In "Toward a Reconceptualization of the Coming Out Process," Margaret Schneider suggests that "there are conditions or combinations of conditions that lead to movement along the continuum toward, or away from, a lesbian identity." These conditions can follow known stages of coming out processes and identity development or move about the continuum. If we look at the character of Willow Rosenberg from Buffy the Vampire Slayer in this aspect, that her coming out processes are all steps somewhere along a continuum of lesbian identity, we can see that in some way each of the milestones of her acknowledgeable fictional existence is part of her realization of a lesbian identity. In fact, Willow's movement from nerd to witch to lesbian is part of her journey through levels of self-discovery and self-esteem. I will endeavor to show how Willow's development as a character in Buffy the Vampire Slayer is part of a process that GLBTQ people experience as they discover their identities and build their self-esteem.