In the master's thesis, we explored the experience of self-disclosure of the same-sex identity of five female participants who have been in a same-sex partnership for more than two years and have partially or completely revealed same-sex identity at work, family, close friends and public places. A qualitative phenomenological psychological method was used in the research. Numerous studies on the disclosure of homosexuals show that in self-disclosure they face barriers in the social, family and social environment, such as heteronormativity, homophobia, discrimination and acceptance of same-sex identity. Research does not show what really causes and determines gender identity. It is not right that homosexuality, lesbianism, bisexuality, all forms of LGBTQ+ are reduced according to sexual intercourse, as these persons have their own way of art, spirituality, religiosity, perception of the world and relationships as well worldview. Prior to partial or complete disclosure from at least one of the areas (work, family, close friends, public places), participants can experience discomfort which they can experienced differently, such as fear, guilt, doubt, or awkwardness. Participants can experience fears of homophobia and homophobic violence in three different areas; before disclosure in the workplace, before disclosure to the family, and before disclosure on the street. Participants can also experience the expected heteronormativity or the heteronormative norm which they can experience in different areas; on the street, in front of family, in front of new acquaintances, at work. Participants can choose situational selection when they are faced with a negative response and a potential threat upon their self-disclosure. They can also prefer to stop holding hands and stop showing any intimacy. Participants can also choose not to show their intimacy in the immediate family circle and on the street as they would otherwise. Participants can, in a situation of negative response to self-disclosure on the street, experience a feeling of anger and can escalate their level of self-disclosure. It was also observed that participants, if not immediately, can gradually receive a positive response in the disclosure on the street, at work, in front of friends and family. In those where acceptance was achieved immediately, can happen they immediately experience a sense of joy, while with others, where acceptance occurs later, can happen they experience a sense of joy when accepted. It should be emphasized that
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the results of the research should not be generalized to the population, as it is an individual experience of the participants, who each lives her own life.
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