However, due to the intersectional, layered nature of LGB persons’ identities, these milestones are not experienced by all sexual minorities in the same way. The timing and order of milestones throughout the lifespan has been associated differences in self-esteem ( Rosario, Schrimshaw & Hunter, 2011), internalized homophobia ( Dube & Savin-Williams, 1999), and verbal and physical victimization ( D’Augelli & Grossman, 2001). Coming out milestones are key moments in the development of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) identities. It is important to understand the identity exploration process, including coming out, because of its implications for health interventions and because concepts of sexual identity continue to evolve. Healthy People 2020 identified “exploration of sexual/gender identity among youth” as an issue that “will need to continue to be evaluated and addressed over the coming decade” ( HHS, 2013). By comparing differences within subpopulations, the results of this study help build understanding of the varied identity development experiences of people who are often referred to collectively as “the LGB community.” LGB people face unique health and social challenges a more complete understanding of variations among LGB people allows health professionals and social service providers to provide services that better fit the needs of LGB communities. Timing of coming out milestones did not differ by race/ethnicity. Bisexual people experienced sexual identity and disclosure milestones later than gay and lesbian people. LGBs in younger age cohorts experienced sexual identity milestones and disclosure milestones earlier than the older cohorts. Men experienced most sexual identity milestones earlier than women, but they tended to take more time between milestones. Sexual identity and disclosure milestones, were measured across gender, sexual identity, race/ethnicity, and age cohort subgroups of the LGB sample. For this study, we assessed identity milestones for 396 LGB New Yorkers, ages 18–59.
Despite a large body of literature covering sexual identity development milestones, we know little about differences or similarities in patterns of identity development among subgroups of the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population.