coming out

the process of "coming out"—acknowledging one's sexual orientation, gender identity, or status as an intersex person—may be a lifelong process of forging an identity first to oneself and then informing family, friends, and co-workers, and then perhaps the world at large, although publicly identifying oneself is often assumed to be the major or only part of "coming out of the closet" GLADD. GLAAD also says that to refer to those who have taken this step as "admitted," "avowed," or "declared" homosexuals is inappropriate because those terms imply something unsavory; "openly lesbian" and "openly gay" are preferable. See also openly lesbian/gay/transgender, LGBTQIA.