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Letters to the editor

Taking a historical perspective on research about homosexuality, D’Augelli [2012] discusses the ways in which decontextualized research about ‘homosexuals’ has created borders to understanding LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people. In addition, D’Augelli makes a strong argument for how research over the past 30 years utilizing a lifespan developmental framework has begun to advance our understanding of LGBT people and their lives. He discusses the various ways in which the development of ‘homosexuals’ occurs in the context of relationships with others (e.g., peers, romantic partners, family), institutions (e.g., schools, religious institutions, workplaces), and society (e.g., laws and discrimination). Importantly, he frames this development as a normal part of human lives, shifting from a focus on exclusively sexual aspects of nonheterosexual persons’ identities to a description of the hypothetical developmental trajectory of a young woman who is questioning her sexual orientation in a context that is supportive of this process. This piece leads us to address two important points worth further illumination: (a) it seems that a view of human development that is inclusive of LGBT individuals requires an understanding that all humans’ sexual identities are interrelated with their relationships with others, institutions, and society, and therefore, (b) it is essential to recognize the stakes for all adolescents in creating contexts that are supportive of diversity in the development of sexual identities.