Lesbian existence as resistance. Coping strategies against intrafamilial Lesbophobia

This article examines lesbian existence as a form of resistance within the family, a central institution for the reproduction of gender, sexuality, and moral norms in Colombia. Drawing on 23 in-depth interviews conducted between 2021 and 2023 with Afro-descendant and white/mestiza lesbian women in Cali, this study asks how lesbian daughters navigate intrafamilial lesbophobic violence, negotiate belonging within the parental home, and develop strategies to remain in, leave, or redefine family relationships. Using discourse analysis complemented by thematic analysis, the study identifies four recurring themes: the central and ambivalent role of mothers in regulating sexuality; the spatial separation between the parental home and lesbian affective life; the importance of affective and support networks in negotiating family rejection; and forgiveness as a strategy for preserving family ties despite psychological and, in some cases, physical violence. These findings show how participants actively reshape family relationships while affirming lesbian identities beyond the constraints of compulsory heterosexuality.