Coming out is often understood as an individual process of self-identification, disclosure, and public acknowledgment of one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
This understanding can be problematic because it fails to account for the social and cultural context in which coming out occurs. Coming out can also be seen as a political and ontological act of world-making that has the potential to shape power dynamics, challenge normative conceptions of gender and sexuality, and create new possibilities for relating to others. In this article, I will explore the ways in which coming out can be conceptualized as a political and ontological act of world-making, drawing upon feminist theory, queer theory, and critical race theory.
We need to consider how coming out challenges dominant sociocultural narratives about gender and sexuality. Many cultures around the world have traditionally conceived of gender and sexuality in binary terms, wherein individuals are expected to conform to strict binaries of masculinity/femininity and heterosexuality/homosexuality. These binaries are reinforced through various institutions such as education, religion, media, and family structures. Coming out, by rejecting these binaries, creates a space for alternative ways of being that challenge these norms. By claiming their true identities, LGBTQ+ individuals resist the oppressive systems that seek to control them and create new possibilities for themselves and others. This is particularly important for those who come from marginalized communities, such as people of color, immigrants, and religious minorities, whose identities may be further stigmatized due to intersecting forms of oppression.
Coming out can be seen as an act of creating a world based on love and intimacy rather than power and domination. Many traditional relationships are based on hierarchies of power, with one person dominating or controlling another. But LGBTQ+ relationships often prioritize mutuality, respect, and care over dominance or submission. This is not to say that all LGBTQ+ relationships are perfect or free from power dynamics, but they do offer a different model for relating that emphasizes equality and reciprocity. In this sense, coming out can be seen as a political act of challenging dominant social arrangements and creating a more just world based on shared love and intimacy.
Coming out can also be understood as an ontological act in which individuals assert their own subjectivity and agency. Ontology refers to the study of being, existence, and reality. When we come out, we affirm our own existence and identity as real and valid. We refuse to be reduced to societal labels or expectations and instead claim our own unique subjectivities. Coming out can be seen as a form of resistance against the social forces that seek to control us and dictate how we should live our lives. It is a way of asserting our right to self-determination and autonomy, even if society tries to deny it.
Coming out has the potential to create new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. By refusing to conform to normative gender roles and sexual identities, LGBTQ+ people challenge mainstream assumptions about what it means to be human. They reveal the limitations of binary thinking and invite us to imagine a more expansive vision of humanity. Coming out can also open up new possibilities for connection and community, as LGBTQ+ individuals find solidarity with others who share similar experiences. In this sense, coming out is not simply an individual act, but part of a broader collective struggle for liberation and transformation.
Coming out can be conceptualized as a political and ontological act of world-making that challenges dominant narratives, creates space for love and intimacy, asserts subjectivity and agency, and opens up new ways of seeing and experiencing the world. While there are still many challenges facing LGBTQ+ individuals around the globe, coming out offers hope for creating a better future based on justice, equality, and mutual respect.
Can coming out be conceptualized as a political and ontological act of world-making?
The act of coming out is often seen as a political and ontological act of world-making. This means that it involves making a conscious choice to identify oneself with one's sexual orientation and gender identity, which may challenge social norms and expectations about what it means to be "normal" or accepted by society. By coming out, individuals can create new social categories and definitions that challenge existing power structures and hierarchies.