ABSTRACT
“Coming out,” the process of accepting same-gender desire as an aspect of one’s identity, telling others, and seeking others’ affirmation for this contested sexual identity, often fosters personal coherence. Many factors enter into awareness of sexual identity. The very possibility of “going gay”, including both the temptations and the fears associated with accepting a gay identity, may be a source of personal struggle for many men and women dealing with conflicting same-gender desire. The increased visibility of the gay community means that it is possible to find others with similar desires without the furtive searches of earlier times, but on the other hand it also increases the pressure for coming to terms with one’s gay identity. The Internet has opened new possibilities for self-exploration across the junior high school and high school years. Comparative study of the life stories of people across generations highlights how social context shaped people’s understanding of their own life stories.
