Passing Out In The Open: An Examination of Gay Identity and Communication Strategies in Relational Context

Ian Patrick Hopkins

Advisor: Tim Gibson, PhD, Department of Communication

Committee Members: Melissa Broeckelman-Post, Kevin B. Wright

Online Location, https://gmu.zoom.us/j/92152668498?pwd=62kYAsgDbr2buP5fbPKg9ldsQNWika.1 Meeting ID: 921 5266 8498
December 02, 2024, 09:00 AM to 11:00 AM

Abstract:

This dissertation explores the phenomenon of passing as straight among gay and bisexual men within the context of Co-Cultural Theory and the Communication Theory of Identity. By analyzing the communication strategies employed by gay and bisexual men to navigate interactions with the dominant heterosexual culture, this research investigates the factors influencing the decision to pass, the contexts in which passing occurs, and the perceived costs and rewards associated with passing. Through a mixed- methods research approach, this study illuminates how gay and bisexual men manage their identities in heteronormative environments, the challenges they face, and the implications for their mental health and sense of self. The qualitative portion of the dissertation (n=8) found that passing as a communication strategy does not exist in isolation, nor is it an “all or nothing” decision. Rather, gay and bisexual men choose to pass due to a confluence of situational factors and contexts that can change daily, even moment to moment. In addition, the quantitative data (n=246) found that the level at which a gay or bisexual man is out to the people in his social network will have a significant impact on the communication strategies and approaches they will. employ. More specifically, those men who were more “out” with their social networks were also more likely to use more assertive communication strategies, a finding in line with the expectations of Co-Cultural Communication Theory.

Additionally, the quantitative survey also examined the relationship between one’s level of outness and the presence of “gaps” in the communication of identity, finding that those who were more out also expressed smaller gaps between their communication of personal, social, and enacted identities These findings were again in line with the expectations of existing theory, in particular the Communication Theory of Identity. By examining the intersections of sexuality, gender, power dynamics, and communication styles, this research contributes to queer theory scholarship, particularly by bringing communication theory and research into a domain that historically emerged from critical theory, cultural studies, women’s studies, and sociology. Perhaps most importantly of all, this dissertation provides valuable insights into the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals who must navigate, even deep into the 21st century, an alienating heteronormative social context.  

https://gmu.zoom.us/j/92152668498?pwd=62kYAsgDbr2buP5fbPKg9ldsQNWika.1

Meeting ID: 921 5266 8498