Another Study Confirms Importance Of Coming Out And Parental Support

A new study from Boston University’s School of Public Health adds to the growing collection of research that shows that coming out as gay, lesbian, or bisexual is good for a person’s health, as is parental support when coming out occurs. After surveying 5,658 LGB adults in Massachusetts, researchers found that coming out was associated with better health for lesbian and bi women, but gay and bi men were more greatly impacted by their parents’ reactions. Men whose parents did not affirm them were six or seven times more likely to face serious depression and engage in binge drinking. Women in the same situation were still five times more likely to develop serious depression and 11 times more likely to use illicit drug use. The study has significant implications for the way families and communities support gay youth and talk about LGBT issues with young people.