Research has consistently reported sexual and gender minority persons are more vulnerable to adverse wellbeing experience, often mediated by negative social projections and interactions within high prejudice societies. On a general population level, no health differentials are evident in low prejudice societies. However, qualitative researchers are often critical of an over-reliance on broad macro associations, suggesting personcentered research can deepen generalist understandings. Phenomenology is the research methodology that was chosen for this study, because of its theoretical commitment to exploring the first personal character of everyday lived experiences. For this study, nine gay men, aged 22 to 65 years old, participated in semi-structured one-to-one interviews, with a specific focus on capturing life’s triumphs and losses. The key finding that emerged was the appropriation of disrespect to respect. Personal stories toward acceptance were socially mediated, among significant others, as embedded within social repertoires and religious norms. Some of the stories describe life conditions where participants often had to battle with negative forms of self-criticism as the historic social taboo for minority identity often co-occurred with shattered assumptions and challenges in personal and family lives. Navigation of unequal power relations in Irish society often shaped peripheral beliefs and emotions with implications for self perception and self worth. However, for all participants, the positive appropriation of respect within the selfconcept is strongly facilitated by participants working for and being touched by wider social struggles of recognition. Psychotherapists need to critically understand the mediation of transformative social contexts for the self-concept by actively supporting the resoluteness and effort required to rework any negative patterns of self-criticism arising from social prejudice of an earlier time period. Ireland is now a strongly affirming social environment for sexual and gender minorities and is conducive to personal authenticity.