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.

Keywords:

• Bisexual
• plurisexual
• Latinx
• family
• disclosure
• cultural factors

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Roberto L. Abreu

Roberto L. Abreu, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Florida and the director of the Collective Healing and Empowering VoicEs through Research and Engagement (¡Chévere!) Lab. His research focuses on the well-being of LGBTQ individuals, Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color (BIPOC), and those who self-identify at the intersection of LGBTQ and BIPOC identities. Specifically, Dr. Abreu’s research explores ways in which families and community members navigate relationships with their LGBTQ members.

Marian Hernandez

Marian Hernandez, BA, graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of Florida. Her research interests include the intersection of race and ethnicity and LGBTQ identity.

Idania Ramos

Idania Ramos, BA, is currently pursuing a master’s in counseling psychology at Towson University. Her research interests include the psychological well-being of Latinx people.

Koree S. Badio

Koree S. Badio, BA, is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology at the University of Florida. Her research interests include the psychological well-being of Black immigrants attending predominantly white institutions (PWIs) in the United States.

Kirsten A. Gonzalez

Kirsten A. Gonzalez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor of Counseling Psychology at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (UTK) and the director of the Research on Social Intersections at Tennessee (ReSIsT) Lab. Her research interests include the psychological well-being of LGBTQ + People of Color, the intersection of Latinx and LGBTQ + identities, belonging and community connection for LGBTQ people broadly and bisexual and transgender folks specifically, ally development, social justice advocacy and interventions, biracial/multiracial experience, intersectionality, minority, race-related, and acculturative stress, and sociopolitical experiences of marginalization across race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.