The Coming Out Process of Sexual and Gender Minority Latines in the United States

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) Latines face complex decisions about disclosing their sexual orientation and/or gender identity to others, navigating systemic and interpersonal discrimination. Little is known about the ways SGM Latines make these decisions in the face of these challenges, highlighting the need for studies that include multiple experiences within the SGM Latine community to better understand their unique identity disclosure processes. The present study investigated the coming out experiences of 30 SGM Latines (M_age = 24.5) through semi-structured interviews. The data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis and two overarching themes were developed: Coming Out Narratives in an Intersectional Context and Where Do I Go When There is Nowhere to Go? These themes represented the cultural and systemic factors that affect these participants’ decision to come out, while also showcasing the dynamic process of identity disclosure. Findings indicated a desire to build intersectional communities as a way of coping with systematic oppression and discrimination and seeking authenticity. These findings highlighted the importance of understanding the intersection of Latinidad(es) and queerness and how these identities, and the systems that oppress those who possess them, play a role in the decision of when and how to come out.