Social and Psychological Aspects

"It Started Off as Hot Topic and That Was Like the Gateway Store": Narratives of Dress and the LGBTQ+ Coming Out Process

Authors: Andrew Reilly (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa) , Hannah Leibreich (Costal Carolina University)

Abstract

Among gay men, dress is used to communicate one’s gay identity but questions of surrounding the development of a gay identity vis-à-vis dress that communicates it remains unanswered.  This research builds on a prior study that theoretically linked the Public, Private, and Secret Self Model with coming out models by providing qualitative evidence to support their suppositions.  Ten queer-identified men were interviewed.  Analysis of transcripts reveals that participants categories clothing as pre-coming out, right after coming out, a period of time after coming out, and situational, in line with coming out theories.  Suggestions for future research are suggested.  

Keywords: coming out, gay, public self, secret self, private self, PPSS model

How to Cite: Reilly, A. & Leibreich, H. (2022) “"It Started Off as Hot Topic and That Was Like the Gateway Store": Narratives of Dress and the LGBTQ+ Coming Out Process”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings. 79(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.15777