Racial/ethnic minority women who come to identify as lesbian must confront the norms and expectations of both the majority and minority cultures in which they live. This article reports findings from a diverse sample of nearly 450 women and examines the effects of race/ethnicity on sexual identity development in African American, Latina, and White lesbians. African American and Latina respondents differed little in the timing and disclosure of lesbian identity; comparisons between women of color and White women revealed substantial variability. Findings are discussed in terms of their implications for practice with lesbians of color. • lesbian • identity development • race differences • African American • Latina

Findings of lesbian family research published between 1980 and 1996 are reviewed. The research describes characteristics of lesbian families, and challenges faced by these families, in the context of heterosexist and homophobic societal attitudes. The major research findings are discussed, clinical implications are noted, and areas in need of further investigation are proposed.

Lesbian identity is an achieved, not an ascribed, status. Family, social, and historical circumstances affect the timing, sequence, and outcome of this developmental process. The life stories of 31 women, identified within three eras of lesbian history, demonstrate the critical role of history in understanding lesbian identity and experience today.

Lesbians reportedly use alcohol more frequently and in greater quantities than heterosexuals, conceivably placing them at greater risk for alcohol-related problems. Past theorists have suggested psychosocial variables such as stress or the centrality of the gay bar to account for these findings. Researchers have not examined lesbian drinking within its historical, social, and cultural contexts. This paper reviews findings of a qualitative interview study examining sexual identity development and alcohol use patterns of 31 self-identified lesbian social drinkers. Findings reveal the importance of multiple contexts to understanding lesbian drinking. The author proposes a correspondence between identity development and alcohol use, as both are affected by the changing social conditions of different historic eras. The normalized presence of alcohol in lesbian contexts and norms related to its use present distinctive dilemmas for alcohol problem identification and treatment with this population. These findings have several implications for practice with lesbian clients.