Previous research demonstrates a relationship between sexual minority victimization experiences and hazardous alcohol use among sexual minority (lesbian, bisexual, queer, and same-sex attracted) women (SMW). The underlying mechanisms in this relationship, however, remain unclear (Lehavot & Simoni, 2011a). The purpose of the present study was to test a motivational model of hazardous alcohol use among SMW; the model examined the mediating role of enhancement, social, conformity, and coping drinking motives (Cooper, 1994) in the relationship between sexual minority victimization and risk for hazardous drinking. Snowball and targeted sampling strategies were used to recruit SMW (N = 371) for a cross-sectional, online survey assessing past-year experiences with heterosexist harassment, rejection, and discrimination; lifetime experiences with sexual orientation-based physical and sexual assault; drinking motivations; and indicators of hazardous alcohol use. Path analyses were performed using structural equation modeling; the final model demonstrated acceptable fit and accounted for significant portions of the variance in alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences. Indirect relationships emerged between recent sexual minority harassment, rejection, and discrimination and risk for hazardous drinking outcomes, via the three motives. Results also showed an indirect relationship between past-year victimization and alcohol-related consequences, via coping motives. The results expand understanding of the role of various drinking motives in problematic alcohol use; and point to the importance of recent sexual minority victimization as a risk factor for heavy drinking and vulnerability to adverse consequences from alcohol. Implications for clinical intervention and future research are discussed, as well as limitations of the study.