Relationship Identities Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Adults: An Exploratory Study.

Abstract

Relationship identities are established through romantic interactions and informed by sociohistorical context. The associations between lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) identities and identities in other domains, including relationship identities, have yet to receive sufficient attention from researchers. In this exploratory study, through a qualitative analysis of life-history interviews from the Generations Study, we identified participants who described their identity in terms of a romantic relationship (e.g., partner, husband/wife). In describing their relationship identities, two themes emerged: (a) negotiation of a relationship identity with other identities, such as gender or race/ethnicity and (b) navigating being visible or invisible within the LGB community and/or at the societal level. Together these themes suggest that relationships may be salient components of personal identity when sexual minority individuals in a couple either individually or jointly feel that they stand out (or that they become invisible).