LGBTQ+ emerging adults perceptions of discrimination and exclusion within the LGBTQ+ community

Abstract

Research on LGBTQ+ emerging adult populations has primarily focused on discrimination that is experienced within the heterodominant culture. Due to systems of oppression and the forces of power and privilege, some sexual and gender minorities experience isolation and discrimination not only within the heterodominant culture, but within the LGBTQ+ community as well. Fourteen lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ+) young adults (20-25 years) with a diverse array of intersecting identities (e.g., gender, racial, ethnic, religious, cultural) participated in semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups. Participants reported on experiences of biphobia, acephobia, transphobia, gatekeeping the community, LGBTQ+ people of colour's experiences of racism within the community, other forms of oppression, and offered advice on areas of growth for the LGBTQ+ community. Findings provide insight into LGBTQ+ emerging adults experiences of discrimination and future research implications.

Thematic Analysis of My “Coming Out” Experiences Through an Intersectional Lens: An Autoethnographic Study

“…"(Leung, diary entry, August 16, 2019). The research aligned with previous intersectional research where LGBTQ-POC individuals experienced racialized discrimination and feelings of invisibility and exclusion within the LGBTQ community (Cisneros and Bracho, 2020;Parmenter et al, 2020a).…”

Excluded from “inclusive” communities: LGBTQ youths’ perception of “their” community

“…Therefore, exclusion within LGBTQ þ communities happens because of symbolic norms which privilege those with the most power within the community and exclude those who have multiple intersectional identities (Ghabrial, 2017(Ghabrial, , 2019Giwa & Greensmith 2012), those who do not meet "respectability" requirements, and/or those who do not meet appearance norms in terms of gender presentation and attractiveness (Clarke & Spence, 2013;Farmer & Byrd, 2015;Hudson, 2015;Knee, 2019;Parmenter et al, 2020;Vogler, 2016). LGBTQ þ communities then end up marginalizing and excluding people seeking connection (Farmer & Byrd, 2015;Serano, 2013).…”

“…In this paper, we explore the narratives of LGBTQ þ young adults about their experiences with LGBTQ þ communities in which they felt excluded. Exclusion and the functions of LGBTQ þ community have been explored in recent research, focusing on trans youth of color (Singh, 2013;Singh, Meng, & Hansen, 2014); racialized sexual minorities (Ghabrial, 2017); bisexual women and gender diverse persons of color (Ghabrial, 2019); and LGBTQ þ emerging adults (Parmenter, Galliher, & Maughan, 2020). This work aims to shed more light on the experiences of emerging adults seeking belonging in LGBTQ þ communities and seeking spaces where their multiple sexual, gender, and racial identities are welcomed.…”

An Exploration of LGBTQ+ Community Members’ Positive Perceptions of LGBTQ+ Culture

“…Research with the LGBTQ+ community is gaining visibility, with some findings suggesting that connecting to or participating with the community (i.e., a group of individuals within the same geographic area that have characteristics in common; APA, 2017) has positive mental health implications (Davids et al, 2015; Morris et al, 2015; Salfras et al, 2018). However, qualitative research mostly discusses the negative aspects of LGBTQ+ community membership (e.g., rigid body image ideals for men, exclusion within the community; Parmenter et al, 2020) and does not explore positive traits, assets, and strengths of the community (Adams et al, 2014; Fraser, 2008; O’Byrne et al, 2014). Additionally, there is an absence of literature that addresses the ways that LGBTQ+ individuals conceptualize their culture, within the context of the literature on contemporary operational definitions of culture.…”