Mixed-Orientation Marriages

Mixed-orientation marriages are marriages between individuals of differing sexual orientations. For instance, in a mixed-orientation marriage, one partner identifies as heterosexual and the other identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer (LGBQ). In the United States, over 2 million married couples have been or are currently in mixed-orientation marriages. Some individuals enter marriage aware of their partner’s sexual orientation, some become aware as a result of a disclosure that happened months or years into the marriage. In other cases, the LGBQ partner does not disclose until after the relationship has dissolved. Much of what we know about mixed-orientation marriages has focused on marriages of a presumed heterosexual couple where one partner “comes out” or discloses his or her sexual orientation as LGBQ. In addition, much ...