Coming Out Process
Written Assignment Part 1
Human Sexual Behaviour
350-306-DW-02
M.Cote
February 26, 2013
1. Present information given in your book on that theme.
The “Coming out” process also known as “coming out of the closet” is a turn of phrase for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual(LGB) people who reveal their sexual orientation to the people around them. The process of “coming out” is never easy for many gay people. They are ashamed of themselves and for what people will think about them. They are afraid to tell their friends and family because they feel as if they won’t be accepted anymore. There are six stages in the coming out process, the first stage is identity confusion, and this is the stage when the person going through this experience cannot accept the fact that he or she is gay. They usually ask themselves several times “who am I?’. They are confused with their sexual orientation; in this stage they usually consider themselves liking someone of the opposite sex only because they don’t want to be different. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals usually question their identity and usually hide it by dating people of the opposite sex. The second stage is identity comparison; this is the stage where the person now thinks “I may be gay”. They start getting this feeling because they realize they are not attracted to the opposite sex, but they are really attracted to the same-sex person. Then the third stage comes along called identity tolerance this is the stage where the person tolerates their orientation more than accepting it and goes out in the world to find other gays, lesbians or bisexuals to make contact with people like them. The fourth stage is identity acceptance; this is the stage where a person tells themselves “I am gay” and accepts the fact that, that is their sexual orientation and that’s how they were made. The fifth stage is identity pride; this is the stage where the person starts pushing away from heterosexual people and moving towards gay people. Also
Human Sexual Behaviour
350-306-DW-02
M.Cote
February 26, 2013
1. Present information given in your book on that theme.
The “Coming out” process also known as “coming out of the closet” is a turn of phrase for Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual(LGB) people who reveal their sexual orientation to the people around them. The process of “coming out” is never easy for many gay people. They are ashamed of themselves and for what people will think about them. They are afraid to tell their friends and family because they feel as if they won’t be accepted anymore. There are six stages in the coming out process, the first stage is identity confusion, and this is the stage when the person going through this experience cannot accept the fact that he or she is gay. They usually ask themselves several times “who am I?’. They are confused with their sexual orientation; in this stage they usually consider themselves liking someone of the opposite sex only because they don’t want to be different. Gays, lesbians and bisexuals usually question their identity and usually hide it by dating people of the opposite sex. The second stage is identity comparison; this is the stage where the person now thinks “I may be gay”. They start getting this feeling because they realize they are not attracted to the opposite sex, but they are really attracted to the same-sex person. Then the third stage comes along called identity tolerance this is the stage where the person tolerates their orientation more than accepting it and goes out in the world to find other gays, lesbians or bisexuals to make contact with people like them. The fourth stage is identity acceptance; this is the stage where a person tells themselves “I am gay” and accepts the fact that, that is their sexual orientation and that’s how they were made. The fifth stage is identity pride; this is the stage where the person starts pushing away from heterosexual people and moving towards gay people. Also
References: Rathus, S. A., Nevid, J. S., Fichner-Rathus, L., Herold, E. & McKenzie, S. (2005). Human Sexuality in a World of Diversity: 3rd Canadian Edition. Toronto: Pearson. Bernal, A. T., Coolhart, D. (2005). Learning from Sexual Minorities: Adolescents and the Coming out Process. Guidance & Counselling, 20(4), 128-138