In 1979 Vivienne Cass released her “Homosexual Identity Model” based on her empirical research of gays and lesbians in Australia. Her model has been used in higher education as the standard for discussing the identity development for gay and lesbian college students.

It is important to note that this is a stage model, meaning, according to Cass, the individual progresses along this path. An individual may take several years to get through a particular stage and may never make it to stage 6. Finally “foreclosure” (when an individual denies their identity or hides it from others) can occur in any stage and halt the process.

Stage 1: Identity Awareness
-The individual is aware of being “different.”

Stage 2: Identity Comparison
-The individual compares their feelings and emotions to those they identify as heterosexual.

Stage 3: Identity Tolerance
-The individual tolerates their identity as being non-heterosexual.

Stage 4: Identity Acceptance
-The individual accepts their new identity and begins to become active in the “gay community.”

Stage 5: Identity Pride
-The individual becomes proud of their identity and becomes fully immersed in “gay culture.”

Stage 6: Identity Synthesis
-The individual fully accepts their identity and synthesizes their former “heterosexual life” and their new identity.

**Please note this model is based on research of predominantly white gay men and lesbian women of high to middle class status. This stage model is not necessarily reflective of the process a bisexual or transgender individual may go through. Ultimately, this stage model may not be applicable to everyone.