The stage of sexual identity development where a person becomes comfortable with their minority status is:

• A. Identity diffusion
• B. Identity confusion
• C. Identity tolerance
• D. Identity achievement

Answer: (C)

Understanding the stages of sexual identity development helps explain why comfort with minority status marks a specific point in growth. In this stage, the individual has started to acknowledge their minority status as real and tolerates it, rather than denying or ignoring it. They may begin to seek out information, connect with others who share the same orientation, and consider coming out with trusted people, though they are not yet fully embracing or publicly owning the identity. This contrasts with earlier stages marked by confusion or diffusion, where there’s uncertainty and lack of commitment, and with later stages like identity achievement, where the person is more fully integrated and outwardly confident about their identity. So, tolerance best captures the shift to being comfortable with being a sexual minority.