Dozier 1

Ariyana Dozier
Professor Cassandra Blandford
UWRT 1103
2 November 2015

Annotated Bibliography

Patterson, Charlotte, and Anthony R. D'Augelli. "Chapter 7." Handbook of Psychology and
Sexual Orientation. New York: Oxford UP, 2013. N. page. Print.
This source discusses the experiences and challenges of lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths.
It begins with a theoretical perspective on sexual identity development. It then reviews what is
known about the experiences and challenges of lesbian, gay, or bisexual youths from an
ecological perspective that involves the self, family, peers, and schools. Next, it examines the
positive and negative influences of the various experiences on the youths identity development,
health, and well-being.
This source is extremely helpful. It gives me more factual answers rather than opinion
based ones. It relates back to my question, at what age is okay to declare ones sexual
orientation? because it explains how sexual identity can be developed and how outside
influences contribute to an adolescents sexual identity. Identity development is the primary
developmental task of adolescence. Throughout the years, individuals form many different

Dozier 2

identities for different aspects of their lives. But declaring ones sexual orientation is one of the
biggest steps in the developmental stage.
I know that this source is credible because I discovered it through the universitys library
database.

Ponton, Lynn. "What Does Gay Mean." Www.nmha.org/whatdoesgaymean. National

Mental Health Association. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
This article was written by Lynn Ponton M.D. as requested by the National Mental Health
Institution. It was written out of concern for the impact anti-gay prejudice and discrimination
have on children gay and straight. People have different views about homosexuality, but most
Americans believe that everyone should be treated fairly and with respect. It was also created as
a guide for parents who may have homosexual children and how to go about discussing the
subject with them. This source also contains a lot of information on around what age most
children begin identifying themselves as a specific sexual orientation.
I chose this source because it answers a lot of questions for me. My main question is, at
what age is it okay to declare ones sexual orientation? It states that when teens begin dating
that is when their sexual orientation become apparent. This source also describes sexuality and
differentiates between gay, bi, lesbian, and Trans which was also a question of mine.
This source is credible because it was found through the universitys library database.
Friedrichs, Ellen. "My Mom Says I Am Too Young To Know I'm a Lesbian." About.com
Dating & Relationships. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.

Dozier 3

This source is amazing. It is of course opinion based because my question cannot be

answered by facts alone. This article talks about problems of real live adolescents questioning
their sexuality. It talks about how people assume that children are too young to know their
sexuality or that it may shift over time. One girl at age 14 tried telling her mom she was gay only
to be told that she was not and that she was too young to know. This source gives a point of view
in which the writer believes that when you know, you know. The writer of this article is a mother
who had to personally deal with this issue with her child.
With this source I can better understand a mothers point of view on their child being
homosexual. I can begin with this source because it still leaves me with open-ended questions.
There is no direct answer to my question but this article has given me more things to think about
and consider. This source will be very helpful to refer back to when I am at a loss because it will
help me to come up with new questions.
This source is credible in the way that I will be using it for this paper. I will definitely be
using an excerpt from this article that shows a little girl questioning her mothers opinion on her
being homosexual.

Corinna, Heather. "Am I Too Young to Think I'm Gay?" Scarleteen. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
This source discusses not only at what age can someone determine that they are gay, but
also at what age someone knows they are straight. It states that if you are not too young to know
that you are straight, then you are not too young to know if you are gay or bisexual either. In this
article the writer talks about how it is normal to have small or major shifts in ones sexuality over
time. Attraction is a feeling, and it can be permanent or temporary just like any other feeling.

Dozier 4

This source will be helpful because it causes me to look at my question in a different way.
My question, at what age is it okay to declare ones sexual orientation? was more directed
towards individuals declaring themselves homosexuals. I did not take into account that people
decide to be straight as well. I also chose this source because the writer is playing the devils
advocate. This source has helpful and useful information that will assist me in my analyzations
and help me think outside of the box.
This source is more of blog. However, the way I will use it makes it credible. This source
asks the reader a lot of questions and requires critical thinking. I really like the context of this
source and will be able to add a lot of information to my paper through it.

Corinna, Heather. "Am I Too Young to Think I'm Gay?" Scarleteen. Web. 28 Oct. 2015.
This source brings a whole other aspect to my research. It talks about how a child can be
too young to declare their sexual orientation. However, a child is not too young to declare their
gender. At four and five years old, children begin asking questions like, Are you a boy a girl?
Questions like that show that children are aware of gender. Unlike that question, you do not hear
children often ask, Are you gay or straight? Gender emerges so young, but sexuality forms
during physical and emotional changes.
I chose this source because it gives me a lot of information for my research paper. Using
this source will bring another dynamic to my paper. It approaches the subject of gender
awareness and not only sexuality. I learned many new things after reading this text. This text is
relevant to my question At what age is it okay for one to declare their sexual orientation?
because it talks about how gender is realized earlier than sexuality.

Dozier 5

This source is credible because of the way I will relate it back to my research paper. The
content is consistent and helpful. It was also written by a notable psychiatrist.