Supplemental Material for Born This Way: Sexual Orientation Beliefs and Their Correlates in Lesbian and Bisexual Women

The experience of “coming out” (CO) to parents is often a crucial event in the lives of lesbian and bisexual (LB) women, associated with lower internalized sexual stigma (ISS) and higher positive LB identity. Few studies have compared the experiences of LB women in the CO process. Rather, most prior research has either: (1) not addressed bisexuality or eliminated bisexual individuals from the analysis; (2) combined bisexual women and bisexual men in the same sexual orientation group; or (3) examined bisexual participants alongside lesbian women and gay men, using a single monolithic measure. Thus, the present research aimed at investigating the role of ISS and positive LB identity in inhibiting or encouraging CO to parents in a sample of 241 lesbian women (Mage = 27.61, SD = 7.19) and 186 bisexual women (Mage = 25.23, SD = 5.81), aged 18–40 years. Most participants reported that they had already revealed their sexual orientation to their mother (69%) and their father (52%). More lesbian women had CO to both their mother and their father than had bisexual women. These lesbian women reported lower levels of ISS and higher levels of LB positive identity relative to bisexual women. On average, CO to mothers occurred at age 20 (SD = 5.54), while CO to fathers occurred at age 22 (SD = 5.63). LB women did not differ in the average age of CO to mothers or fathers, or in parental reactions to CO. Finally, ISS was found to affect the process of CO to both parents via positive identity (bootstrapping estimate = −0.26, SE = 0.08, 95% CI = −0.43, 0.11), whereas sexual orientation was not found to moderate the path from ISS to CO to both parents. The present study contributes to our understanding of the differences between LB women when developing their sexual orientation, highlighting the relevance of a positive LB identity for CO to parents. Research and clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

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The Nexus of Sexual Orientation and Gender in the Determination of Earnings

ILR Review ◽

10.1177/001979390305600405 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 622-642 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

John M. Blandford

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Marital Status ◽

Wage Differentials ◽

General Social Survey ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Unobserved Effects ◽

And Bisexual ◽

And Gender

This analysis of 1989–96 General Social Survey data reveals how sexual orientation and gender jointly influence earnings outcomes. Gay and bisexual men experienced a 30–32% income disadvantage relative to heterosexual peers, while lesbian and bisexual women enjoyed a wage premium of 17–23%. The disparate earnings effects of sexual orientation across genders suggest that workplace discrimination may be only one factor accounting for measured wage differentials associated with sexual orientation. These findings qualify pioneering work on the subject that indicated that wage differentials were attributable largely to employer bias. A further analysis that distinguishes the separate effects of gender, marital status, and sexual orientation suggests that differentials long attributed to marital status may in part reflect previously unobserved effects of sexual orientation.

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The WNBA and Athletic Performance Based on Sexual Orientation

10.31234/osf.io/ykqzc ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jarryd Willis ◽

Tugral Bek Awrang Zeb ◽

Joie Haydel ◽

Juanshu Wu ◽

Samantha Yim ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Sexual Orientation ◽

Athletic Performance ◽

Title Ix ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Lgbtq Rights ◽

Overall Performance ◽

Performance Statistics ◽

And Bisexual ◽

Available Information

The success of Title IX and the LGBTQ rights movement is embodied in the sexual orientation diversity and inclusiveness of the WNBA. This makes the WNBA one of the only sports where a comparison of athletic performance based on sexual orientation is possible. Sex differences in athletic performance emerge during puberty, due in part to increases in circulating testosterone in men. Research has also found that lesbians and bisexual women have more testosterone than straight women. Thus, it is possible that there are differences in women’s athletic performance based on sexual orientation. In this study, we used publicly available information to determine the sexual orientation of current WNBA players and compared performance statistics based on sexuality. Results showed that straight guards and forwards weighed more than lesbians, whereas the reverse was true for centers. Lesbian guards are more accurate shooters with a significantly higher field goal percentage than straight guards, and lesbian forwards recorded marginally more steals and assists than straight forwards. Straight females committed more personal fouls than lesbians, especially if they had a female coach in college (regardless of the sex of their WNBA coach). Aside from these findings, overall performance was similar regardless of athletes’ sexual orientation. We argue that no athlete should be discounted based on sexual orientation, whether straight athletes in women’s sports or gay athletes (like Michael Sam) in men’s sports.

