The Complexity of Family Reactions to Identity among Homeless and College Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Young Adults

Abstract

Familial responses to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) young people's identities range on a spectrum from rejection to acceptance and these reactions strongly impact family relationships and young adult well-being. Less is known, however, about how family members' reactions may differ based on young people's contexts of socioeconomic status. Through a qualitative, life course analysis of in-depth interview data from 46 LGBTQ college students and LGBTQ homeless young adults, our study highlights the diverse, contextual nuances of young people's "linked lives" within their families. We find that the context of socioeconomic status influenced how a young person managed family rejection. Conversely, processes of familial acceptance were also connected to life course transitions that worked in some cases to enhance LGBTQ young adults' family relationships. Finally, the intricacy of familial reactions to a young person's LGBTQ identity transcended socioeconomic contexts as many respondents shared similar experiences of rejection and acceptance. These findings have implications for understanding how young people manage family relationships across different contexts of socioeconomic status and how these experiences can shape their life course trajectories. Results from this study can inform LGBTQ youth service providers by tailoring intervention programs that account for contextual social diversity.

Intersectional Family Systems Approach: LGBTQ+ Latino/a Youth, Family Dynamics, and Stressors

“…Often reliant on family networks for support, LGBTQ+ youth navigate family-based processes surrounding reactions to their LGBTQ+ identities (Savin-Williams, 2005). These familial reactions to LGBTQ+ young people's identities are often strongly influenced by youth's social backgrounds, such as their race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic statuses (Robinson, 2018;Schmitz & Tyler, 2018). For instance, poverty can limit the family support LGBTQ+ youth receive, as families are already struggling with securing basic needs (Robinson, 2018;McConnell et al, 2015).…”

Conditional Families and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth Homelessness: Gender, Sexuality, Family Instability, and Rejection

“…Moving forward, comparative studies of LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and other LGBTQ youth who experienced rejection but not homelessness are warranted to capture the different ways homophobia and transphobia operate within different family contexts and how different familial resources may shape the consequences of rejection. LGBTQ youth from middle‐class families are also sometimes rejected (Schmitz & Tyler, ); however, they do not appear to be experiencing homelessness. Rejected youth from middle‐class families may have more kin and friendship networks in which to turn to avoid experiencing homelessness.…”

Conditional Families and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Youth Homelessness: Gender, Sexuality, Family Instability, and Rejection

“…LGBTQ youth from middle-class families are also sometimes rejected (Schmitz and Tyler, 2017); however, they do not appear to be experiencing homelessness. Rejected youth from middle-class families may have more kin and friendship networks to turn to in order to avoid experiencing homelessness.…”