title: Internalized homophobia and health issues affecting lesbians and gay men.
abstract: This paper investigates the concept of internalized homophobia in both theory and research relating to lesbian and gay health. It offers a contemporary and critical review of research in this area, and discusses a range of recent findings relating to a range of health issues including HIV and AIDS. Whilst the concept has a resonance for gay men and lesbians, and is widely used in 'lesbian and gay-affirmative' interventions, the paper demonstrates that research findings have been equivocal and the term is often used without full consideration of its sociopolitical consequences. The paper concludes that the concept does have a valuable role to play in health promotion work with lesbians and gay men but invites further discussion and examination of the construct.
authors.affiliation: School of Behavioural Studies, Nene University College Northampton, UK.
authors.forename: I R
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Williamson
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006266:Health Education; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology*; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011287:Prejudice; D011582:Psychological Theory