“Over half (51.4%) reported an experience of sexual abuse.”1.
“Compared with heterosexual respondents, gay/lesbian and bisexual individuals experienced increased odds of six of eight and seven of eight adverse childhood experiences, respectively [e.g., physical, sexual and emotional abuse, neglect, exposure to domestic violence, parental discord, familial mental illness, incarceration and substance abuse]. Sexual minority persons had higher rates of adverse childhood experiences compared to their heterosexual peers.”2.
“Compared with heterosexual men, MSM evidenced greater all-cause mortality. Approximately 13% of MSM died from HIV-related causes compared with 0.1% of men reporting only female partners.”3.
“Self-reported identification as non-heterosexual (determined by both orientation and sexual partnership, separately) was associated with unhappiness, neurotic disorders overall, depressive episodes, generalised anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, phobic disorder, probable psychosis, suicidal thoughts and acts, self-harm and alcohol and drug dependence.”4.
“Compared with their heterosexual counterparts, lesbians and bisexual women demonstrated a 3-fold increased likelihood of substance use disorders, and gay and bisexual men showed twice the rate of anxiety disorders and schizophrenia and (or) psychotic illness…”5.
“MSM were more likely than non-MSM (those reporting female partners only) to have first sex at or =10 lifetime sex partners (73.6% vs. 40.8%).”6.
“A total of 2.2% of men reported same-sex sexual partners. These men evidenced greater lifetime prevalence rates of suicide symptoms than men reporting only female partners.”7.
1. “Sexual Abuse is Associated with Negative Health Consequences among High-risk Men who have Sex with Men.”
Rusow JA, Fletcher JB, Le H, Reback CJ
J Gay Lesbian Soc Serv. 2014 May 15;26(2):244-257.
2. “Disparities in Adverse Childhood Experiences among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Adults: Results from a Multi-State Probability-Based Sample”
Judith P Andersen, and John Blosnich
PLoS One. 2013;8(1):e54691. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0054691. Epub 2013 Jan 23.
3. “Sexual orientation and mortality among US men aged 17 to 59 years: results from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey III.”
Cochran SD1, Mays VM.
Am J Public Health. 2011 Jun;101(6):1133-8.
4. “Mental health of the non-heterosexual population of England.”
Chakraborty A, McManus S, Brugha TS, Bebbington P, King M.
Br J Psychiatry. 2011 Feb;198(2):143-8.
5. “Sexual orientation and its relation to mental disorders and suicide attempts: findings from a nationally representative sample.”
Bolton SL1, Sareen J.
Can J Psychiatry. 2011 Jan;56(1):35-43.
6. “Men who have sex with men in the United States: demographic and behavioral characteristics and prevalence of HIV and HSV-2 infection: results from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2001-2006.”
Xu F, Sternberg MR, Markowitz LE.
Sex Transm Dis. 2010 Jun;37(6):399-405.
7. “Lifetime prevalence of suicide symptoms and affective disorders among men reporting same-sex sexual partners: results from NHANES III.”
Cochran SD, Mays VM.
Am J Public Health. 2000 Apr;90(4):573-8.
Joseph, I was born in 1968 and obviously grew up in the same era as you, I am a damaged heterosexual married man. But like you it took a near death experience to bring me back.
I am the oldest son out of nine children, with the oldest being my two sisters. I grew up in an abusive, alcoholic home. The target of the abuse was my mother and I was the whipping boy for my dad's aggression; Being the oldest boy. Thank God I grew up in Orange County, I might have searched for a father like you did!
Joseph, I took a very different destructive route, I was an angry hurting teenager, at 19 I joined the Marine Corp. I was a bit like a dog walking himself (I hated myself) . To give you a better understanding at the time My mother was being abused; she for the most part rejected me.
I was a lot like my dad apparently. It, is sort of a “Stockholm Syndrome” and my mother constantly told me that I need to work on my self esteem? This was outrageous I remember thinking as a boy. Joseph I joined the military to die in combat, (In my young mind)
Rejected by both parents I was a rudderless ship… Talk more later.
Anonymous, I sincerely pray that you will seek help as Joseph did. Don't remain trapped in your hurt, anger and resentment.
Our God is a healer – just ask him to guide you and seek healing through the Courage Apostolate.
May God bless you.
Thank you brother.