What kinds of things might a person who is gay, lesbian, or bisexual go through when coming out?
Because of the difficulty of growing up in a largely homophobic society, people who are gay, lesbian, or bisexual may experience guilt, isolation, depression, suicidal feelings, and low self-esteem. As GLB people become more in touch with their sexual orientation, they may experience any number of these thoughts and feelings to some degree. On the positive side, coming out can be an extremely liberating experience, as gay men, lesbians, and bisexuals learn who they are, gain respect for themselves, and find friends to relate to. Coming out to others can be an anxious process, as the individual worries about rejection, ridicule, and the possible loss of family, friends, and employment. For students, college life is already stress filled, and adding the process of grappling with one’s sexual identity to that mix can be overwhelming.
