- "Coming out of the closet, often shortened to coming out, is a metaphor used to describe LGBT people's self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity."
The process of revealing one's sexual orientation or gender identity to others.
Sexual Orientation: This refers to an individual's emotional, romantic or sexual attraction to other people. People identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, asexual, pansexual or queer.
Gender Identity: Gender identity refers to an individual's self-perception of their gender. People identify as male, female, non-binary, genderqueer or genderfluid.
Coming Out: This refers to the process of revealing one's sexual orientation or gender identity to others. It can be difficult for some individuals due to societal stigma, discrimination or rejection.
LGBTQIA+ Terminology: Familiarizing oneself with the terms and acronyms that are commonly used in the LGBTQIA+ community is essential when learning about coming out. Examples include LGBTQIA+, heteronormativity, cisgender, and transphobia.
Discrimination and Prejudice: LGBTQIA+ individuals often face discrimination and prejudice from society. This includes discrimination in employment, healthcare, housing, and social interactions.
Support Systems: LGBTQIA+ individuals often rely on support systems such as friends, family, and community organizations to navigate the challenges of coming out and living authentically.
Mental Health: LGBTQIA+ individuals are at a higher risk of experiencing mental health issues due to discrimination, social isolation or societal expectations.
Intersectionality: Intersectionality refers to the interconnectedness of different aspects of one's identity such as race, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation. It's important to understand how these intersecting identities can affect experiences of coming out.
Legal Issues: LGBTQIA+ individuals face legal issues due to the lack of legal protections in many areas. Some countries criminalize homosexuality or transgender identities, and others do not have laws that protect against discrimination in the workplace or housing.
Self-Acceptance: For many individuals, coming out is a journey of self-acceptance. Learning to love and accept oneself as a LGBTQIA+ individual is a critical step towards accepting and loving others.
Coming out as gay or lesbian: This is when someone openly identifies as homosexual or bisexual.
Coming out as transgender or nonbinary: This is when someone identifies as a gender other than the one they were assigned at birth.
Coming out as asexual: This is when someone does not experience sexual attraction.
Coming out as pansexual: This is when someone identifies as being attracted to all genders and gender expressions.
Coming out as intersex: This is when someone is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that does not fit typical male or female definitions.
Coming out as queer: This term is often used as an umbrella term for anyone who identifies as being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
Coming out as two-spirit: This is a term used by some Native American and Indigenous people to describe someone who identifies as having both male and female spirits.
Coming out as polyamorous: This is when someone identifies as being open to having consensual multiple romantic or sexual relationships at the same time.
Coming out as demisexual: This is when someone only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional connection with someone.
Coming out as questioning: This is when someone is still exploring their gender or sexual identity and has not yet come to a definitive conclusion.
- "Coming out of the closet is experienced variously as a psychological process or journey; decision-making or risk-taking; a strategy or plan."
- "A matter of personal identity; a rite of passage; liberation or emancipation from oppression; an ordeal; a means toward feeling LGBT pride instead of shame and social stigma."
- "The power of the closet to shape the core of an individual's life has made homosexuality into a significant personal, social, and political drama in twentieth-century America."
- "LGBT people who have already revealed or no longer conceal their sexual orientation or gender identity are out of the closet or simply out, i.e., openly LGBT."
- "LGBT people who have yet to come out or have opted not to do so are labeled as closeted or being in the closet."
- "Outing is the deliberate or accidental disclosure of an LGBT person's sexual orientation or gender identity by someone else, without their consent."
- "Glass closet means the open secret of when public figures' being LGBT is considered a widely accepted fact even though they have not officially come out."
- "A career-threatening act."
- "A mass or public event."
- "A means toward feeling LGBT pride instead of shame and social stigma."
- "Made homosexuality into a significant personal, social, and political drama in twentieth-century America."
- "A matter of personal identity."
- "Liberation or emancipation from oppression."
- "Experienced variously as a psychological process or journey; decision-making or risk-taking; a strategy or plan."
- "The power of the closet to shape the core of an individual's life."
- "Self-disclosure of their sexual orientation, romantic orientation, or gender identity."
- "A means toward feeling LGBT pride instead of shame and social stigma."
- "A psychological process or journey."
- "They are out of the closet or simply out, i.e., openly LGBT."