"It's Easier Just to Say I'm Queer": Asexual College Students' Strategic Identity Management

Many scholars address the coming out process of identity disclosure for students with minoritized gender and sexual identities. Despite the growth of scholarship in this area, little is known about identity disclosure for asexual college students. Using the framework of strategic outness, this article draws on the qualitative interviews of 12 asexual college students in exploring their complex and multi-faceted negotiations around identity management. Findings include three aspects of strategic outness: strategies, motivational discourses, and social relationships. Collectively, the findings from the study provide new information about the breadth of asexual experiences and the importance of understanding how asexual peoples' multiple identities distinctly influence their strategic identity management.