Experiences Of LGBTQ Research Articles

Online Dating Experiences of LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults With Disabilities

Online Dating Experiences of LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults With Disabilities

It’s Pride Y’all: Mechanical and Organic Solidarity’s Impact on White LGBTQ+ Individuals in the Deep South

ABSTRACT To date, most research on LGBTQ+ individuals and communities tends to be based in metropolitan areas of the United States, largely in New York and California. This research analyzes data from 23 white LGBTQ+ individuals in the Deep South through the lens of Durkheim’s mechanical and organic solidarity. We argue that experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in the rural south resemble the characteristics of Durkheim’s mechanical solidarity and analyzing their experiences through this lens will help us better understand how LGBTQ+ people in rural/non-metropolitan areas across the Deep South negotiate and resist being labeled deviant in small, isolated, homogeneous communities. We found that for some, the strongly held beliefs of rigid normative conformity was oppressive. However, for others, they were able to bond with likeminded people in their community and were accepted because of mechanical solidarity. Though oppressive experiences remain a feature of being LGBTQ+ in the Deep South, some respondents reported positive experiences and commented on increasing acceptance and tolerance in some areas. Finally, findings indicate while in some ways it is difficult or impossible to eschew the label of deviant, some LGBTQ+ individuals value rural living and can negotiate, resist, and thrive.

Experiences of discrimination and its impacts on well-being among racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers living in Waterloo region, Ontario, Canada.

Discrimination (i.e. racism, homo/bi/transphobia) at both the individual and systemic levels may negatively impact the well-being of racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers living in Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada. Current research about the experiences of LGBTQ+ newcomers focuses predominantly on homogeneous samples of gay men living in large metropolitan city centres. The present study aims to extend the current literature by exploring the experiences of discrimination and its impacts on well-being among racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers living in a small urban area and representing a variety of intersecting identities (i.e. ethno-racial background, LGBTQ+ identity, newcomer status). Using a qualitative method, 10 individuals were invited to complete a semistructured interview between fall 2019 and summer 2020 about their experiences of discrimination in Waterloo Region, and how such experiences impact their well-being. Using an intersectional lens, a thematic analysis revealed that racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers experienced discrimination before and after settlement in Waterloo Region. Prior to settlement, participants spoke predominantly about experiences of homo/biphobia and the associated feelings of internalised oppression. Alternatively, upon settling in Waterloo Region, experiences of discrimination were predominantly racism, and, in particular, systemic racism, which manifested as an inability to access adequate services and a lack of representation in various spaces throughout Waterloo Region. These results extend previous research by identifying the service barriers experienced by racialised LGBTQ+ newcomers living in a small urban area and can be used to inform best practices for addressing these barriers in Waterloo Region and other small urban areas with similar demographics. Implications and limitations are discussed.

Spanish youth at the crossroads of gender and sexuality during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study examines some of the perceptions amongst Spanish LGBTQ+ youth during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent confinement and lockdown measures, between March and May 2020. During this time, many of these young people were forced to return to their family homes and restrict their social relations. This new situation often exposed them to forms of violence from which there was no escape, with negative consequences for their psychosocial health. The study evaluates the correlations between perceived social support, burdensomeness, thwarted belongingness and the people with whom LGBTQ+ youth lived during confinement. A descriptive and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) and bivariate correlations is used to examine the responses of 394 LGBTQ+ youth, between 17 and 21 years of age, residing in Spain. Overall, the study finds that gender is key when explaining the differences between the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth, with women and non-binary individuals experiencing a greater perception of stigma in the places where they lived during the lockdown. Moreover, trans men and women and non-binary individuals reported receiving less support and a greater feeling of burdensomeness then the other participants. These results suggest that LGBTQ+ youth must be given special consideration during times of crisis, like the COVID-19 pandemic, and may benefit from intervention with an intersectional and transfeminist perspective.

"The Light at the End of the Tunnel": Experiences of LGBTQ+ Adults in Portuguese Healthcare.

