1 Growing Up Gay: Interrogating Disciplinary Frames

1.1 Looking for the Gay Subject in Childhood/s and 'Growing-Up' Literature; Perspectives on Growing-Up and Childhood Studies;
Queering Childhood Development Studies;

1.2 Finding the Gay Subject in Psychological and Psychiatric Literature; History of Medicalization of Homosexuality; LGB
Psychology: Newer Trends and Directions; Sexual Minority Stress: Prejudice and Discrimination as Social Stressors

1.3 Identity Literature-Understanding the Intrapsychic‚ Symbolic‚ Dialogic and Collective SelfPerspectives on Sexual Identity and Sexuality;

1.4 Contemporary LGBTQ Assertions in India; 'Gay'‚ 'Lesbian'‚ 'Queer'-Contextualizing Sexual Identity Labels; LGBTQ Organizing in
India-A Brief Historical Account; References;

2 Researching Same-Sex Sexuality;

2.1 Studies on Lesbian, Gay Lives, and Identity Development: How Have These Been Done?;

2.2 The Life Course Theory and Critical Psychosocial Approach in the Study of Growing Up Gay/Lesbian;

2.3 Contexts of the Study; Locating the Researcher Locating the ResearchedThe Interview; Use of Narrative Data;

2.4 Ethical Concerns in Doing Research with Sexual Minority Groups; References;

3 Exploring Early Years: Childhood and Adolescence of Young Gay and Lesbian Persons;

3.1 Gender Non-conformity in Childhood: Clothes and Grooming;

3.2 Play, Playmates and Hobbies;

3.3 Correction of Gender Non-conformity;

3.4 Emergence of Sexuality and Sexual Exploration;

3.5 Unique Developmental Challenges for LG Young People;

3.6 Some Thoughts on Gay and Lesbian Childhoods; References

4 Exploring Identity Development and the Symbolic Meaning/s of 'Coming Out' in the Process of Identity Work

4.1 Symbolic Interactionism: A Framework to Understand Identity Development and Disclosure Among Gay and Lesbian Individuals;

4.2 To Tell or Not: Situated Complexities of Disclosure/Non-disclosure in Lives of LG Individuals;

4.3 Responses to Disclosure, and Its Impact on LG Identity Development and Maintenance; References;

5 Living Life as a Queer Person: Role of Intimate Relationships in Consolidation of Identity;

5.1 Same-Sex Relationships: Mirroring and Self-affirmation

5.2 Homosociality as Paradigm

5.3 Centrality of Marriage;

5.4 Living Within and Outside the Heterosexual Script;

5.5 Challenges in Relationships: Some Issues Unique to Marginalized Sexualities; Continuum of Loneliness, Isolation, Break-Ups, Depression, and Self Harm; Negotiating Gay-Related Relationship Stress and Support in a Heterosexual World; Targeted Violence; References;

6 Living Life as a Queer Person: Role of Queer Community/s in Consolidation of Identity;

6.1 Discovering Community: Gay Socialization

This book explores the growing up experiences of gay and lesbian individuals within their homes, schools, neighbourhoods, among friends; and their journeys of finding themselves and their communities while living in a heterosexually constructed society. It is based on an exploratory, qualitative study with young gay and lesbian persons in two cities of Maharashtra, India and employs a life course perspective. The author has written this book from two primary loci: those of a mental health professional and activist, and a queer feminist activist. Through layered narratives and psychosocial analyses of experiences that are simultaneously attentive to subjectivities and to social and interpersonal processes, the author provides insights into the lives of children who grow up feeling 'different' from their siblings, peers and friends, and receive constant messages about correct ways of being and expression from their parents, teachers, friends and counsellors/doctors; the unique challenges to growing up as gay or lesbian, alongside complex processes involved in the decision of 'coming out'; and the experience of meeting others like oneself, forming intimate, romantic relationships, bonds of friendship, political solidarity, families of choice and so on. In this book, the author employs a critical stance towards mainstream life span development studies, developmental psychology, child development and childhood studies that make universal assumptions of heteronormativity and gender binarism. This book is of interest to a wide readership, from psychologists, mental health and human rights scholars, to scholars of youth and childhood studies, gender studies, cultural studies, social work, sociology and anthropology