Psychosocial Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual People Living in Portugal and Brazil—A Qualitative Study

Abstract

Introduction: Not many studies have been reported from Portugal or Brazil to date, reading the psychosocial impacts of COVID-19 on lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people, especially from a qualitative perspective. Materials and Methods: A convenience sample of 65 self-identified LGB individuals from Portugal and Brazil participated in this study. Thirty-two participants were from Portugal and 33 from Brazil. The average age was 34.48 years (standard deviation = 11.66), ranging from 19 to 67. We used an online interview approach in an asynchronous format. All study respondents completed a structured inquiry consisting of a short section of sociodemographic questions and a single open-ended question: “As a lesbian, gay, bisexual (or other) self-identified person, please elaborate on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your life.” Results: The thematic analysis of participants’ responses revealed 9 recurring themes, encompassing 18 subcategories to occur: mental health (depression, anxiety, fear, anger, and loneliness), isolation (social distancing and leisure impediments), relationships (family and friends), work-related problems, education-related problems, financial problems, changes (behavioral changes and opportunity to grow), coping (seeking support, accessing information and physical activities), and LGBTQI topics (health barriers, going back into the closet, pride celebration events, and online dating). Conclusions: Our results provide voice to LGB Portuguese and Brazilian people during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrating specific challenges exacerbated by stigma and sexual discrimination amplified by preexistent social inequalities.

LGBTQ+ Loss and Grief in a Cis-Heteronormative Pandemic: A Qualitative Evidence Synthesis of the COVID-19 Literature

“…Theme 2: Loss of Social and Kinship Connection. The loss of social and kinship connection was reported across eight articles (Braksmajer & London, 2021;Gaspar et al, 2021;O'Brien et al, 2021;Pereira et al, 2021;Philpot et al, 2021;Quinn et al, 2021;Riggle et al, 2021;Westwood et al, 2021). This type of loss largely related to losses in the quality and quantity of friendships, LGBTQ+ people's Family of Choice, their Family of Origin and romantic or sexual partners (Wheat & Thacker, 2019).…”

“…(p. 6). Pereira et al (2021) also reported how lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Portugal and Brazil felt vulnerable and experienced low self-esteem when they were not able to maintain their friendships during the pandemic and lockdown, owing to feelings of guilt as they thought they were responsible for the lost connection. The loneliness and social isolation that arose from lost social kinship connections were so intense in some instances that suicide was seen as the only way forward (O'Brien et al, 2021).…”

Social Sciences and Inequalities in the New Post-COVID-19 “Normal”

“…There are several examples, whether articulated or not, of intergenerational inequalities that are reproduced over time and have been enhanced by the COVID-19 pandemic (Carmo et al, 2020;Stok et al, 2021;O'Keefe et al, 2021;Cheshmehzangi, 2021), in a sort of vicious cycle, fostering the creation, within the same social groups, of new inequalities, such as the institutionalization of racism, sexism and the gender divide (Gugushvili, 2021;Farquharson & Thornton, 2020;Warren & Bordoloi, 2020;Wang et al, 2020;Lazonick, Moss, & Weitz, 2021;Bann et al, 2021;Pereira, Pedro, Mendes, Duarte, & Silva, 2021), ethnicity and disability (Burke, 2020;Katikireddi et al, 2021). This is the case of the studies on BAME (Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnicity) and social class (Burke, 2020), immigrants and disabilities (Warren & Bordoloi, 2020), ageism (Warren & Bordoloi, 2020), which often intersect with each other in a socio-historical perpetuation (Wang et al, 2020;Warren & Bordoloi, 2020), with profound influences on the individual's potential future social and economic path.…”

The Impact of Psychological Distress on the Occupational Well-Being of Sexual and Gender Minorities

“…While a recent study from Canada indicated that LGBTQIA+ individuals with poorer mental health have higher odds of numerous adverse occupational outcomes [30], studies from Portugal and Brazil seem to have only focused on the existence of psychological distress and organizational indicators of LGBTQIA+ people separately thus far. Although the effects of this suffering on occupational well-being have not yet been considered in Portugal and Brazil, assessing this relationship is important, because problems in the organizational context of LGBTQIA+ people are not limited to the increase in psychological distress.…”