"Out At Home"

 

 

Age?

 

Education?

 

Ethnicity?

 

Are you religious?  If so, does religion influence any decision?

 

Would you say you are a mainstream gay/lesbian, i.e., would you adhere to the mainstream gay/lesbian values, participate in activism, try to fit in the gay/lesbian community, etc.?

 

Do you care to classify yourself?  If so, how do you classify yourself?  Butch or femme, androgynous or neither?

 

Do you feel at ease in a white gay/lesbian bar?

 

Do you feel at ease in a white straight bar?

 

Do you feel at ease in a non-white straight bar?

 

Do you feel at ease in a non-white gay/lesbian bar?

 

What type of men/women are you attracted to?  A particular type or did it change over the years?

 

Members in family?

 

Do you live at home? 

 

Do you live within a Guyanese community?

 

Are you active within that community?  The gay/lesbian community?

 

Do you think living at home makes a difference?

 

Do you limit yourself? 

 

Would you feel comfortable with a Guyanese boy/girlfriend or white or it doesn't matter?

 

Did you parents have any suspicions about your sexuality?

If so, what are their reaction[s]?

 

What lengths would you go to protect yourself from their knowing that knowledge?

 

Did you think they will ever be comfortable with that knowledge?

 

How do you think your father will react?

 

How do you think your mother will react?

 

How do you think your brother will react?

 

Ostracism?  Does it matter? 

 

Which gives more priority?  Love or family or both or neither?

 

Can you ever see you and your partner at a dinner table with your parents? 

 

How long have you been living in NYC (or your community)?

 

Do you think the length of residence in NYC (or your community) makes a difference?  If so, what?

 

When did you discover your "homosexual" feelings?

 

Do you ever doubt about your feelings?

 

How did you try to deal with them?

 

Did you had girl/boyfriend[s]?

 

Are you still in the closet?  If so, why?

 

When do you plan to "come out," if at all?

 

What do you think will happen if you come out of the closet?

 

How will your parents/siblings/family react?

 

What about the male members of your family, i.e., brother, cousin, etc.?

 

Do you think level of education makes a difference?  Ethnicity?  Or it is more a family value issue?  Or is it more the status of family within a structured community??

 

How will your Guyanese childhood friends react?

Do you think there is a difference what it means to be a Guyanese gay/lesbian as opposed to a Caucasian gay/lesbian?  Any intrinsic meaning?

 

How do you think the Guyanese community will react?

 

Your first encounter [either physical or emotional] with another man/woman?

 

How did you feel then?  What made it the defining moment?

 

If you can change one thing at this point, what would it be?

 

What is your main obstacle?

 

Is there any point in your life that you're sorry you developed gay/lesbian feelings?

 

Do you know many Guyanese gays/lesbians?  Are they fighting the same battles as you?

 

Where do you see yourself next year?  Five years?  Ten years?

 

How important is the Guyanese community to you?  Would you remove yourself from the Guyanese community if you have to?

 

Had you been living in Guyana, would the situation be different?  How?

 

Are you comfortable living in NYC (or your community)?  If so, why?  If not, why?  And where would you rather be living? 

 

Do you think NYC (or your community) is conducive with your gay/lesbian lifestyle?

 

Have you ever experienced discrimination within the gay/lesbian community?

 

Are you out at work?  Were you always out at work?  How did your coworkers react?

 

Where would you say you feel more comfortable?  At home?  At work?  Both?  Neither?

 

You might be interested in sharing some of your experiences [e.g., coming out], encounters and feedback [whether positive or negative] of what it means to be a gay/lesbian in the Guyanese community.