This work analyses experiences of LGBTQ+ people accessing healthcare in Portugal. A total of 32 semi-structured interviews were conducted with queer adults (18–59 years old). The thematic analysis and thematic networks brought to light how structural cis-heteronorms are compliant with the maintenance of invisibility regarding sexual and gender diversity. As a consequence, experiences of direct and indirect discrimination show us how crucial it is to have well prepared healthcare providers, capable of embracing diversity and creating safe spaces that allow us to shorten the path between Portugal’s progressive legal frame and the people lived experiences.

“There is Absolutely No Discrimination Based on that Allowed”: Marriage, Migration, and Equality Rhetoric as a Justification for Harm

This article contrasts talk surrounding queer marriage and migration with the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people who have petitioned for status in the United States based on their relationships. I find that people use the concept of equality or being “the same” to dismiss testimonies of harm, and to hold individuals instead of systems and laws responsible for harms when they are acknowledged. I place this rhetoric in the context of US family immigration as a colonial and racial project. Through a mixed methods analysis, the article draws a link between the interactions queer and trans people are having online, their personal and couple narratives, and the colonial history and harm endemic to this often idealized immigration pathway.

The Burden of Having to Wonder: Minority Stress Experiences of LGBTQ+ Hospice Family Caregivers

Home hospice care relies heavily on informal caregivers, often patients’ family and close others. Hospice family caregivers report stress, burden, and unmet support needs associated with poor health and bereavement outcomes. These outcomes are sensitive to the quality of interactions with professional hospice providers, especially for historically marginalized groups, yet little research examines experiences of LGBTQ+ hospice family caregivers. Informed by minority stress theory, we conducted in-depth interviews with LGBTQ+ home hospice family caregivers across the U.S. (N=20). Participants reported demographics and described their caregiving experiences including interactions with hospice providers. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and content-analyzed. Participants were mostly white (n=15, 75%), non-Hispanic (n=19, 95%), cisgender (n=19, 95%), gender binary (n=19, 95%), lesbian (n=10, 50%), women (n=12, 60%); average age was 52.3 (range 25-67, SD=13.84). Along with known end-of-life caregiving stressors, participants experienced minority stress that complicated caregiver-provider communication. Distal stressors included lack of LGBTQ+ competent resources, inadequate legal protections, providers’ assumptions about relationships, and difficult dynamics with unaccepting relatives. Proximal stressors included perceived risks of disclosure, expectation of poor treatment, feeling the need to modify presentation of self or home, and wondering whether negative provider interactions were due to being LGBTQ+. This generated a background level of uncertainty, caution, and concern that was particularly distressing in the home setting. Minority stress affects LGBTQ+ people across the lifespan and generates added burdens and support needs for hospice family caregivers. Providers who understand these effects are better positioned to deliver safe, effective care to all families at end of life.

Physical education from LGBTQ+ students’ perspective. A systematic review of qualitative studies

