Gay Men in College: Identity Processes and Adaptations

Men who self-identify as gay typically report knowing about their affectional orientation during early adolescence (Malyon, 1981; Troiden, 1989). This represents the beginning of the process of gay identity exploration, and such personal acknowledgment precedes disclosure to someone else. The process of disclosure of lesbian or gay affectional status to others—“coming out”—proceeds slowly, and may occur over many years following self-awareness. There are multiple overlapping processes involved in this developmental task, such as telling family (parents, siblings, extended family), friends (ranging from casual acquaintances to close friends), and the many important others in one’s social network (e.g., coworkers and teachers). These disclosure processes facilitate the shedding of heterosexual identity and its social expectations; this role exit is inevitably stressful both for the person and for the social network members whose presumptions have been violated. In addition to negotiating exits from heterosexual roles, gay and lesbian people must develop an identity within a gay or lesbian context. Revealing lesbian or gay identity to others initiates another set of developmental processesrelating to lesbian and gay people, socializing in lesbian and gay settings, becoming involved in lesbian and gay communities, and integrating lesbian or gay status into all domains of personal life.