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10. Lesbian and Bisexual Women as Grandparents: The Centrality of Sexual Orientation in the Grandparent-Grandchild Relationship

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Aging ◽

10.7312/kimm13618-010 ◽

2006 ◽

pp. 175-194

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

And Bisexual

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Sleep Quality Among Older Women and Men in the United States by Sexual Orientation

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igaa057.562 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 174-174

Author(s):

Adena Galinsky ◽

Karen Fredriksen Goldsen ◽

James Dahlhamer ◽

Tina Norris

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Sexual Orientation ◽

Sleep Quality ◽

Older Women ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

The United States ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

The Past ◽

Falling Asleep ◽

And Bisexual

Abstract Sleep problems may increase the risk for, and result from, other health problems and negatively impact quality of life. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual older adults report more sleep problems compared to their straight counterparts when such problems are measured in the aggregate (e.g. “one or more of four specific sleep problems”). However, scant national research has examined if specific types of sleep problems vary by sexual orientation among older adults. Using 2015-2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) data, we used logistic regression to separately model five sleep problems among women 50+ and men 50+ (lesbian/gay women: n=377, bisexual women: n=142, straight women: n=33,216; gay men: n=508, bisexual men: n=115, straight men: n=25,998) as functions of sexual orientation, controlling for age, race, education, and income. Sexual minority older adults were more likely than their straight counterparts to have taken sleep medication in the past week (women AOR=2.04, 95% CI:1.55, 2.67; men AOR=1.81, 95% CI:1.36, 2.40). The only other difference by sexual orientation found for men was bisexual older men’s greater likelihood, compared to straight men, of having difficulty falling asleep (AOR=2.02, 95% CI: 1.08, 3.79). Older women did not differ by sexual orientation in difficulty falling asleep, difficulty staying asleep, or waking up not feeling rested for four or more days in the past week, or meeting National Sleep Foundation recommendations for hours of sleep per night, whether lesbian/gay and bisexual women were examined together or disaggregated. Future research may examine why sleep quality only sometimes varies by sexual orientation.

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Gender Nonconformity and Minority Stress Among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Individuals: A Meta-Analytic Review

Perspectives on Psychological Science ◽

10.1177/1745691620968766 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 174569162096876

Author(s):

Brian C. Thoma ◽

Kristen L. Eckstrand ◽

Gerald T. Montano ◽

Taylor L. Rezeppa ◽

Michael P. Marshal

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Minority Stress ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Gender Nonconformity ◽

Future Research ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Sexual Orientation Identity ◽

Analytic Review ◽

And Bisexual

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are less healthy than heterosexual individuals, and minority stress endured by LGB individuals contributes to these health disparities. However, within-groups differences in minority stress experiences among LGB individuals remain underexplored. Individuals are more likely to be categorized as LGB if they exhibit gender nonconformity, so gender nonconformity could influence concealability of sexual orientation among LGB individuals, carrying important implications for the visibility of their stigmatized sexual orientation identity and for how they experience and cope with minority stress. Through a meta-analytic review, we examined how gender nonconformity was associated with minority stress experiences among LGB individuals. Thirty-seven eligible studies were identified and included in analyses. Results indicate gender nonconformity is associated with experiencing more prejudice events, less concealment of sexual orientation, lower internalized homonegativity, and higher expectations of rejection related to sexual orientation among LGB individuals. Gender nonconformity is more strongly associated with experiencing prejudice events among gay and bisexual men than among lesbian and bisexual women. Gender nonconformity is systematically associated with minority stress experiences among LGB individuals, and future research must measure and examine gender nonconformity when investigating the role of minority stress in degraded health outcomes among LGB populations.

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Spanish Women and Pornography Based on Different Sexual Orientation: an Analysis of Consumption, Arousal, and Discomfort by Sexual Orientation and Age

Sexuality Research and Social Policy ◽

10.1007/s13178-021-00617-3 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Cristina Giménez-García ◽

Juan E. Nebot-Garcia ◽

Estefanía Ruiz-Palomino ◽

Marta García-Barba ◽

Rafael Ballester-Arnal

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Sexual Health ◽

Policy Implications ◽

Gay And Lesbian ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Different Types ◽

Spanish Women ◽

Role Of Women ◽

And Bisexual

Abstract Introduction The proactive role of women in sexuality has been socially invisible, especially in regard to pornography use. For this reason, this study aims to explore Spanish women’s sexual experiences regarding viewing, arousal, and discomfort as perceived by different types of pornography and based on the women’s sexual orientation. Methods Between January and March 2019, 2730 Spanish women between 18 and 44 years old (M = 24.16; SD = 6.04) completed a questionnaire about the consumption of heterosexual, gay, and lesbian pornography and the discomfort they felt when they were aroused by this type of material. Regarding their sexual orientation, 78.1% were heterosexual, 15.4% were bisexual, and 6.5% were lesbian. Results In general, more lesbian and bisexual women consume pornography than heterosexual women do. In any case, all of them consume and are aroused by pornographic content based on a sexual orientation that differs from their reported sexual orientation. Women experience discomfort when viewing pornography, regardless of their sexual orientation and the type of content. Particularly, the youngest women are associated with discomfort when viewing heterosexual pornography, although the discomfort of older bisexual women is associated with gay and lesbian pornography. Conclusions Regardless of their reported sexual orientation, women view and feel aroused by different types of pornographic content. In addition, this study reveals their associated discomfort, which could interfere with their sexual health. Policy Implications Sexual health strategies should include a more active role of women in sexuality, as well as a more flexible conception of their sexual orientation to prevent stigmatizing them.

