As mentioned in the blog post titled “What is the problem, exactly?”, stigma is an attribute that society views negatively and attributes stereotypes to, regardless of whether or not those stereotypes are true. People with stigmas are often viewed as inhuman and “other”. Before reading the other posts about prejudice, it is important to understand that not all stigmas are the same. Some stigmas are visible. These stigmas can be seen and quickly understood for what they are. These include stigmatized ethnic or racial identities (such as being African American), or economic status (being homeless) or sometimes physical disability, such as being an amputee. There are also stigmas which are impossible to see with the naked eye unless the individual who has it signals it in some way. Sexuality and gender identity are often invisible stigmas. People might assume that having an invisible stigma is easier than having a visible one, because the individual can hide their status if need be. However, this isn’t necessarily the case. Have you ever kept a secret from your loved ones? What did you feel? Imagine that if the secret ever came out, you could stand to lose your home, your relationships, or your career. How stressful would it be to keep it? Staying in the closet is often necessary for LGBTQ+ individuals to stay safe within hostile environments. However, the fact that it’s often safer does not mean that it is easy.
Pachankis (2007) came up with a model which suggests that the need for secrecy can lead to negative outcomes for LGBTQ+ individuals. In situations where their identity is likely to be discovered or there would be dire results if anyone found out, they may become suspicious and attentive- on the lookout for any possible leak of their identity. These behaviors make them feel unpleasant emotions- like anxiety, depression, and guilt. Because of these factors, they close themselves off to others and become consumed with keeping the secret. This process is even worse if they have internalized negative views of their identity and lack contact with their community.
There are exceptions to this generality, of course (there are always exceptions in psychology). LGBTQ+ individuals who are publicly out become visible, to a degree. A stranger on the street may not normally be able to tell if someone is a lesbian, but if they are carrying a rainbow flag on their way to a pride parade, they become visible. A transgender individual who has trouble passing faces a considerable amount of negativity from cisgender individuals (as will be discussed in another blog post). Even open LGBTQ+ individuals find themselves having to come out of the closet repeatedly, every time they meet a new person, or start a new job- they must decide whether the environment is safe enough for them to do so. “Coming out” is a continual process, full of risks. For more information on how to come out, or how to support someone who has just come out, visit some of the websites in the “Resources” page.
This interview with Elliot Page serves as an example of how invisible stigma can impact someone's psychological state.
Note: This video is from before 2020, hence the deadnaming in the video title.
Here is another video with tips about "coming out of the closet."
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