The Coming Out Process: Developmental Stages for Sexual Minority Youth

Abstract

This work describes the developmental process of coming out in gay and lesbian youth. The case is made for the need to identify developmental stages during this process. We address how identity formation is affected by societal intolerance during the process of coming out. To explain this process, we present a psychodynamic model within a sociocultural framework. A review of the literature was undertaken to explore the relevance of the social context in which this internal process takes place. Based on the review of the literature and a clinical understanding of the coming out process, a stage model is proposed that describes the chronology of events that characterizes this process. Societal intolerance can be detrimental to healthy identity formation. There is a need to research the process of identity formation in sexual minority youth.