Os depoentes revelaram que durante a infância ocorreram as primeiras manifestações dos desejos e curiosidades sexuais para com indivíduos do mesmo sexo, havendo durante a fase da adolescência, a definição da orientação sexual homossexual em virtude da concretização das primeiras relações homoafetivas. Participaram da pesquisa 27 homossexuais. Respeitaram-se os princípios éticos da pesquisa face aprovação do Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa. Os dados obtidos foram organizados de acordo com a Técnica de Análise de Bardin e analisados a partir da formação de categorias. MétodoĮstudo transversal e qualitativo realizado com homossexuais no município de Juazeiro do Norte, Ceará, Brasil, mediante aplicação de entrevista semiestruturada. Identificar como ocorreu o processo de descoberta da orientação sexual homossexual em lésbicas e gays. Homosexual individuals have difficulties in discovery, definition and disclosure of their sexual orientation due to the prevailing heteronormative cultural patterns. They revealed that the identity crisis they went through are not unique to homosexuality discovery process, but are also present in adulthood as a result of prejudice and social discrimination, resulting in health problems, especially the psychological. The interviewees revealed that in childhood there were the first manifestations of sexual desires and curiosities with individuals of the same sex, and having during adolescence, the definition of homosexual orientation as result of the implementation of the first homosexual relationships. The participants were 27 homosexuals (gays and lesbians). It adhered to the ethical principles of research approval by the Research Ethics Committee. Data were organized according to Bardin Analysis Technique and analyzed from the training category. MethodsĬross-sectional and qualitative study of homosexuals in Juazeiro municipality, Ceará, Brazil, by applying a semi-structured interview. To identify how was the process of discovery of homosexual orientation in lesbians and gays.