Abstract
In contrast to heterosexual individuals, sexual minority individuals (e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, LGB) face a heightened risk of suicide (Hottes et al., 2016). This increased risk is often due to high levels of family rejection and other forms of sexual minority discrimination (Carnelly et al., 2011; Willoughby et al., 2006). Although sexual stigma is pervasive within most cultures, research highlights especially prevalent homophobic attitudes within many Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC) communities. This may lead to heightened experiences of discrimination and distress for BIPOC sexual minorities. A significant way to transmit discrimination towards sexual minorities is through gossip, or the act of relaying either positive or negative information about in-group and out-group members. Gossip affirms social conventions that informally police group members to reinforce further social norms and values (Baumeister et al., 2004; Gluckman, 1963). Using a sample of 303 BIPOC (153 heterosexual and 150 sexual minority individuals), the current study assessed the relationship between perceived family gossip and suicidal ideation (SI), along with factors that may further help explain this relationship. Greater perceived family gossip was associated with greater SI. However, in line with study hypotheses, this finding was moderated by sexual orientation, such that the relationship was positive and significant for sexual minorities, but not for heterosexuals. Other potential mediators and moderators of the relationship between gossip and SI were also examined and will be discussed. Our findings suggest that targeting communication patterns in therapy, such as how families share information (e.g., gossip), may be one important avenue to help reduce the risk of SI in BIPOC populations.