ABSTRACT
Of those lesbian, gay, bisexual students who are bullied, the most persecuted are gay boys and teens who do not conform to masculine stereotypes. While not all gay men are ‘girly’ as children, multiple studies have shown a strong correlation between childhood gender nonconformity and adult male homosexuality. This puts gay boys at high risk for peer harassment. The elevated rates of psychological problems in gay men means that therapists working with gay male clients must be prepared to deal with a wide range of mood and behavioral disorders. Three in particular are worth commenting upon: substance abuse, eating disorders, and intimate partner violence. Gay men in relationships experience domestic violence at the same rate as heterosexual women in relationships. The gay male client may have effectively conquered his internalized homophobia. The gay male client is as likely as a heterosexual man to value sex highly, and more likely to have an extensive sexual history with many partners.
