Table 1.

Expansion of Selected Quotes

Level	Theme		Quote
Intrapersonal	1	Perception of Sexual Identity	Bisexual, Male, 25: I try not to let the stereotypes define me, but it’s hard. Like you get this stereotype of this is who that group is, and um so there’s this stigma if you’re gay you have to be super flamboyant; and basically there’s tons of YouTube videos about it. But it’s like you’re basically a girl, which is totally not true because there’s such a spectrum of queer and it’s like matching someone’s personality with their sexual orientation and so you kinda get this stigma of ‘oh, you’re bi but you really act gay, flamboyant, or whatever.’
			Bisexual, Female, 27: I’ve internalized what does it mean to be like, to be bi. What does that mean? When I was talking to my friend, the first girl I was with. Um, she was like you don’t look like you like girls. I’ve gone through a lot of physical changes since then. I used to have really long hair, um it was like really curly, and it made me look really Latina. And like recently, I’ve shaved it all off. Now, like I’m sexually a bit more ambiguous, and so I feel like women are inclined to talk to me.
	2	Mental Health Improvement	Gay, Male, 25: It’s been a long time since I’ve came out, I’m sure it’s really improved my mental health because I no longer have to worry about the stress of someone finding out I’m gay, or just like having this looming coming out in my future, and dreading the moment, and once it’s over it’s like, this is great.
			Gay, Male, 18: I’m just like okay it’s pretty much like everyone knows, and so it’s like easier and I don’t have to hide stuff. I don’t have to try to be someone I’m not and I feel like I can be myself, and so it’s like um better for my mental health. I feel like now I can go to a clinic you know and just not, I don’t have to hide things from my doctor, and you know.
Interpersonal	3	Estrangement	Gay, Male, 24: After coming out…I went back to [undergraduate university] and I was pretty much estranged from them [his family]. Didn’t talk to them, didn’t have really anything to do with them. I came home that summer, but that was because I was desperate. But it got so bad, so I stayed in [near by city] that summer … with my ex-lover.
			Bisexual, Female, 25: I came out in high school, well because I was outted, but never felt accepted. It was a religious town, so I stayed to myself. And every time I go home for file holidays or something, people still talk, it’s like they never forgot. So, I still stay to myself when I’m home.
	4	Relationships	Gay, Male, 18: I came out for myself just to be totally myself, but then at the same time I came out so that I could openly be in a relationship with this person. But, for friendships it’s like a stigma but not really because on a college campus, I feel like you hangout with the people who are going to accept you.
			Lesbian, Female, 25: I have more queer friends now because I am out and open about it. I feel like it’s good to have other people that have gone through similar situations too in your friend circle. I guess I have more friends than I did before.
Community	5	Support	Gay, Male, 25: As far as social networks go it’s important, being gay knowing what it’s like. If it wasn’t for being gay, I sense…I see it in other networks to, especially for other minorities. In the same way. Older black scholars are really willing to help young black scholars because the road is so hard. In the same way older gay male scholars look out for younger ones.
			Bisexual, Female, 25: After I left home, well it was either that or being asked to leave. I stayed with friends for a while in the dorms. When I overstayed my welcome, I got housing assistance through the center. They were so nice; it definitely pushes me to help other queer people after I get my life together [chuckle], I guess if we don’t stick up for each other, who will?
	6	Sexual Orientation Non-acceptance	Bisexual, Female, 22: Well I get it from both ends. Um, straight people, okay generally, people want to know are you gay or are you straight, and I am none of the above, and then they want you to pick a side, and that’s not going to happen really, and you have the gay hatters [laugh], and like the pick a side comes from the heterosexuals and homosexuals. There’s a lot of groups that say they’re inclusive but are pretty much just homosexual only kinda groups, and not accepting of like bisexuals or like pansexuals, but it really depends on the groups.
			Gay, Male, 26: I think plenty of people still don’t accept, there’s still a lot of discrimination against sexual minorities, and even within that, you know the different kind of sexual minorities. Some people are more likely to be accepted, and it can be just, discrimination plays out in different ways. I was reading an article about biphobia and like bi people don’t exist, there’s no need for this. Gays aren’t treated any better.
Societal	7	Minority Stress	Lesbian, Female, 24: The government is still discriminatory towards queer people. And, even in places where things have been legalized it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s respected. It’s a systematic depression as there is with any kind of social system.
			Gay, Male, 24: I feel like, yeah, a dual stigma because it seems that being gay in the White community is more acceptable and becoming like more of the norm. But I feel like Blacks and Whites, we have different issues within our own communities. I feel like in the White community they accept it a lot more than in the black community. Because in the black community, I feel like you’re raised to not be gay, if you are it’s something that is very negative. Then you have to, you know keep this portrayal among black females. That whole masculine thing and no I’m not a faggot, and live in this secondary lifestyle that you really don’t have to live.
			Bisexual. Female, 20: Being a minority especially at [college] is kind of difficult on its own, adding another element to it is difficult. Being taken seriously, I would say. People think that being bisexual is a White thing. It’s like you can’t be Latina and like girls. It’s bad enough you have to prove in a college setting that you’re smart enough and worth it. Adding another element is just hard.