| The American college fraternity system represents a culture permeated by heterosexism and homophobia. Currently, little research has been conducted on the cultural factors that contribute to a heteronormative atmosphere. This qualitative study expands the base of knowledge known about gay fraternity members, and focuses on the communicative act of coming out in a social fraternity through the lens of Petronio's (2002) Communication Privacy Management (CPM) theory. Through 14 depth interviews, and 104 narrative surveys, categories emerged for each of the research questions posed. A discussion about the results and pragmatic application of the findings are offered for both scholars and practitioners. |
