Previous studies that examined the roles music plays in homosexual life focused on how it was used after "coming out." In the present study, we qualitatively examined whether music played special roles before and during the "coming out" process. Seven gay men of varying ages and cultural backgrounds were interviewed and asked to describe their "coming out" process and to specify whether music was somehow involved in the process. An analysis of the transcribed interviews revealed three main roles: music as a companion (music offered the support that a friend might have provided); music as a means for concealing and exposing (music helped to regulate the extent of exposing homosexuality); and music as means of making change (music served as a catalyst for "coming out"). The results are discussed in light of Cass's (1979) model of homosexual identity formation and suggestions for further studies are provided.

This chapter will reflect on the multi-cultured and multi-layered aspects of queerness, music, and music therapy in Israel. Three perspectives are considered: ‘surviving in the margins’, that shows how difficult it is for people from extreme cultural environments to develop a queer identity, and how music therapy can help; ‘somewhere in between’, that focuses on queer singer-songwriters, how the Israeli environment challenges them, and how music reflects and sometimes supports this process; and ‘a bridge between extremes’ that focuses on musical dialogue groups between Arab and Jewish students in which queer alternatives for perceiving the otherwise binary political situation are offered. The examples highlighted in these sections show how music can reflect the changing shades of identity and help clients to form their own unique realities. They also demonstrate how queer knowing helps to see the potential for a richer world, with more possibilities to create, dialogue with others, and solve problems. Many of the insights shared in this chapter can be related to music therapists and musicians beyond the cultural context of Israel.

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