Social and individual-level forces impacting LGBTQIA+ experience

This chapter tackles the complex interplay between LGBTQIA+ identities and the communities and social institutions with which they interact. Issues regarding the navigation of faith and family, as well as workplace culture, are key sites of exposure and disclosure decisions that most of those interviewed discussed. Specifically, individuals discussed how families and communities with strong religious identities (regardless of the specific religion) made for both initial and ongoing challenges with regard to full integration into family and community life. Further, an analysis of how role expectations and challenges, such as those of parent and neighbor, alter attitudes and approaches to disclosure, both in terms of reducing exposure (for fear of repercussions) and in terms of prioritizing disclosure (in order to provide positive examples and safe spaces for others). Other than family, workplaces were the most oft-cited spaces of navigation. Finally, this chapter briefly discusses the navigation of queer identities among those with multiple marginal identities. That is, respondents spoke openly about how their race, age, economic position, and ability status impact how, when, and whether they think about and approach disclosure of their sexuality.