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Sexual Fantasies across Gender and Sexual Orientation in Young Adults: A Multiple Correspondence Analysis

Sexes ◽

10.3390/sexes2040041 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 (4) ◽

pp. 523-533

Author(s):

Mattia Nese ◽

Greta Riboli ◽

Gianni Brighetti ◽

Raffaele Visciano ◽

Daniel Giunti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Young Adults ◽

Sexual Orientation ◽

Correspondence Analysis ◽

Multiple Correspondence Analysis ◽

Gay And Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Sexual Fantasies ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

And Bisexual

Differences in the content of sexual fantasies across gender have been widely documented, while less attention was given to the role of sexual orientation. Previous studies focused on differences in the prevalence of broad themes consisting of sets of contents. The current study aimed to increase the knowledge about sexual fantasies in heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual men and women. A descriptive approach that allows visualizing the patterns of fantasies reported by different groups using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) is presented. A sample of 3136 of young adults, 1754 women (Mage = 22.50, SD = 1.72, range 18–25) and 1382 men (Mage = 22.50, SD = 1.70, range 18–25), completed an online questionnaire assessing the presence of 29 different sexual fantasies. The prevalence of each fantasy among each group is shown. Also, relationships between fantasies and the distribution of groups along the two principal dimensions highlighted by MCA are represented. Heterosexuals women reported fewer fantasies and showed opposite patterns of response compared to heterosexual men. There was a substantial overlapping in the fantasies reported by gay and bisexual men, while responses of lesbian and bisexual women were more differentiated. These results indicate that the content of sexual fantasies varies according to both gender and sexual orientation.

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Smoking and Quitting Behavior by Sexual Orientation: A Cross-Sectional Survey of Adults in England

Nicotine & Tobacco Research ◽

10.1093/ntr/ntaa042 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Sarah E Jackson ◽

Jamie Brown ◽

Igor Grabovac ◽

Hazel Cheeseman ◽

Ciaran Osborne ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Sexual Orientation ◽

Smoking Prevalence ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Bisexual Men ◽

Bisexual Women ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Men And Women ◽

Quit Attempts ◽

And Bisexual

Abstract Objective To assess associations between sexual orientation and smoking and quitting behavior among adults in England. Methods Data were collected from 112 537 adults (≥16 years) participating in a nationally representative monthly cross-sectional survey between July 2013 and February 2019. Sexual orientation was self-reported as heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian/gay, or prefer-not-to-say. Main outcomes were smoking status, e-cigarette use, cigarettes per day, time to first cigarette, motivation to stop smoking, motives for quitting, use of cessation support, and past-year quit attempts. Associations were analyzed separately for men and women using multivariable regression models adjusted for relevant covariates. Results Smoking prevalence is now similar between gay (21.6%), prefer-not-to-say (20.5%) and heterosexual men (20.0%), and lesbian (18.3%) and heterosexual women (16.9%), but remains higher among bisexual men (28.2%, adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] = 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11 to 1.79) and bisexual women (29.8%, ORadj = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.33 to 2.03) and lower among prefer-not-to-say women (14.5%, ORadj = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.72 to 0.99). Among smokers, bisexuals were less addicted than heterosexuals, with bisexual men smoking fewer cigarettes per day (Badj = −2.41, 95% CI = −4.06 to −0.75) and bisexual women less likely to start smoking within 30 min of waking (ORadj = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.95) than heterosexuals. However, motivation to stop smoking and quit attempts did not differ significantly. Conclusions In England, differences in smoking prevalence among people with different sexual orientations have narrowed, primarily driven by a larger decline in smoking rates among sexual minority groups than heterosexuals. Bisexual men and women remain more likely to smoke but have lower levels of addiction while being no less likely to try to quit. Implications This population-based study provides an up-to-date picture of smoking and quitting behavior in relation to sexual orientation among adults in England. Findings suggest that widely documented disparities in smoking prevalence have narrowed over recent years, with gay men and lesbian women no longer significantly more likely to smoke than heterosexuals, although smoking remains more common among bisexual men and women. Insights into differences in level of addiction, use of cessation support, and motives for quitting may help inform the development of targeted interventions to further reduce smoking among sexual minority groups.

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