We have received a request from a researcher at Texas Tech University conducting a study on men and women who came out at age 30 or beyond. She is looking to do interviews with people who fit this criteria, and I know we have a fair number of people on EC who would be a match. EC's staff and board of directors have reviewed the request and the written documentation for the study, and verified its authenticity, and so we feel comfortable supporting this research. This is an important study in a very underrepresented area of research, and she is only a handful of participants shy of meeting her objective, so I would like to encourage each of our members (regular or full) who meet the criteria to consider participating in the study. The study is described below. If you are interested in participating, please PM me, and I will share her contact information with you so that you can participate. If you have any questions about the study, please post them to this thread and she (or the EC staff, to the best of our abilities) will answer them in the thread.
I am a woman who is coming to terms with the fact that I'm not straight at age 35. I don't qualify for the study because I'm only out to a handful of people so far and I am not in a long-term het relationship. Still, I wish you the best with this study and I'd love to hear what you find!
I am willing to help if I qualify. I started coming out at 31. I'm still not out to everyone, but to my husband and close friends and family.
I am 40, was previously married and am now just starting on my journey accepting something I think I have known all my life. Confused? -yes Scared? - yes Anyone else know?- Only people who are reading this.. Good luck with the study, I may not be of much help as I am only just starting my journey and have no experience of relationships other than heterosexual at this stage..
Wish I could help. But I'm still in the closet as well. Just tell her, 37 and in the closet ain't a cake walk! haha
Like some others here, I'd like to help but am not fully out. And I can't do video chat. 47 and still working on it!
I'm 30 and I'm just now coming to terms with it. I'm not out yet, either. Good luck on your research!!!
Not sure if I qualify. I've been out since Day One in my own head, but I'm a very private person by nature and don't discuss my orientation in public any more than I would my politics or spirituality, for the same reasons. In the last year I've decided to become a little more open about things (when I was 52, for the record). I've always felt it made a greater positive impact when I first proved myself as a human/person/friend/coworker and then revealed the fact that I fly the rainbow flag; you should have seen the look on some of their faces ( ), and in my small sample of personal experience it's been favorable every time. In the view of the real world, I'm only out selectively. Judicious manipulation of my Internet identities keeps it so, but I'm well aware a tipping point will be reached. Chip, use your judgment. This post is my official grant of permission to supply my registered email to the researcher you recommended; ensure the respondent includes reference to their research in the title because I'll circular-file it otherwise. If you can PM a warning, all the better. Nice to have found you guys.
I began my coming out process when i was about 42. I still have questions about my sexuality. I consider myself bi, but believe I might be more gay than I realize. I'm still in the process of finding myself.