Latinx Bi+/Plurisexual Individuals’ Disclosure of Sexual Orientation to Family and the Role of Latinx Cultural Values, Beliefs, and Traditions

Abstract

Family acceptance and support is crucial for LGBTQ individual’s well-being. For Latinx LGBTQ people specifically, Latinx cultural values, beliefs, and traditions (e.g., familismo, gender norms, respeto, religion and spirituality) play an important role in their relationship with their family members. To date, however, little is known about the unique experiences of Latinx bi+/plurisexual people within the context of their families. In a sample of 63 Latinx bi+/plurisexual people, we used a qualitative approach to explore: (a) factors leading to the disclosure of one’s bi+/plurisexual identity to family members, (b) experiences of Latinx bi+/plurisexual people within their Latinx families after disclosure; and (c) aspects of Latinx culture that influenced the experiences of Latinx bi+/plurisexual individuals and their families. Thematic analysis revealed five major themes: (1) decision-making process (presence of religiosity, fear of being excluded from the collective and violence, perceived negative attitudes toward bisexuality, selective disclosure, and disclosure of authenticity), (2) family reactions to sexual identity disclosure (acceptance, rejection, and invalidation, disregard, and erasure of bi+/plurisexuality), (3) cultural factors that influenced family reactions to disclosure of sexual identity (religion and spirituality, familismo and respeto, strict views on gender norms), (4) impact of family reactions on the individual (validated and affirmed, relieved and confident, hurt and disappointed, and identity concealment), and (5) impact of family reactions on the individual’s relationship with the family (stronger bonds and distanced, disrupted, and strained). We provide recommendations for practitioners such as taking into consideration the importance of culture when working with Latinx bi+/plurisexual individuals and their family members.