Communication
Communication by definitions the transfer of information from one entity to another entity. In a relationship, communication allows you to explain to the other in the relationship about what you are experiencing, and what your needs are. Good communication is essential to building and maintaining a healthy relationship.
Clear communication is key in a relationship. Here are some tips to clearly communicate with your partner:
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Setting aside time to talk without any disruptions
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Think about what you want to say
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Be clear about what you want to communicate
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Make your message clear
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Talk about what is happening and how it affects you
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Talk about what you want by using "I" statement
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Accept responsibility for your own feeling
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Listen to your partner
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Share positive feelings with your partner
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Be aware of your tone of voice
Internalized Homophobia
Internalized homophobia/homonegativity is the negative view and representation of your sexual orientation. Internalized homophobia can look like
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Feeling ashamed of your or other sexual orientation
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Feeling uncomfortable about your or other's sexual orientation
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Denial of your or others sexual orientation
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Showing contempt towards yourself other others in the LGBTQIA+ community
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Internalized homophobia can affect your relationship.
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According to a study in Journal of Youth Adolescence, internalized homonegativity has been linked to physical perpetration and sexual perpetration of intimate partner violence.
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According to a study in Couple and Family Psychology: Research and Practice, internalized homonegativity is associated with low quality of observed support behavior and low quality of a partners’ daily support.
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Negatively impacts being comfortable with disclosing one’s sexual identity to others
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Negatively impacts being connected to other sexual minority individuals
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Negatively impacts enjoying same-sex sexual activity
Biphobia
Biphobia is the overt discrimination and wide ranging negative beliefs about bisexuality and bisexual people. Biphobia can also been seen as bisexual erasure, and bisexual invisibility. In a study from the journal of Psychology & Sexuality, participants of the study wanted to be recognized as bisexual, and they reported they felt isolated and frustrated by the erasure of their bisexuality.
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How does biphobia harm a relationship?
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Well whenever a bisexual individual enters a relationship, their bisexual identity might be erased and become invisible
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People outside of the relationship may only view the relationship only as a heterosexual or homosexual relationship ​instead as a bisexual relationship
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The partner may not accept the individual's bisexual identity
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It can be a constant battle to recognition and validation of their identity
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Bisexual individual may have to come out to their partner and may have to defend their identity ​
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Bisexual individuals are often seen as promiscuous which is false
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How to combat biphobia?
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​The most important thing you can do is to celebrate and embrace your bisexual identity.
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Embrace your bisexual identity with your relationship identity
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Don't tolerate biphobia
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Recognize, and accept people for being bisexual
Transitioning while in a Relationship
Gender identity is an individual's own internal sense of self and their gender, whether that is man, woman, neither, both, or other. Gender expression is how an individual portrays their gender identity externally. Transgender describes an individual whose gender identity differs from their birth sex. Transition is the process of when an individual may take to bring themselves and/or their bodies into alignment with their gender identity.
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An individual may begin or be in the process of transitioning while they are in a relationship. The transition process is different for everyone and it takes a different amount of time for everyone. It could be a couple months or a couple years until someone is comfortable.
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How to support the transition process while in a relationship whether you are transitioning or your partner is transitioning?
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Be supportive
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Clearly communicate
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Be honest
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Recognize and validate each other's emotions
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Have a support system
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Ask how you can support the other during this process