Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate related to experience of self-acceptance of sexual orientation in gay men. Key informants were 10 gay men who had score on the self-acceptance of gay men scale as of 4.5 to 5 points. They were selected purposively according to the fixed set of criteria. Data were collected by in-depth interview and analyzed by using consensus qualitative research method. The results reveal six domains: (1) Begining to sense ones own homosexual orientation, (i.e., sensing of gay vibe, the attraction to heterosexual, and self-denial of the gay sense) (2) Experiences that facilitate adopting gay identity, (i.e., encourtering with social prejudice, having a sexual experience and relationship with men,and the acceptance of same-sex attracted feeling) (3) Sexual identity acceptance, (i.e., the acceptance of gay identity , the attitudes toward society with self-acceptance, and entering to gay society) (4) Disclosure of the gay identity , (i.e., self-disclosure to family and self-disclosure to society) (5) Living a gay life, (i.e., perceiving difficulties of living a gay life, and to live harmoniously with oneself and with others and(6) Emering of intergrated personality, (i.e., integrating gay identity to self identity, and emerging a coherent and integrated self). These findings suggest that trust in one own organism, openness to experience about the sense of self and experience of sexual orientation as gay men and also existential living lead to one identity synthesis.