The six stages of the coming out process

This is the stage where you first question your sexuality. You become aware that you are attracted to people of the same sex, but may not be sure what this means.

You may feel confused, scared, or anxious about these new feelings and try to suppress them.

In this stage you compare yourself to others. In this way you try to find out whether and how you fit into the LGBT+ community, and you may start experimenting with your sexuality.

You may also come out to close friends or relatives at this stage, but you're not ready to openly identify as gay.

In this stage you begin to accept yourself as you are. You may still have some difficulty with your sexuality, but you are getting to a point where the rest of your environment can know that you are gay.

This is the phase where you fully accept yourself as gay. You feel comfortable with your sexuality and no longer feel the need to hide it from others.

In this phase, many men also become involved in the LGBT community. For example, by standing up for gay rights.

In this phase you are proud of your sexuality. You are confident and comfortable with who you are, and no longer feel the need to justify your lifestyle to others.

In this phase, some men become active members of the LGBT+ community in order to contribute to promoting equality for all.

In this phase you reach a point where you balance your gay identity with the other aspects of your life. You feel comfortable with who you are and have found your place in the world.

You may still be involved in the LGBT+ community, but no longer feel the need to define yourself based solely on your sexuality.