The aim of the research implemented for the purpose of this thesis was describing the gay men’s experience and consequences ofcoming out, focusing on the context of family, friends and colleagues. The thesis is based on the importance of sexual identity on an individual level and is therefore based on Stryker's theory of the relationship between emotional reactions and identities, and on the problem of homosexual identity and heteronormative society. In the researchwas applied a semi-structured interview method with five younger educated gay men currently living in urban area. The research results have shown the negative impact of heterosexist environments on the process of excepting their own sexual orientation, highlighting the following factors: media stereotypical presentation of gay characters and persons, lack of LGBT theme in the family and the media, the presence of homophobia in the immediate community and the LGBT community and fear of consequences of coming out. The participants pointed to the significance of coming out at the individual level (process of self-definition and self-acceptance) and at the social level (activist act). Results have shown that the coming out is most significant in the context of the family, but also the most stressful, while coming out in the professionalcontext is not considered necessary, as in the circle of family and friends. Support was defined as an important part in the process of self-acceptance and was best experienced by friends. The participants expressed their critical views on the Croatian society which they described as homophobic, offering different examples of homophobia in society.