ABSTRACT
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals share with other people the wish to belong to social groups that support and validate their worth and that provide opportunities for meaningful interactions with others. Because of the heterosexism intrinsic to mainstream society, however, LGBs do not have ready access to such supportive environments; instead, they must create their own. This chapter will consider the formal and informal social networks constructed by LGBs. Broadly, this topic addresses LGB communities; more specifically, it includes two levels of community. At one level are the relatively small and informal friendship networks comprised of one’s own immediate family and close friends. This group is often referred to as the family of choice, as contrasted with blood or biological families. At another level, community refers to the broader, more nebulous LGB community, including both formal and informal groupings, whose existence derives from and acts as an antidote to personal isolation and political oppression. These two levels of community are often intertwined, as close friends may also share organizational or cultural involvements, and activity in the broader community may engender close friendships.
