Sexual identity development among ethnic sexual-minority male youths

The current research explores how ethnicity influences sexual identity deve lopment. Among 139 sexual-minority male youths, measures of sexual identity development assessed the timing and sequencing of developmental milestones , disclosure of sexual identity to others, internalized homophobia, and sam e- and opposite-sex relationship histories. Findings demonstrated that part icipants, regardless of ethnicity, experienced most identity milestones at developmentally appropriate ages, had moderately low levels of internalized homophobia, and became romantically and sexually involved with other males during adolescence. Differences across ethnic groups were found in the tim ing and sequencing of certain milestones, disclosure of sexual identity to family members, and romantic and sexual involvement with females.