[Vanessa White]

I have referred to this developmental model of Vivian Cass when I conduct trainings for child welfare workers on working with LGBTQ youths. WHen I discuss it, the value I most see in it is not so much to be able to categorize where in it youths or adults may be, but to visualize the actual process of struggling with and, hopefully, coming to terms with one's sexual identity. For myself, I would put myself at the stage of Synthesis/Integration, although that does not really include the idea that even though it is just one part of the total self, for me it becomes the most essential part much of the time due to the level of educating and advocacy I need to do because of it. However, morningrob makes a good point as well regarding the chauvanistic nature of it. I have to advocate on behalf of other parts of my self as well, including being a woman. There are other developmental models out there, one of which I can't think of the author at the moment, but only lists four stages.

It is helpful for information for persons who need it, as long as they don't tend to use it to then put people in a specific framework and not allow for individual differences. Peace, Vanessa