It is important as Gay and Lesbian therapists to know there is a large population of married women coming out as lesbians who need support. As a therapist who has been working with this population for the last 7 years, I hope to bring awareness to my colleagues about this population and the many issues involved in their therapy, such as:

• Why do women marry men despite their attraction to women?

• How can we as therapists help them better understand heterosexism and homophobia?

• How can we help them in coming out to themselves, their husbands, in-laws, children, and community in a heterosexual world?

• And is there a way to help them to integrate into the lesbian community that may not always be open to married women?

In therapy, there will be the problems of depression, grief, and anxiety. My hope is to be helpful in their process of self discovery.

Christine Logan, MFT, runs a group for Married Women who Love Women and will present a workshop on this subject, through LAGPA, on March 18, 2005. She can be contacted at (818) 618-3274.

*Title from the book Married Women who Love Women by Carren Strock