McDermott, Tyndall, and Lichtenberg

TABLE 2

Sexual Preferences of Participants (Kinsey Scale)

Number of participants

Total

Score

Description

Exclusive preference for sexual relations with members of the same sex, and no interest in sexual relations with members of the opposite sex

Men 30

Women 21

Percent (%)

Predominant preference for sexual relations with members of the same sex, with only incidental interest in sexual relations with members of the opposite sex

Clear preference for same-sex sexual relations, with a lesser but still active interest in sexual relations with members of the opposite sex Approximately equal interest in sexual relations with members of the opposite sex and members of the same sex

Clear preference for opposite-sex sexual relations, with a lesser but still active interest in sexual relations with members of the same

sex

Predominant preference for opposite-sex sexual relations, with only incidental interest in sexual relations with members of the same sex Exclusive preference for sexual relations with members of the opposite sex and no interest in sexual relations with members of the

same sex

counseling trainees with minimal exposure to homosexually oriented individuals tend to have fairly high levels of homophobia (as measured by the IHP).

Not surprising was the finding that gay men and lesbians' endogenous or internalized homophobia (as measured by the IHP) was the best predictor of their overall comfort in discussing various topics with a counselor of unknown sexual orientation. More specifically, the more homophobic the respondents were, the less comfortable they tended to be in discussing various concerns central to their sexual identity with a counselor whose sexual preference was unrevealed. The significant negative correlation between participants' estimate of the people they knew to whom they were "out" and their IHP scores is also consistent with this finding of internalized homophobia. The more homophobic individuals were, the less likely they were to reveal their sexual orientation to others.

The significant difference between men and women in terms of how sexually active they described themselves may well be explained by the fact that more women described themselves as partnered than did men. Perhaps the context of a committed relationship provides more opportunity for greater sexual activity. Alternatively, the impact on male homosexuals of the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) crisis, with an emphasis being placed on restricting sexual activity, could also account for the finding that women reported more sexual activity did than men.

In conclusion, this study has several important implications for mental health professionals and gay and lesbian men and women. First, it is apparent that participants' conceptions that their counselor's sexual orientation does not make a difference may be somewhat naive. Given findings of considerable homophobia in counseling trainees, it seems important that gay men and lesbians become informed consumers of mental health services. One practical resource might be The Lavender Couch: A Consumer's Guide to Psychotherapy for Lesbians and Gay Men by Marny Hall (1985). Second, the findings of this study have implications for the value of further research on endogenous or

internalized homophobia. A perusal of the Index of Homophobia will quickly reveal that it was constructed with heterosexuals as its target population. Many participants in this study commented on the awkwardness or inappropriateness of items such as "If a member of my sex made an advance toward me, I would wonder if I were homosexual." Clearly, research instruments that are better tailored to assess internalized homophobia in homosexually oriented individuals would be valuable. Third, given the demonstrated relationship between homophobia and discomfort in discussing various topics with a counselor, it seems that effort needs to be focused upon interventions that will serve to alleviate internalized homophobia and thereby enhance the therapy experience. Finally, it remains incumbent upon us as mental health professionals to seek out accurate information about gay men and lesbians and to educate ourselves and our students about the unique needs and experiences of homosexually oriented people in our culture.

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Diane McDermott is an associate professor of counseling psychology at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Larry Tyndall is a counselor at Counseling and Consultation Services, Ohio State University, Columbus. James W. Lichtenberg is the director of the University Counseling Center and is also a professor of counseling psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence. Correspondence regarding this article should be sent to Diane McDermott, Dept. of Counseling Psychology, 116 Bailey Hall, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66045.

JOURNAL OF COUNSELING & DEVELOPMENT SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 1989 VOL. 68