Abstract: The search for one’s sexual identity is a significant process of human development and experiencing some difficulty in developing a positive sexual identity is normal and expected; however, when this process is entangled with a minority status, it becomes more complex to handle. Gay youth need to cope with being part of a minority group that is commonly stigmatized and discriminated for being different. This study was conducted to explore on the experiences of gay youth during their coming out process and sexual identity development. The study utilized a narrative inquiry approach which includes in-depth semi-structured interviews to capture individual narratives of self-identified gays with ages ranging from 19 to 24 years old. Findings reveal that visible gay figures in their immediate environment and frequent interaction with female figures reinforced their gay identity development. Gays compensate sexual identity by proving oneself to parents to earn their recognition and acceptance; however, parental acceptance typically involves articulated conditions. It was also found out that verbal abuse is a common form of discrimination experienced by these gays in the society. The findings provided a rich and deep understanding of the experiences of gay youth which can serve as bases for helping professionals to develop a more inclusive program that will address to the needs of this population.
Keywords: Sexual Identity, Coming Out Process, Self-Identified Gays.
Title: Sexual Identity Development and the Coming out Process of Self-Identified Gays: A Qualitative Study
Author: Maya N. Realista, Dorothea C. Dela Cruz, Mark N. Abadiano
International Journal of Social Science and Humanities Research
ISSN 2348-3156 (Print), ISSN 2348-3164 (online)
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