| Grounded theory was utilized to develop a theory of how sexual minority youth experience their identity development and interact with their environment. Data included in-depth interviews with gay, lesbian, and heterosexual youth, as well as interviews with school counselors and community leaders, and documents related to homosexual groups, organizations, and events. The central phenomena that emerged from the data included gay identity, how sexual minority youth manage the visibility of their gay identity, and the relationships that exist between environment, identity, and visibility management. Results suggested that sexual minority youth are actively navigating their environment, and are ultimately an integral part of their environment. Visibility emerged as the focal point of interaction between sexual minority youth and their environment. |
