Images of Resilience: Outness in Same-Gender Romantic Relationships

Abstract

Abstract Outness is an inevitable component of lived experience for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+. Relatedly, levels of outness change based on environment, social location, and surrounding influences, and little research exists exploring the construct of outness within same-gender romantic relationships. Through a photovoice methodology, participants engaged with participant-taken photographs depicting their experiences during a structured focus group. Through use of Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis, the researchers distilled themes within the focus group discussion and study artifacts to provide counselors and counselor educators with insight and depth into the role of outness in same-gender romantic relationships.