- "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 family, friends or colleagues. Coming out can be a liberating but also scary and challenging experience for some individuals.
Identity Exploration: The process of individuals trying to understand and accept their true sexual orientation.
LGBTQ+ Terminology: Terms and phrases used by the queer community to define different gender and sexual identities.
Acceptance of Self: Overcoming any internalized homophobia, biphobia, or transphobia so that individuals can feel safe and proud of their identities.
Family Dynamics and Support: Understanding how family members and friends may react to the news of someone coming out with their sexual orientation.
Safety: Awareness about the risks that may come with coming out and strategies that individuals can use to stay safe.
Discrimination Prevention and Advocacy: Getting involved in advocacy groups or political movements seeking to fight against discriminatory policies or practices.
Society and Culture: How societal norms and cultures influence the experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals.
Legal Rights and Protections: Laws that protect the rights of LGBTQ+ individuals, including Marriage Equality, and non-discrimination laws.
Religions and Beliefs: Understanding the religious beliefs that can be interpreted toward or against the LGBTQ+ community, and their effect on people's experiences.
Healthy Relationship Development: Recognizing the importance of Positive relationships, intimacy and sexual safety that certain sexual orientations demand.
Gay: Being gay refers to a person who is primarily attracted to someone of the same gender.
Lesbian: A lesbian refers to a woman who is primarily attracted to other women.
Bisexual: People who identify as bisexual are attracted to both men and women.
Pansexual: People who identify as pansexual are attracted to all genders, including those who identify as non-binary or genderqueer.
Asexual: People who identify as asexual don't experience sexual attraction to anyone.
Demisexual: People who identify as demisexual may only feel sexual attraction after developing a deep emotional bond with someone.
Queer: The term queer is an umbrella term for those who do not identify as heterosexual or cisgender, and may include people who prefer not to label their sexuality or gender identity.
Questioning: Questioning refers to someone who is unsure of their sexual orientation and is exploring their identity.
Heterosexual: Being heterosexual refers to a person who is primarily attracted to someone of the opposite gender.
Polysexual: People who identify as polysexual are attracted to multiple genders, but not all genders.
- "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."