How true are stereotypes that gay men are effeminate and lesbians are masculine?
Sometimes true, sometimes not. The cutting-edge in thinking about homosexuality is “there may be subtypes, perhaps with different causes,” Sanders says. But this theory is not proven. Q: Which gay teenagers are apt to do best even if they encounter taunting and prejudice? A: The research on gay teens is too limited so far to say, though some studies suggest those who have good relationships with teachers are apt to fare pretty well. Other research on kids who have difficult childhoods finds that the more sources of support they have — parents, friends, school employees — the more likely they are to overcome challenges. “There’s no magic here,” says Ann Masten, a University of Minnesota psychologist who specializes in this research. “If there are great challenges, they need protective people to help them do well.
