Ed. Rothblum, I ONLY READ ABOUT MYSELF ON BATHROOM WALLS - THE NEED FOR RESEARCH ONTHE MENTAL-HEALTH OF LESBIANS AND GAY MEN, Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 62(2), 1994, pp. 213-220
The very recent history of pathologizing homosexuality still has a str
ong impact on the public in general and mental health professionals in
particular. In contrast to the early research on sexual reorientation
of lesbians and gay men, there is relatively little empirical researc
h on the mental health issues of lesbians and gay men. Whether researc
hers choose to define sexual orientation by sexual behavior, self-defi
nition, or membership in lesbian and gay community groups will have an
impact on the results. Research on mental health issues that includes
lesbians, gay men, and heterosexual wolmen and men would allow an exa
mination of the relative salience of gender versus sexual orientation.
Finally, the experiences of lesbians and gay men in society may place
them at increased risk for some mental health problems and may protec
t them from other mental health problems.