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The Detrimental Impact of Sexual-Orientation Microaggressions 197

families, in employment, and many other situations (Zastrow, 2004). Thus,
some describe how heteronormative pressures force LGBTs to collude in
their invisibility:

“ I can sum up the work issue for gays and lesbians in two words: WE HIDE . . . .
.
We are mostly in the closet — especially in the professions . . . Although more
gays and lesbians are coming out, most feel it is necessary to hide their sexual
orientation — to be invisible — to avoid the risk of losing their jobs or of being
harassed or rejected by fellow workers. ” (Blank & Slipp, 1994, p. 139)

THE DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF SEXUAL - ORIENTATION
MICROAGGRESSIONS

The quote above gives us a brief glimpse into the concerns and fears of LGBTs
who are open about their sexual orientation, those who consider “ coming
out, ” and those who continue to remain in the closet. Bombarded daily in a
heteronormative society with microaggressive messages that (1) view them
as only sexual beings, (2) convey discomfort and fear of their presence and
existence, (3) equate their lifestyles with sin and debauchery, and (4) perceive
them and their actions as abnormal or pathological, little wonder that LGBTs
are fearful that they will become victimized by these beliefs. These stressors
directly assail their sexual - orientation identities, make them wary of coming
out, and produce psychological distress. In a heterosexist society fi lled with
sexual - orientation microaggressions, the detrimental impact on many LGBTs
includes “ hiding ” or being closeted (Greene, 2000), internalized sexual stigma

(Herek et al., 2009), identity conflicts (Barrett & Logan, 2002; Worthington &
Reynolds, 2009), and psychological problems (Szymanski, 2009).

Hiding, Invisibility, and Being in the Closet

“ Hiding was exhausting. I always had to watch myself. I always had to make
sure that I was not acting too butch, or dressing too much like a dyke. I always
felt like I was trying to be someone who I wasn ’ t, always trying to fit in where I

knew I didn ’ t fit. I really felt all alone, I thought I was the only person in the
world who felt this way. ” (Mallon, 1998, p. 119)
Hiding, as the quote indicates, depletes one ’ s energies because it requires
constant vigilance, produces a constant fear of being found out, isolates the
person, and makes for a lonely existence. Many LGBs pretend to be hetero-
sexual in this society because of the many sanctions against homosexuality

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