Differentiate between lesbian, gay, and bisexual identity development and gender identity development.

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

There are two GLB identity models presented in the text, the stage model and the life span model. The stage model asserts that the GLB identity development begins with the use of multiple defense strategies to deny personal feelings of attraction to same-sex individuals. Such denial often results in negative consequences for their mental health. This initial denial is followed by acceptance of same-sex feelings, followed by a period of experimentation with same-sex both emotionally and behaviorally. At this point, individuals may experience an identity crisis at the end of the first same-sex relationship. At the resolution of this crisis stage, the individual may move to acceptance of nonheterosexual feelings as normal, which gradually leads to acceptance of lesbian or gay identity that is viewed as positive. The life span model presents six identity processes of GLB identity development, exiting heterosexuality, developing a personal LGB identity, developing an LGB social identity, becoming an LGB offspring, developing an LGB intimacy status, and entering an LGB community. Gender identity is different from GLB identity development in that it is about gender roles based on being male or female. Consequently, gender means “one’s subjective sense of self” or “one’s self-identification as a man, woman, and transgender, or some other categorization” (Duan & Brown, in press, p. 225). Understanding the differences between sexual and gender identities requires that counselors should be careful not to draw conclusions about clients’ sexual orientation based on the conventional gender binary conceptualization of male and female.