Identity Development Among Racially Diverse Transgender and Similarly Gender Nonconforming LGB Youth

摘要: Several distinct yet overlapping literatures have contributed to understanding the trajectories of gender nonconforming children. However, these often fail adequately distinguish experiences those who share similar childhood nonconformity, but come self-identify in various ways. To address this gap, transgender identifying youth were matched with non-transgender levels nonconformity (N=20, ages 19 23, 75% racial/ethnic minority), and developmental semi-structured interviews conducted. Qualitative data analysis was guided by an ecological framework, which identified characteristics youth’s self-understandings (identity, physical self, self presentation, interests/activities, attractions/behavior) settings (e.g., school, family, community centers, media) that they interactively negotiated throughout development. Focus on codes revealed multiple related, distinct, interactive dimensions sexuality, also changed over time. These will be discussed, along similarities differences found across birth sex (male, female) current identity (transgender, primarily non-transgender). Overall, results highlight complexity diversity experience within umbrella. They reinforce importance exposure a range ways making meaning one’s sexual orientation related experiences, support move away from disorder based models variance focus supportiveness context.