ABSTRACT
For members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Inter-sex, Asexual, and Ally (LGBTQIAA) populations, the ability to connect with like-others online has opened doors to self-acceptance and greater self-understandings. With increased access to information and venues for self-expression, sexual minority populations are more visible among American society, with 4.5% of US adults openly expressing an LGBT identity, and 10.4% of high school youth identifying as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Scholars have proposed several homosexual identity stage models to outline common developmental experiences among lesbian women and gay men. The stages of Cass’s model are outlined in this chapter to aid in the assessment of a child named Savion’s gay identity development. The chapter explains that evidence of feeling frustration, anxiety, and anger may be present, along with symptoms of nervousness. Acute stress is short term and helps anyone in dangerous situations, whereas chronic stress is over time and long term.