ABSTRACT Background Prior research has shown that homophobia and transphobia are widespread in schools, some studies even indicate that the prevalence of harassment towards LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer etc.) individuals in schools is higher than in other social contexts. Recently, several qualitative studies have been published in which, the physical education (PE) experiences of LGBTQ+ students have been examined. Purpose Firstly, our study aims to identify qualitative studies published on PE from an LGBTQ+ students’ perspective through systemic literature search. Secondly, it aims to systematically review the identified studies and present superordinate or recurring findings on the basis of the individual studies. Thereby, we analyze and compare the previous findings of the included studies to uncover how heteronormative structures and conditions influence LGBTQ+ students’ experiences of PE. Thirdly, it aims to identify research gaps and provide direction for future investigations. Research design Our study was conceived as a systematic literature review. Relevant social and sports sciences databases were selected and searched for previously published (between 2010 and 2020) qualitative studies on the PE experiences of LGBTQ+ students. The analysis of the data extracted from the studies was based on content analysis. Results A total of ten studies were identified that met our inclusion criteria. The total sample of our review comprises 227 persons from six different countries. Our analysis shows that PE is partly structured in a heteronormative fashion in all countries where studies were conducted and thus, the subject proves to be a negatively shaped space of experience for many LGBTQ+ students. The comparative analysis of the studies reveals that the partly heteronormative organization of PE and the built environment turn out to be neuralgic points, that particularly cause subjective problems and challenges for trans and intersex students. Furthermore, our analysis demonstrates that language and interactions between classmates are the main drivers of discrimination. Thereby, gay male and trans students within the LGBTQ+ group seem to be in particular exposed to verbal and physical harassment by fellow students, which can be understood as acts of homophobia and heterosexism. Overall, the studies barely mention any negative PE experiences of lesbian students and positive experiences of LGBTQ+ students in PE are only reported in few investigations. Discussion The review reveals a few conspicuous features with regard to the research situation on ‘LGBTQ+ in PE’: Overall, the research to date has focused very strongly on trans and male gay students. The sampling strategy of some studies is particularly problematic, as some of the researchers interview people up to 60 years old about their experiences of decades ago. Against the background of social changes, it must be questioned to what extent such findings can claim current validity. This bias must therefore be taken into account when interpreting results and drawing conclusions.

A Whitened Rainbow: The In/visibility of Race and Racism in LGBTQ+ Higher Education Scholarship

Scholars critique LGBTQ+ social movements for failing to understand how oppressive systems like racism inform the experiences of LGBTQ+ community members. To investigate whether LGBTQ+ literature in postsecondary education reproduces this same pattern, we used a critical summative content analysis approach to examine research published on LGBTQ+ people between 2009 and 2019. Guided by a conceptual framework mobilizing notions of colorblindness and queer of color perspectives, we found that the 97 articles in the sample largely minimized the role that racism, anti-Blackness, whiteness, and settler colonialism plays in shaping LGBTQ+ realities in higher education. Implications for future scholarship are offered.

LGBTQ+ Psychosocial Concerns in Nursing and Midwifery Education Programmes: Qualitative Findings from a Mixed-Methods Study.

LGBTQ+ people experience significant physical and psychosocial health issues and concerns, and encounter barriers when accessing healthcare services. We conducted a mixed-methods research study across all Schools of Nursing and Midwifery in the United Kingdom and Ireland using a survey and qualitative interviews. This was to identify the current content within nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes in relation to LGBTQ+ health and to identity best practice and education innovation within these programmes. The survey was completed by 29 academics, with 12 selected to participate in a follow-up in-depth qualitative interview. Analysis of the data from the survey and interviews identified five themes: there is variable programme content; academics are developing their own programmes with no clear consistency; LGBTQ+ health is being linked to equality and diversity; there are barriers to education provision; and these is some evidence of best practice examples. The findings of the study support the need to develop and implement a curriculum for LGBTQ+ health in nursing and midwifery pre-registration programmes with learning aims and outcomes. Academics need support and tools to prepare and deliver LGBTQ+ health content to nurses and midwives as they ultimately have the potential to improve the experiences of LGBTQ+ people when accessing healthcare.

