In collaboration with a community-based organization, we interviewed 10 transgender women who immigrated to the United States from Latin America about their migration histories, access to work, social support networks, and experiences with discrimination in their native country and the United States. Findings revealed a link between gender identity and the need to migrate to the United States. Participants noted severe forms of violence that included physical and sexual assault, discrimination in school and the workplace, and loss of social support upon disclosure of gender identity to family and friends. The culminating effect of these experiences resulted in the need to flee their country of origin to avoid further violence, and in some cases, death. It is important to highlight that participants also demonstrated steadfast resilience in the face of discriminatory treatment and described the positive impact of social support and community-based resources on their mental health.

Although the larger lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community has experienced increased visibility and acceptance in many areas of the United States, research shows that bisexual individuals continue to face negative messages about the legitimacy of their sexual orientation (Alarie & Gaudet, 2013). Using a national sample of 203 bisexual women, we ran a series of correlation, regression, and moderation models to examine (a) whether perceived binegative discrimination and internalized binegativity were correlated with self-esteem and depression and (b) whether perceived binegative discrimination and internalized bisexuality predicted self-esteem and depression. Based on findings from the regression models, we then examined whether involvement in the bisexual community reduced the impact of internalized binegativity on self-esteem and depression. A unique contribution of this study is that participants reported experiences of perceived binegative discrimination from heterosexual individuals as well as lesbians and gay men. Findings revealed that perceived binegative discrimination and internalized binegativity were statistically significantly correlated with self-esteem and depression but that only internalized binegativity predicted self-esteem and depression. Furthermore, we also found that participation in a bisexual-specific community at high levels (i.e., daily to 2 to 3 times per week) reduced the impact of internalized binegativity on depression but not self-esteem. Recommendations for future research, clinical practice, and advocacy are provided.

Although the concept of intersectionality has gained widespread attention in psychological research, there remains a significant gap related to the impact of intersectionality on identity formation for persons negotiating multiple minority statuses. This gap is especially pronounced among sexual and gender expansive women of Latinx and African American descent—two groups that face disparate personal and public health risks but are largely ignored in the research literature. In response to this gap, we carried out a qualitative study using constructivist grounded theory with 20 Latinx and African American sexual minority, gender expansive women to understand participants’ experiences of forming an intersectional social identity. Following an exploration of identity formation related to the specific domains of race, gender identity, and sexual orientation, we prompted participants to consider how each of the specified identity domains impacted the formation and experience of an overall intersectional identity (e.g., how racial position impacted gender identity and/or sexual identity formation). Findings revealed four major themes that were critical in identity formation: (a) family and cultural expectations, (b) freedom to explore identity, (c) the constant negotiation of insider/outsider status, and (d) identity integration as an act of resistance. Implications for future research and psychological services are discussed.

At a time when serious xenophobic and heterosexist sentiment is at the forefront of our country's political climate, it is incredibly important to explore and understand the links between discrimination and mental health for vulnerable communities. The purpose of this study was to carry out a preliminary exploration of the relations between acculturation to the United States (U.S.), discrimination related to ethnic minority and sexual minority statuses, and mental health symptomatology (depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and substance abuse) of sexual minority women who have emigrated to the U.S. from Latin America. A total of 152 women were recruited across the continental U.S. via online and in-person recruitment methods. As hypothesized, findings revealed that increased discrimination was associated with increased symptomatology of depression, PTSD, and substance abuse. However, acculturation was not shown to be associated with mental health for this sample. Recommendations for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

This article presents research from 12 interviews with college men to explore factors that supported and/or hindered their ability to attend and persist in college. Data were analyzed using consensual qualitative research (Hill et al., 2005). Positive factors in men's educational journeys were role models of success and struggle and encouragement from family and peers. However, the majority of the sample faced discouragement that was related to the interplay of their ethnic minority status and gender. Discouragement occurred primarily precoUege and involved microaggressions and the promotion of alternatives to higher education. Once in college, participants identified financial hardship as the most prominent barrier to achievement. Findings suggest unique challenges faced hy Mexican American college men. Recommendations for research, practice, and campus policy are provided.