Sexuality in Early Adulthood
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The gay, lesbian, bisexual identification process takes time and may involve moving back and forth among these categories. The most intense phase in the development of one's sexual identity is during late adolescence and early adulthood. Researchers found college graduates are more likely to identify as gay, lesbian, and bisexual while in college because post-secondary education tends to engage students with issues of pluralism, diversity, and self-evaluation. However, there are several stages in which the individuals go through.
The first phase is marked by the initiation of a process of self-discovery and exploration, including becoming aware of one's sexual orientation. This would be questioning whether one may be a lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) person; and engaging in sexual activties with members of the same sex.
The second phase, identity integration, is a continuation of sexual identity development . This is when individuals integrate and incorporate their sexual orientaiton into their sense of self. Engaging in LBG-related social activities, addressing negative attitudes, and feeling more comfortable about disclosing one's identity to others are part of this process.
Coming out is an important means of self-validation and self-affirmation. This stage rejects the stigma and condemnation associated with gay, lesbian, and bisexual orientations. Out occurs in varying degrees. People can be out to no one, out to selected individual lovers, out to close friends and lovers but not to families and employers for fear of reprisal. Coming out occurs in stages involving friends and family members.
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