Outside the LGBTQ “Safety Zone”: Lesbian and Bisexual Women Negotiate Sexual Identity across Multiple Ecological Contexts

Abstract

ABSTRACTThis mixed methods study analyzed how bisexual (n = 241) and lesbian (n = 204) women qualitatively describe the settings in which they feel most positive and negative about their sexual identities. Secondly, the authors quantitatively assessed lesbian and bisexual women on identity-related processes (e.g., outness, negative feelings about identity) and standardized measures of acceptance and engagement with lesbian and bisexual communities and people. Compared to lesbian women, bisexual women were more likely to describe feeling most negative with family members and sexual minority peers, most positive when with allies, and were less likely to describe feeling positive “everywhere.” Bisexual women were less open and had more negative feelings about their sexual identity than lesbians but were accepting of and engaged with lesbian and bisexual communities. Lesbians were only accepting of and engaged with lesbian communities. The discussion focuses on the changing role of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer contexts and the unique challenges faced by bisexual women.