Coming Out as a Lesbian in Johannesburg, South Africa: Considering Intersecting Identities and Social Spaces

The process of coming out is important in trying to understand how a lesbian identity is shaped and re-negotiated within various social spaces in South Africa today. The article argues that it is vital to acknowledge the intersectionality of identities and social spaces in order to understand and conceptualise the coming-out process. The article raises the question how lesbian identities are formed over time and argues that the different stages of identity development are influenced by the individual's other overlapping identities, as well as certain spaces which either permit or prohibit the disclosure of her sexual identity. The study draws on data gathered through a series of qualitative semi-structured interviews with black and white lesbians, and it forms part of an ongoing conversation about the experiences of lesbian women in South Africa, by documenting the identity formation of several lesbian women living in and around Johannesburg.