Why Do Some Gay Men Identify as “Straight-Acting” and How Is It Related to Well-Being?

Recent literature has described the phenomenon of “straight-acting” gay men: gay men who identify with traditional heteronormative masculinity. The current study examined predictors of “straight-acting” identification in gay men and how identifying as straight-acting relates to well-being. A sample of Australian gay men (N = 966) provided self-report data on two potential predictors of straight-acting identity: self-perceived masculinity and internalized homophobia. A path analysis assessed how these variables related to straight-acting identification. While masculine self-presentation positively predicted well-being and internalized homophobia negatively predicted well-being, straight-acting identification, which positively correlated with both, did not independently predict either psychological distress or physical well-being. Analyses further suggested that internalized homophobia had particularly deleterious effects among gay men who were more feminine. Implications for clinical and public health interventions among gay men are discussed.