“Coming together after tragedy reaffirms the strong sense of community and pride we have:” LGBTQ people find strength in community and cultural values during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people, community and cultural values have served as protective factors during large scale events such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic and the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre. Little is known about how LGBTQ people are drawing on such values during the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic. The current study sought to explore this gap in the literature. Using thematic analysis, a sample of 130 LGBTQ participants shared how community and cultural values informed their experiences and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: (a) activism;(b) authenticity, pride, and visibility;(c) collective intergenerational resilience;(d) centering mental health;and (e) intersectionality and centering those most marginalized. Discussion focuses on implications for practice and activism for LGBTQ people such as addressing ways in which sense of community increases psychological well-being among LGBTQ people and partnering with community agencies to provide comprehensive services to LGBTQ people who are most marginalized. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved) Impact Statement Community and cultural values have served as a protective factors during large scale events for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. LGBTQ participants in this study shared how community and cultural values have informed their experiences and reactions to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic including engaging in activism, being authentic, visible, and displaying pride, relying on collective intergenerational resilience, centering their mental health and that of others, and tending to intersectionality and centering the voices of those most marginalized. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2021 APA, all rights reserved)