Generations and Shifting Sexual Identifications Among Flemish Non-Straight Men

This paper explores age-related differences in non-straight identities, using the concept of "generations" to investigate shared contexts and experiences contributing to processes of sexual identification. The process of identity construction is focused upon, existing research noting a shifting attitude toward identity categories among the youngest generations. Using a mixed-method design, first an exploratory survey of 684 Flemish men was used to determine shifting sexual identifications, which were indeed found among the youngest generation. These insights serve as a background for the analysis of 80 in-depth interviews with non-straight men across four generations: Baby Boomers, Generations X, Millennials and Generation Z. These generational divisions serve as a heuristic to explore shared generational experiences and contexts as well as intergenerational changes in relation to four key moments and themes: first realizations and explorations of same-sex sexuality; sexual identification; coming out; and involvement in the LGBTQ community. The results show clear and positive evolutions across the generations on all accounts, albeit with a lot of variation within generations as well as gradual changes between them. While useful as a heuristic, the notion of generations should be used with caution, as it allows to identify macro level shifts but hides micro level variations.