His wife discovered her high school sweetheart was gay. Fear of encountering social disapproval or ostracism often makes it difficult for them to seek support from family and friends. A person who is either in a mixed-orientation marriage or wishes to enter into one may go to therapy or support groups to deal with issues involved in that type of marriage. Jim had a secret from his wife. In this case, it is sometimes called a lavender marriage in popular writing. Support groups are available for those involved in a mixed-orientation marriage.
Previous Next Hide Grid. From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Some bisexual men express with minimal conflict their homosexual and heterosexual impulses within the framework of a mixed-orientation marriage,  with openness and communication being a key factor. Approximately one third of all mixed-orientation couples stay married. They laugh, they cry, they gossip.
In this case, the most successful marriages reassess their relationship in light of the sexual orientation. For those who are still in the closet, it can be painful, terrifying, and exhausting. Twice a month they gather for two hours to share stories. The remaining third attempt to continue the marriage successfully. A study on the nature of mixed-orientation marriages was conducted in at Deakin University, Australia. For Jim, life out of the closet has been a radical departure. Bisexual-heterosexual marriages face external misunderstandings regarding the bisexual spouse's sexual orientation as either gay or straight, while peer support is cited as a helpful factor.