gay identity
Same-sex orientation acknowledged
Gay identity is a person's sense of self as homosexual—not just experiencing same-sex attraction but incorporating it as a defining element of who they are.
The concept emerged in the late twentieth century as gay communities developed shared culture, history, and political consciousness.
Someone might have gay experiences without adopting a gay identity, while others consider it central to their self-understanding: Coming out was when I really claimed my gay identity.
- flagCloth symbol or signal
- coming outRevealing one's identity
- coming out storyAccount of revealing identity
- LGBTQSexual and gender minorities
- chosen familyIntentionally formed kinship network
found family · safe space · gay bar · drag culture · Harvey Milk · gay rights · community · argot · liberation movements · sexual orientation · AIDS crisis · self-acceptance · born this way · marriage equality · intersectionality · lavender scare · Stonewall riots · visibility
- LGBTQgay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer
- Queer Litgay fiction, queer romance, queer authors, coming-out stories, queer fiction
- Faith and Sexualitysame-sex marriage, human sexuality, blessing ceremonies, conversion therapy, religious trauma
gay identityhomophobia
Prejudice against same-sex attraction
heterosexism · internalized homophobia · conversion therapy · sodomy laws