Gay men who exclude each other: Exploring the reasons underlying intragroup marginalization.

What is it about?

Gay and bisexual men face more mental health challenges than heterosexual men. Research indicates that discrimination based on sexual orientation can harm their well-being. Recent studies also show that exclusion within the gay community - referred to as intragroup marginalization - can affect their mental health. We interviewed gay and bisexual men in Australia and asked how they perceive, understand, and experience intragroup marginalization in their gay community. Participants in our study explained that being excluded by other gay men is quite common, isolating, and hurtful - sometimes even more so than homophobic discrimination from heterosexuals. The research identified a number of physical, personal, behavioral, social, and sexual health factors that could increase the risk of being marginalized by other gay or bisexual men.

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Photo by Christian Sterk on Unsplash

Photo by Christian Sterk on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our research shows that gay and bisexual men can face exclusion both from inside and outside the gay community, making the gay community a stressful place for some of its members. It is important to acknowledge the benefits and challenges of being a member of the gay community, so that we can create a more accepting and tolerant gay community where all of its members can feel safe to be their authentic selves. Both individual and community-wide efforts are needed to tackle the problem of some men feeling left out by others in the gay community.