A person questions if they may be homosexual. If that is accepted as a possibility, the person moves to identity comparison stage.

Identity Confusion

One starts to compare themselves to both homosexuals and non-homosexuals.

Identity Comparison

The person starts to initiate contact with other homosexuals. They start to tolerate the identity, but not embrace it.

Identity Tolerance

The person starts to develop a positive view of their homosexual identity. However, they may still try to hide their homosexual identity.

Identity Acceptance

People feel a strong sense of pride about their sexual orientation. They now identify strongly with other homosexuals, and feel anger at the intolerance of their identity from society at large.

Identity Pride

The person has settled into the community and their identity with the help of knowledgeable others and role models. The person now feels comfortable in that identity, but doesn't hide or flaunt theiir new identity.

Identity Synthesis

Proposed six stages to developing a sexual identity that is different from the typical models of identity development.
- Identity Confusion
- Identity Comparison
- Identity Tolerance
- Identity Acceptance
- Identity Pride
- Identity Synthesis

Alma College

Contains models pertaining to how people develop their sexual identities.

Models of Sexual Orientation/Identity Development

Setterlund, M., Feshbach, S., Weiner B., & Bohart A. (2019). Personality. United States of America: Academic Media Solutions.

Personality 5th Edition

Cass's Model of Sexual Orientation Identity Development

An ideal and simplified model that attempts to explain how we develop our sexual identities by including age and the concept that stages may overlap and be experienced multiple times. 

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