Experiences of LGBTQ+ Residents in US General Surgery Training Programs

Previous studies have shown high rates of mistreatment among US general surgery residents, leading to poor well-being. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ+) residents represent a high-risk group for mistreatment; however, their experience in general surgery programs is largely unexplored. To determine the national prevalence of mistreatment and poor well-being for LGBTQ+ surgery residents compared with their non-LGBTQ+ peers. A voluntary, anonymous survey adapting validated survey instruments was administered to all clinically active general surgery residents training in Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited general surgery programs following the 2019 American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination. Self-reported mistreatment, sources of mistreatment, perceptions of learning environment, career satisfaction, burnout, thoughts of attrition, and suicidality. The associations between LGBTQ+ status and (1) mistreatment, (2) burnout, (3) thoughts of attrition, and (4) suicidality were examined using multivariable regression models, accounting for interactions between gender and LGBTQ+ identity. A total of 6956 clinically active residents completed the survey (85.6% response rate). Of 6381 respondents included in this analysis, 305 respondents (4.8%) identified as LGBTQ+ and 6076 (95.2%) as non-LGBTQ+. Discrimination was reported among 161 LGBTQ+ respondents (59.2%) vs 2187 non-LGBTQ+ respondents (42.3%; P < .001); sexual harassment, 131 (47.5%) vs 1551 (29.3%; P < .001); and bullying, 220 (74.8%) vs 3730 (66.9%; P = .005); attending surgeons were the most common overall source. Compared with non-LGBTQ+ men, LGBTQ+ residents were more likely to report discrimination (men: odds ratio [OR], 2.57; 95% CI, 1.78-3.72; women: OR, 25.30; 95% CI, 16.51-38.79), sexual harassment (men: OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.39-2.99; women: OR, 5.72; 95% CI, 4.09-8.01), and bullying (men: OR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.07-2.12; women: OR, 2.00; 95% CI, 1.37-2.91). LGBTQ+ residents reported similar perceptions of the learning environment, career satisfaction, and burnout (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.97-1.52) but had more frequent considerations of leaving their program (OR, 2.04; 95% CI, 1.52-2.74) and suicide (OR, 1.95; 95% CI, 1.26-3.04). This increased risk of suicidality was eliminated after adjusting for mistreatment (OR, 1.47; 95% CI, 0.90-2.39). Mistreatment is a common experience for LGBTQ+ surgery residents, with attending surgeons being the most common overall source. Increased suicidality among LGBTQ+ surgery residents is associated with this mistreatment. Multifaceted interventions are necessary to develop safer and more inclusive learning environments.

Experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals in sports in Germany

There is growing international evidence that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and sexually/gender diverse (LGBTQ+) people regularly experience discrimination in sports. However, there is a lack of empirical research with regard to the sports situation in Germany. Based on a quantitative survey of 858 self-identifying LGBTQ+ individuals, the present research is the first to provide a comprehensive picture of the experiences of LGBTQ+ people in sports in Germany. To add distinctive knowledge to the international research, this analysis considers differences within the group of LGBTQ+ people and between various sports settings (i.e., organizational framework, team vs individual sports, and performance level. Two research questions are addressed: (1) What micro- and meso-level factors affect the witnessing of homo-/transnegative language and the prevalence of homo-/transnegative incidents in respondents’ sports activities? (2) What micro- and meso-level factors affect respondents’ feelings of being offended by homo-/transnegative language and what behavioral consequences (i.e., refraining from specific sports and reactions to homo-/transnegative episodes) can be observed among different LGBTQ+ subgroups? The data reveal the impact of the sports context on the perception of homo-/transnegative language but not on negative experiences. Moreover, there is a higher prevalence of gay compared to lesbian athletes with regard to the perception of homo-/transnegative language in their sports and a higher prevalence of gay athletes and non-cisgender (transgender) athletes with regard to homo-/transnegative experiences in sport compared to lesbian and cisgender athletes. The empirical evidence confirms and deepens international findings. Moreover, the data assist the Sport Ministers Conference’s goal of increasing initiatives to tackle the exclusion and discrimination faced by LGBTQ+ people in sports.

Teen, Queer, and Asian: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Plus Asian American Students' Experiences in Schools.

The experiences of youth with intersecting LGBTQ+ and Asian American (AA) identities have been largely unexplored. This study explored these experiences of LGBTQ+ AA California youth with mental health, school climate, and school victimization. Drawing from the 2016-2017 California Healthy Kids Survey (N=326,124), this study utilized secondary data analyses to examine mental health, school climate, and school victimization among students of specific AA ethnicities (eg, Cambodian, Hmong, Vietnamese) and LGBTQ+ identities. The participants in this study included 7th, 9th, and 11th graders from California public schools, with subsamples of lesbian or gay students (N=13,291), bisexual students (N=30,127), and transgender students (N=7916). The results indicated that Asian Indian, Cambodian, Hmong, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, and Other Asian LGBTQ+ students experienced more negative school climate and victimization compared to their Chinese, Filipino, Vietnamese, and white LGBTQ+ peers. For instance, 41.1% of Cambodian transgender students reported they were beaten up compared to 27.1% of white transgender students. Mental health differences between LGBTQ+ AA and LGBTQ+ white students were also found. This study's findings can inform school administrators and teachers how to best support LGBTQ+ AA populations.

