The Voices of African Descent Bisexual Women: Experiences Related to Identity and Disclosure, in Social Support Networks and Health Care Settings, in the US and UK

Researcher: Kristin M. Brown, PhD, MSW, MPA; Email <WomenResearch7@gmail.com>

Abstract: Inaugural LGBTQ Scholars of Color Conference Presentation (April 2015, New York)

This is the first cross-national dissertation study focusing with bisexual-identified women of the African diaspora (ABW), completed this century in the English language. As a member of the population, I collaboratively implemented this study for our empowerment. Using qualitative research principles of grounded analysis, I conducted individual face-to-face interviews with six women in the United States in 2013, and eight women in the United Kingdom in 2014. I gathered information on quality of social support and health care, related to disclosure of bisexual identity.

The US and UK were selected for this cross-national study because of similar recent history, cultures, official government language, and the differences and developing similarities of their health care systems. Due to the history of the dispersal of African people, compounded by marginalization of African descent bisexual women, this united cross-national research strategy was intended to transcend historical divides and bring more attention to these women’s concerns. The cross-national study was also designed to highlight similarities and contrast differences, toward increasing understandings of these women’s experiences.

In this summary, I detail findings on the well-being of cisgender bisexual women of the African diaspora. This study focused only with cisgender ABW, as researchers with prior and concurrent studies were focusing with transgender and lesbian women. The women shared information about bisexual-specific stigma, and barriers and facilitators of disclosure in social networks and health care settings. The contributors also spoke of their needs for affirming social support and culturally competent health care, and their intersectional identities.

Learning about my history… is really important to me,… from Jamaica and from Africa… as a way of trying to find my own roots…. And also learning about Black feminism and Black history, and finding queers within that is something that I find really powerful ‘cause there’s a lot of silences around Black queer women, particularly in history. When we find stuff out, it’s so exciting, like reading Zami by Audre Lorde. (Angela, UK)

US contributors were primarily African American; UK contributors included women whose parents originated from Africa and the Caribbean. Contributors’ ages ranged from early 20’s to late 40’s. Several contributors were mothers. Relationship status was diverse including single, partnered, monogamous, and polyamorous. Religious and non-religious affiliations were diverse, including atheism, and Christian, Muslim, and Buddhist faiths. Most contributors had college education yet were still low-income, and expressed concern about having adequate socioeconomic resources particularly in late life. The women shared about their activities of resilience, including writing and activism for socioeconomic justice.

I… started writing in elementary school; I would fill up journals and notebooks full of writing…, and I just continued,… was always on the literary magazine staff, I was a editor,… worked on the newspaper in college,…. majored in (a writing field). I’ve just always… loved writing. (Annie, US)

While some contributors had close relationships with family, social support from relatives was generally low. Women in the UK were more likely to have a beneficial social support network of LGBTQI people of color, though some felt isolated. US contributors tended to report more social isolation. Several contributors stated they knew of no other African descent bisexual women in their social networks. The women often stated it was beneficial to have social support networks comprised of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people of color, who accept and affirm the women’s bisexual identity.

I’ve lived in (town) now for ten years… I feel I really have a strong support network here. It would be difficult; if I leave I’d have to start all over….I’ve been involved with the LGBT community center and I’ve made friends from the LGBT community center that are still good friends now. So I feel very comfortable in this community…. I have people that are there for me. It’s a good place. (Dreamadonna, US)

The cross-national findings highlight similarities and differences in the experiences of the women in the US and UK health care systems. Women in the UK have national health care, while women in the US can still lack adequate health care. The women in the US and UK, who have coverage and access to health care, may still prefer not to disclose bisexual identity to providers due to concerns of how they may be treated. Some avoid seeking health care out of concern about potential stigma and prejudice.

