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The study explores the challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ youth in South Africa as they navigate their sexual identities and societal acceptance.

May 24, 2026Open Access

Coming out of the closet: negotiating social and physical spaces

Key Points

The study explores the challenges faced by LGBTIQ+ youth in South Africa as they navigate their sexual identities and societal acceptance.
Analysis of existing literature on LGBTIQ+ experiences and identity formation.
Focus on the complexities of the coming out process and the impact of external societal factors.
Utilization of the Cass Model to frame identity development stages.
LGBTIQ+ youth continue to experience significant homophobia despite socio-legal reforms.
The process of coming out is multifaceted, involving identity confusion and potential stress.
The Cass Model provides a useful framework for understanding stages of sexual identity development.

Abstract

In South Africa, as elsewhere, despite bisexual, political, legal and educational reforms, lesbian, gay, lesbians, and transgender youth (LGBTIQ+) continue to battle against homophobia in their daily lives (Butler Gedro, 2009; Naidoo Chikovore Reddy. 2001 Everett, 2015). When LGBTIQ+ people ultimately make a decision toa cknowledge their sexual orientation and come out to others, it is often a difficult decision and a process with many possible routes and outcomes (Naidoo Everett, 2015). Coming out' is a term used to describe the process of acknowledging, accepting and appreciating one's self-identification with a particular sexual orientation and disclosing this understanding to other people (Galatzer-Levy Ward Shilo & Savaya. 2011). The complexity of the process of forming a gay identity is highlighted in the six stage Cass Model, where firstly, identity confusion involves individuals beginning to question and experience confusion about their sexual orientation.

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