Views and Experiences of LGBTQ+ People in Prison Regarding Their Psychosocial Needs: A Systematic Review of the Qualitative Research Evidence.

People who identify as LGBTQ+ and are in prison often experience many additional challenges. Once in prison, there is systemic discrimination against imprisoned LGBTQ+ people and a lack of understanding and concern regarding their care, treatment and support needs. While there is growing interest in their protection and that of other vulnerable populations in prison settings, little is known about their views and experiences regarding their distinct psychosocial needs. The aim of this systematic review is to critically evaluate and synthesize the existing research evidence relating to the unique psychological and social experiences of LGBTQ+ people in prison and identify aspects that may help or hinder access to appropriate psychosocial interventions and supports. The PRISMA procedure was utilized. A search of relevant databases from January 2010 to March 2021 was undertaken. Studies were identified that involved LGBTQ+ people, and addressed their views and experiences regarding their psychosocial needs whilst in prison. The search yielded 858 papers in total. Following the application of rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria a total of 12 papers were considered suitable for the systematic review. Quality was assessed using the CASP instrument. Following analysis, three themes were identified: (i) interpersonal factors (ii) intrapersonal factors and (iii) institutional factors. The policy, education and practice development implications are highlighted and discussed. Future research opportunities have been identified that will add significantly to the body of evidence that may further the development of appropriate health interventions and supports specific to the LGBTQ+ population in prison.

Exploring the Experiences and the Nutritional Supports of LGBTQ+ Canadians during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Purpose: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the lives of lesbian, gay, bi, trans, queer, and other groups (LGBTQ+) within Canada. This research aimed to explore the experiences of LGBTQ+ Canadians in relation to their nutritional needs, practices, and supports during the COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: The qualitative study was framed within a poststructuralism and queer theory paradigm and consisted of an online questionnaire. Participants were recruited and asked to complete open-ended questions. Responses were coded using thematic analysis.Results: Seventy participants completed the questionnaire. Data analysis resulted in 3 major themes, including (i) (dis)comforts of food and eating, (ii) shifting views of food and food practices, and (iii) what supports? The themes revealed that many LGBTQ+ individuals experienced stress and anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was a time in which their views and practices of food, cooking, and eating were changed. Nutritional supports were discussed in terms of family, friends, and partners.Conclusion: The findings highlight the complexity to the meanings people give to food, cooking, and eating during stressful times. It is recommended that dietitians familiarize themselves with the experiences of LGBTQ+ people, especially during times of global health emergencies to ensure equitable health care for LGBTQ+ communities.

Testimonial Injustice and Teacher Education

ABSTRACT This narrative inquiry explores the experiences of LGBTQ+ teacher candidates of color in a teacher education program. Composed of vignettes written by teacher candidates and narrative analysis to frame the significance of and contexts within which the vignettes were written, this study first offers insight into the ways teacher candidates understand their own intersecting identities, with specific attention given to how events within and outside the walls of the teacher education program shaped these understandings. The faculty response to the teacher candidates’ vignettes is then shared, revealing how the perceived credibility of the teacher candidates’ vignettes by teacher education faculty limited or expanded the teacher candidates’ ability to engage their intersecting identities in the work of teaching and learning.

