The multifactor internalized homophobia inventory

A multi-factor questionnaire, consisting of 85 items, related to the feelings, self-perceptions and life experiences of homosexuals, was administered to a sample of 1,077 gay men and lesbians recruited in various ways from all over Italy. An exploratory factor analysis (principal axes factors, followed by Varimax rotation) and reliability analysis allowed for the definition and interpretation of seven factors linked to internalized homophobia: (1)Fear of coming out, (2)Regret about being homosexual, (3)Moral condemnation, (4) Gay-lesbian parenting, (5)Integration in the homosexual community,(6)Counter- prejudicial attitudes, (7)Homosexual marriage. An eighth scale, defined (8)Stereotypes, consisted of items that varied between the two sexes and revealed adherence to gay and lesbian stereotypes. All scale scores had a good alpha coefficient (three higher than .80) except for thescale of stereotypes(.60)