Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately negatively affected the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, a group who faces identity-based marginalization in society. LGBTQ resilience narratives are important in buffering against the negative impact of minority stress, but little is known about how LGBTQ people have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research addresses this gap in the literature. Participants included 129 LGBTQ individuals who shared how they have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed three COVID-19-specific resilience themes, including: (1) Previous preparation fostered resilience, (2) Radical acceptance as resilience, and (3) Resilience through providing support and building community. Discussion explores how psychologists can work with LGBTQ people to identify and cultivate resilience narratives focused on self-love, self-acceptance, radical acceptance, and community resilience. Public Significance StatementResilience narratives are important for all people but are particularly important for LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) people who face identity-based harassment, rejection, and societal stigmatization. LGBTQ participants shared their resilience narratives and identified how previous preparation fostered resilience during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, radical acceptance was a source of resilience, and resilience was seen through providing support and building community with other LGBTQ individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Research has documented that parental figures of trans and gender diverse (TGD) youth often struggle with fear, grief, and stress as a result of antitransgender oppression. However, there is a dearth of research about how parental figures of TGD youth are impacted by antitransgender state and federal laws and bills. The present study aimed to explore parental figures' reactions and coping strategies with recent proposed and enacted laws and bills in the United States restricting access to gender-affirming healthcare for TGD youth. A sample of 138 parental figures of TGD youth who currently or previously lived in the United States participated in an online survey where they shared their reactions and coping strategies as a result of current antitransgender laws and bills. Thematic analysis revealed four themes depicting participants' cognitive reactions, including: (a) violation of rights, (b) increased stigma, (c) decreased quality of healthcare, and (d) support for child's journey. Also, three themes emerged about participants' emotional reactions, including: (a) fear and anxiety, (b) anger, and (c) relief. Additionally, participants shared narratives about how they are coping with these antitransgender laws and bills, including: (a) activism and advocacy, (b) educating others, (c) seeking support from communities/ groups, and (d) relocation and avoidance. Recommendations for practitioners such as debunking incorrect information about trans healthcare when working with parental figures are discussed. Public Significance StatementNo research to date has explored how parental figures of trans and gender diverse (TGD) youth are impacted by current antitransgender policies. The current study found that parental figures of TGD youth are experiencing intense cognitive and emotional reactions and also actively using coping skills to navigate the effects of these oppressive laws and bills.

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. Public Significance StatementCommunity 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.

Transgender and gender diverse (TGD) youth in the United States are met with systemic barriers that affect their physical and mental health. Recent scholarship has found that TGD youth have been negatively impacted as a result of antitransgender federal, state, and local laws and bills. Given the crucial role of parental figures in the well-being of TGD youth (e.g., supporting their child's health-care decisions), parents can provide important insight about the experiences of their children as they navigate the effects of antitransgender legislation. This study aimed to explore parental figures' perceptions of how bans on gender affirming care affect their TGD child and parental figures' advice for legislators/policymakers regarding the impact of these laws and bills on the well-being of TGD youth. Responses to an online survey with 134 selfidentified parental figures of TGD youth were analyzed. Thematic analysis revealed five themes regarding the impact that these antitransgender laws and bills have on TGD youth, including (a) depression and suicidal ideation/risk of suicide, (b) anxiety, (c) increased gender dysphoria, (d) decreased safety and increased stigma, and (e) lack of access to medical care. Parental figures also provided direct feedback to legislators/policymakers regarding the impact of these laws and bills on the well-being of TGD youth, including (a) transgender youth health is not a political issue, (b) decriminalize gender affirming medical care, (c) decrease discrimination and violence against transgender people, and (d) become educated on transgender health-care issues. Recommendations for research and practice are discussed.

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Research has documented the negative mental health outcomes that anti-Black racism and cissexism, respectively, have had on Black and trans and gender-diverse (TGD) people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This research, however, has yet to explore the intersectional experiences of Black TGD young adults. Additionally, research has found that activists are often exposed to violence and discrimination. In this study, we aimed to understand how the intersection of anti-Black racism and cissexism has impacted young Black TGD activists' well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. A community sample of 15 Black TGD young adults participated in semistructured interviews. Thematic analysis revealed five themes and 14 subthemes, including (a) witnessing and experiencing violence (everyday violence, political violence, police violence, and medical violence, (b) motivating and sparking activism, (c) emotional impact (fear and anxiety, symptoms of depression, anger and frustration, and overwhelmed and shocked), (d) coping with violence and COVID-19 pandemic (activism, community connections and support, setting boundaries, self-reflection, positivity and hope, and activities and hobbies), and (e) safety precautions. We provide implications for practitioners working with young Black TGD activists such as engaging in civil disobedience within the bounds of their ethical duties. Public Significance StatementLittle is known about the intersectional experiences of young Black TGD activists and the impact of anti-Black racism and cissexism on the well-being of this community during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current study explores the impact that anti-Black racism and cissexism have had in a community sample of 15 young Black TGD activists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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There has been little research that explores the intersection of religious and spiritual identities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) people of color (POC). The present study aimed to gain insight about the importance of religious and spiritual identities among LGBTQ POC. A community sample of 78 POC who selfidentified within the LGBTQ community participated in an online survey. Thematic analysis revealed seven themes, including: (a) past conflict with religious/spiritual identity and LGBTQ identity, (b) mental health challenges, (c) cognitive dissonance, (d) exploration and new identification within religion, (e) stronger spiritual connection, (f) intersection of culture, race, and ethnicity and religion and spirituality, and (g) positive experiences. We provide implications for clinical practice, including the need to provide resources for LGBTQ affirming churches and spiritual communities and taking into consideration the intersection of religion and spirituality when working with LGBTQ POC clients.