Research has generally shown that various forms of sexual abuse in childhood lead to an addictive focus on sexual arousal as a means of coping with disturbing emotions such as anxiety, loneliness, hopelessness, and fear. The author considers that discrimination experienced by gay male teens because of their sexual orientation, along with the societal pressure to conform to a heterosexual lifestyle, creates stress that reaches the level of abuse and trauma. This, in turn, contributes to an obsessive focus on sexual arousal as a means of dealing with low self-esteem, fear, loneliness, anxiety, and other forms of stress. Unable to find a satisfying intimacy and acceptance in a homophobic and heterosexual world, the gay teen may seek to cope with the trauma associated with psychosexual abuse through an obsessive pursuit of sexual arousal and/or sexual intimacy as a means of suppressing the effects of trauma. It is essential that this trauma model be used in dealing with gay teens, particularly since they are so vulnerable to hostile attacks on their sexual orientation by other male teens. This trauma bonds with the development and expression of their sexual orientation and puts them at risk for sexual addiction. 27 references