My general practitioner… had in the reception area a… Pride in Practice plaque, which meant that they had been part of some kind of training around LGBT issues; and when I saw that out on the reception that was really, really helpful. It made me feel more able to say about my sexuality, and I’ve found that before in other health care settings, that if there was something that is visible that makes it seem like it’s okay to talk about being queer, then I feel much more comfortable. (Angela, UK)

Several contributors mentioned struggling in their lifetimes with chronic illness, and with mental health challenges especially depression. All contributors in the UK stated they had received HIV testing, while some in the US had not yet taken or been offered an HIV test; all who had tested stated they received a negative result. Several of the women said it was considerably more difficult to broach the subject of sexual health and testing with female rather than male partners. Few women in the US or UK had received health information specifically for women with a same-sex partner, from providers.

Even when I mentioned to my general practitioner that I’m bisexual, they don’t come and give me any more training or any, “Okay, you should do this” or “You should do that.” They don’t… not much information. It’s just what you’ve learned on your own about trying to protect yourself, and being bisexual when you’re with women, you have to be very careful, but they don’t have much information as to how you can do it, from service providers. Those things you just have to learn on your own. (Tolu, UK)

The women who participated in this study made important recommendations toward creating more inclusive and supportive environments for delivery of health and social care. The women’s needs include: 1) More LGBTQI-identified providers, 2) LGBTQI-inclusive nondiscrimination policies posted in agency settings, 3) universal STD and HIV screening, 4) information about healthy relationships, especially on how to communicate assertively about sexual health with a female partner, 5) access to good quality and culturally competent physical and mental health care, and 6) inclusive social services that acknowledge the families of sexual minority women.

The clinic… for women… They are just so good. So professional…. They’re absolutely brilliant…. They ask all the right questions. They give you sexual health stuff that’s appropriate. They’ve heard of bisexuals…. (laughter) and they don’t judge you… (Annie, UK)

If I see a new health care provider and they automatically ask me, “Would you like an HIV test today?…. A lot of people don’t get that… I wish it was just a part of general care… That would be very helpful. (Dreamadonna, US)

I think the first thing is actually to acknowledge that there are bisexuals…. and not assume that everybody’s heterosexual. And they also must look at providing services for those kind of women. (Tolu, UK)

These findings are intended to increase diversity awareness and sensitivity among health and social care providers, sexual minority communities, and society as a whole. Publications are forthcoming. Author’s written permission is required prior to reposting, quoting or citing. © 2015 [Kristin M. Brown] All rights reserved

Dissertation citation: Brown, K. M. (2015). The voices of African descent bisexual women: Experiences related to identity and disclosure, in social support networks and health care settings, in the United States and United Kingdom. (Unpublished doctoral dissertation). Florida State University, Tallahassee.

Acknowledgments: I thank the women who courageously participated in this study, contributing from their knowledge and life experience. I credit success to the support of the dissertation chair, scholars, and community organizers, who were involved in the development and implementation of this study from its conceptual stages.

Organizational supporters: (Partial list) Bi’s of Colour, House of Rainbow Fellowship, Cara Trust (UK);

Big Bend Cares, Minority Alliance for Advocating Community Awareness and Action, Family Tree LGBT

Community Center, Phillip Rush Center (US)

For more resources and information on bisexual issues, please see these organizations and reports:

BiUK http://www.biuk.org, BiNet USA http://www.binetusa.org

Barker, M., Richards, C., Jones, R., Bowes-Catton, H., Plowman, T. Yockney, J., Morgan, M. (February 2012). The bisexuality report: Bisexual inclusion in LGBT equality and diversity. Milton Keynes, United Kingdom: The Open University, Centre for Citizenship, Identities and Governance and Faculty of Health and Social Care. http://www.open.ac.uk/ccig/sites/www.open.ac.uk.ccig/files/The%20BisexualityReport%20Feb.2012_0.pdf

Miller, M., André, A., Ebin, J., and Bessonova, L. (2007). Bisexual health: An introduction and model practices for HIV/STI prevention programming. New York: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute, the Fenway Institute at Fenway Community Health, and BiNet USA. http://www.outforhealth.org/files/all/bisexual_health_tf.pdf

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