the coming out process, and practitioners in the helping professions, such as social work, counseling, and mental health.

Ski Hunter, PhD, MSW, is a professor at the School of Social Work, University of Texas at Arlington. She teaches a course on LGBT issues, and has presented numerous workshops on this topic. Dr. Hunter has authored two books on midlife, including Midlife and Older LGBT Adults: Knowledge and Affirmative Practice for the Social Services. She was also the lead author of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths and Adults published in 1998, co-author of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Issues in Social Work published in 2001, and lead author of Affirmative Practice: Understanding and Working with Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Persons.