African American, Latino, and Afro-Latino perspectives: Understanding race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and internalized homonegativity in same-sex attracted men, with implications for psychotherapy

There is a dearth of research literature that reflects the complexities of the African American, Latino, and Afro-Latino same-sex attracted male (SSAM) experience and the impact of multiple identity construction on psychotherapy (LaSala & Frierson, 2012). This quantitative, correlational study was grounded in strengths-based, social constructionist, systemic, and multicultural theoretical orientations. The researcher sought to understand the relationship between ethnic identity, same-sex connectedness, and internalized homonegativity for same-sex attracted African American, Latino and Afro-Latino men. A total of 318 men from across the United States completed an anonymous online survey comprised of demographic questions, the Multigroup Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM; Phinney, 1992), the Identification with and Involvement with the Gay Community Scale (IGCS; Vanable, 1993), and Internalized Homonegativity Inventory (IHNI; Mayfield, 2001). The present study found that participants had a strong sense of ethnic identity and same-sex connectedness while exhibiting low levels of internalized homonegativity. A complex understanding of identity composition that includes: both racial and ethnic identities, income and education levels, sexual attraction, sexual behavior, and sexual orientation should be utilized by psychotherapists in the provision of culturally competent mental health services with African American, Latino, and Afro-Latino SSAM.