Gays-Lesbians-bisexuals

The term coming out ' refers to the sequence of events through which individuals recognize their own homosexual or bisexual orientation and disclose it to others (Garnets , Herek Levy , 1990 . Further , coming out helps to solidify the person 's commitment to a homosexual identity Becoming gay or lesbian or bisexual can be understood as a series of events that starts with developing a social identity of homosexuality or bisexuality (Troiden , 1989 ) and disclosing this identity to others

Based on Troiden 's (1989 ) model , developing a gay identity undergoes sensitization , identity confusion , identity assumption

and commitment The sensitization stage usually begins before puberty and involves the person becoming aware that he or she is different from other boys or girls . Usually , they have this feeling that they are not like their friends and peers and yet they cannot explain why they feel different It may be awareness or an appreciation of the same sex rather than the opposite sex . They may tend to have interests or preoccupations that are not in accordance with their own sex as what society expects . As lesbians and gay men continue to experience that they are different from their heterosexual counterparts , they become confused about who they are . Since they feel they are different , they begin to question who they are as a person and what do they want from their life . But since society stigmatize homosexuality , the person is driven to deny and avoid homosexual tendencies . Moreover , part of the confusion of establishing an identity is based on the fact that persons who may be homosexuals have had

experienced becoming attracted and interested both in the opposite and same sex . There are several ways with which to deal with feelings of identity confusion . This may be denying the homosexual thoughts feelings and fantasies , or the person may seek therapy to change homosexual inclinations , an attempt at conversion . And the person may acknowledge the homosexual feelings but regard them as unacceptable and tries to adopt behaviors similar to a heterosexual person . Avoidance of homosexual individuals may also cause the person to join causes against homosexuals or become involved in gay bashing or resort to alcohol and drugs

Identity assumption is when the individual come to define themselves as homosexual . Within their selves , they come to acknowledge and identify themselves as gay , lesbian or bisexual . At this stage , the individual has a clear idea of his /her beliefs and her homosexual identity , in which case he /she may seek to live the life of gays , lesbians or bisexuals . However , since this assumption of a gay identity is more of personal , it is often not disclosed to family members for fear of rejection . Newly self-identified homosexuals often learn how to live a double life , that of being a gay inside and appearing to be heterosexual to others . The last one is commitment to homosexuality , which involves adopting it as a lifestyle . Homosexuality is a choice and is a sexual orientation rather than being genetically determined , it means that the...