Identification with the gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB) community revolves around the concept of a common mar- ginalized sexual identity. This community identification process has often been examined in the context of coming out, when an individual begins to associate her or himself personally and publicly with other GLB persons, or dis- closes her or his sexual identity to non-GLB persons. Demographic factors like race, ethnicity, gender, and age play important roles in the coming-out process, but few recent studies have looked at this phenomenon. Early studies attempted to explain connections between these life events. Dank’s (1971) study of 237 gay men found the average age of first sexual desire toward the same gen- der occurred around age 13, while acceptance of sexual identity emerged much later, around age 19. Additionally, men over the age of 30 self-identified as gay approximately three years later than men under the age of 30, indicating some cohort effect. Other studies have reported awareness of same-gender feelings among men at an average age of 13 (Bell, Weinberg, & Hammersmith, 1981; Kooden et al., 1979; McDonald, 1982) and between 14 and 16 for women (Bell et al., 1981; Riddle & Morin, 1977). With increased visibility of the GLB community as a result of gay liberation movements and the emergence of HIV in the early 1980s, it is possible that the ages people experience milestones such as coming out to oneself, com- ing out to others, and same-gender sexual debut (i.e., first sexual behavior with someone of the same gender) have changed. D’Augelli and Hershberger’s (1993) study of 194 ethnically diverse GLB youth (ages 15-21 years) found reported self-awareness of GLB sexual orientation at the average age of 10, but disclosure to others did not occur until about age 16. This is younger than suggested by pre- vious studies. Same-gender sexual debut has been investigated by a number of researchers, but none recent. Historically, gay men have been found to report sexual debut with another man at an average age of 15 (Bell et al., 1981; Kooden et al., 1979; McDonald, 1982; Troiden, 1979). Meanwhile, lesbians report sexual debut with another woman later, at about age 20 (Bell et al.; Cook, Boxer, & Herdt, 1989; Riddle & Morin, 1977). Various theories of sexual identity development may help explain these gender differences in coming out and same- gender sexual debut (Plummer; 1975; Ponse, 1978; Troiden, 1979). Cass (1979) was the first to develop a model that could account for gay and lesbian identity development, and Troiden (1988) later adapted his theory to include both men and women. Although common models were developed, The Journal of Sex Research Volume 43, Number 2, May 2006: pp. 115–121 115 Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Generational Factors Associated With the Coming-Out Process Among Gay, Lesbian, and Bisexual Individuals Christian Grov and David S. Bimbi Graduate Center of the City University of New York and the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training José E. Nanin Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New York and the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training Jeffrey T. Parsons Hunter College, the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and the Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training Age at coming out among gay/lesbian/bisexual (GLB) persons and sexual debut with same-gendered partners has typi- cally been investigated in samples that do not reflect the racial and ethnic diversity of these communities. Addressing this limitation, data were collected from a diverse sample of men and women attending large-scale GLB community events in New York and Los Angeles in 2003 (N = 2,733). Compared to older cohorts, younger cohorts (18-24 year olds) of both men and women reported significantly earlier ages for sexual debut with same-gendered partners, and earlier ages for coming out to themselves and to others. Also, women began the process at later ages than men, as they reported coming out to them- selves and sexual debut with a same-gender partner approximately two years later than men. There were no racial or eth- nic differences in age out to self or others; however, people of color were less likely to be out to their parents. Service providers, sexuality educators, and researchers should attend to the diversity in experience of coming out among GLB pop- ulations as they relate to the individuals’gender, age, and racial and ethnic backgrounds. Note. The Sex and Love v2.0 Project was supported by the Hunter College Center for HIV/AIDS Educational Studies and Training (CHEST), under the direc- tion of Jeffrey T. Parsons. We acknowledge the contributions of other members of the Sex and Love v2.0 Research Team – Gideon Feldstein, Catherine Holder, James Kelleher, Juline A. Koken, Joseph C. Punzalan, and Diane Tider, and would like to extend particular thanks to Juline A. Koken for her assistance in the preparation of the manuscript. We additionally acknowledge the financial support for Christian Grov from the Graduate Center’s Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies (CLAGS) and from the Birdie Fuch award of the Department of Sociology. Address correspondence to Jeffrey T. Parsons, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Hunter College of the City University of New York, 695 Park Avenue, New York, NY, 10021; e-mail: jeffrey.parsons@hunter.cuny.edu. ´