COMING OUT, BEING OUT, AND ACTS OF VIRTUE

We examine three philosophical models for (gay) self-identity: utilita rianism (exemplified by Eichberg), deontologism (Mohr), and individual ism (Spinoza). The first two, we argue, overlook the personal and mult i-faceted nature of social relations. We argue that the framework of m ethodological individualism is better suited to deal with the issues o f self-identity as they affect questions of whether, when, and how to come out, and being out. This framework suggests that there is no mora l principle which could apply universally in regard to being out and t hat there are common situations in which it is not morally appropriate to come out or to be out at all.