“There is LGBTQ Life beyond the Big City”: Discourses, Representations and Experiences in Two Medium-Sized Spanish Cities

ABSTRACT Whilst debates on sexual diversity in public space have been extensive, these have tended to focus on large cities as the environments within which to analyze sexual and gender diversity, gradually consolidating an intrinsic relationship between the LGBTQ experience and the big city. This emphasis has led to the LGBTQ experiences of small and medium-sized cities being overlooked, neglecting the complexity of the intersection between the urban and the sex-gender. Grounded on an original ethnographic work, this paper explores the experiences of LGBTQ people living in two medium-sized cities in Spain: Girona and Sabadell, to analyze the interrelationships between these cities and Barcelona as their main LGBTQ-friendly reference; and the perceptions of tolerance and hostility toward LGBTQ expressions in public spheres. The paper reveals that all cities are shaped by sexualized discourses and experiences, and argues that the experiences of LGBTQ people in medium-sized cities needs to be recognized to understand the influence of space in shaping the sex-gender experiences.

Thematic Analysis of My "Coming Out" Experiences Through an Intersectional Lens: An Autoethnographic Study.

For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) youth, identity development is one of the most critical developmental task. LGBTQ youth are shown to be at risk for a variety of risk factors including depression and suicidal ideation and attempts due to how their identities are appraised in heteronormative societies. However, most LGBTQ educational psychology research have highlighted protective factors that are primarily relevant to support LGBTQ white-youth. One of the major developmental theories, Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development, has identified adolescence as the period where identity development occurs. However, through an intersectional lens, identity development appears to encompass more than adolescence but also emerging adulthood, a developmental stage not accounted for by Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development. The primary goal of this study is to seek to understand and question Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development through an intersectional lens of an autoethnography of my LGBTQ experiences. An autoethnographic approach [diary entries (N = 9), conversations (N = 12), interview (N = 1), social media websites and blogs (N = 2), and drawing (N = 1)] is used to understand my LGBTQ-person of color (POC) experiences of “coming out” or self-disclosure during my adolescence through emerging adulthood. Data was collected on April 2020 and spanned from 2006 through 2020 to account for the developmental period of adolescence and emerging adulthood (ages 13 through 27). Thematic analysis revealed four themes across the two developmental periods: (1) confusion and conflict between my gay and ethnic identity as a closeted adolescent, (2) my first “coming out” as a gay adolescent and “it got better,” (3) frustration arising from the internal conflict between my gay and POC identity as an emerging adult, and (4) frustration arising from external experiences with the flaws of LGBTQ community inclusivity. Results reflected a continuous theme of identity exploration and struggle through both adolescence and emerging adulthood, highlighting the need for future research to replicate similar experiences from other intersectional individuals during emerging adulthood stage, a developmental stage that is considered in between Erikson’s adolescent and young adulthood developmental stage.

Mental health issues and needs of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugee claimants and refugees in Toronto, Canada

ABSTRACT LGBTQ+ people experience mental health challenges due to their minoritized status, systemic inequities and structural disparities. For LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugee claimants and refugees the impact on their mental health can be compounding. This study, which featured a series of focus groups with LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugee claimants and refugees in Toronto, Canada, was part of a larger international study ‘Envisioning Global LGBT Human Rights’ that looked at colonising effects on LGBTQ people in the Commonwealth. The migration process, – often forced due to persecution in their country of origin based on sexual orientation or gender identity and expression – produced traumatic experiences involving life-changing decisions, accessing information and resources, cultural shifts, conceptualisation of identities, and navigating the refugees claims process. The specialised experiences of LGBTQ+ asylum seekers, refugee claimants and refugees can have a deleterious effect on their mental health that a critical psychology perspective can address clinically by recognising the particularised needs of this population and systemically by addressing the structural inequities.

“There’s a stopgap in the conversation”: LGBTQ + mental health care and community connection in a semi-rural county

Introduction LGBTQ + people face barriers accessing affirming mental health care in semi-rural communities. Little research has addressed the unique barriers, needs, and experiences of LGBTQ + communities, including the intersection of factors including community connectedness that may buffer distress. Method This qualitative study comprised focus groups of LGBTQ + youth and adults living in a semi-rural county. Result Thematic analysis identified six themes and sixteen subthemes focused on experiences in the local community and with mental health providers. Conclusion Living in a semi-rural community may impose additional barriers to receiving affirming care and building necessary supportive community networks for LGBTQ + people.