Abstract
In recent years, there has been discussions about how so-called “post straight” environments, with low stigmatisation and high acceptance of people identifying as LGBT+, impact sexual minority identity. Here, it is being argued that holding a LGBT+ identity is of less significance to younger adults compared to older adults. This thesis aimed at examining the relevance of LGBT+ identity by looking at how comfort related to sexual identity influenced the connection between discrimination and positive mental health, and how this varied according to age. An online survey was conducted with 644 individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, queer, asexual, and other in Norway. Sexual identity comfort was found to influence the connection between discrimination and positive mental health, with low comfort working as a vulnerability factor and high comfort as a promotive factor. However, this was only evident amongst adults and older adults. In younger adults, sexual identity comfort did not work as an asset, nor as a vulnerability factor when facing discrimination. The findings suggest a difference in the role of LGBT+ comfort across age cohorts, perhaps due to sexual minority identity as more relevant to older adults compared to younger cohorts. However, more research is needed to draw any concrete conclusions. The results, limitations and societal implications are therefore discussed into more detail.