“We Are Powerful People”: Health-Promoting Strengths of LGBTQ Communities of Color

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) communities of color experience intersecting systems of oppression that limit access to health care, safety, and other basic resources. Important research has documented these disparities, their antecedents, and consequences. However, little research has examined the strengths of multiply marginalized LGBTQ communities. Drawing from a health equity framework, this study is based on interviews with 38 LGBTQ-identified people of color in New York City. We used framework analysis to examine participants’ perspectives on the role of community in enhancing health and well-being. Community strengths identified by participants included (a) safety, acceptance, and support; (b) interconnectedness and resource sharing; and (c) advocacy, collective action, and community potential. Recommendations for policy, practice, and future research are suggested, including efforts toward community power building.

Navigating Intersectional Stigma: Strategies for Coping Among Cisgender Women of Color

“…Global processes affect structures of domination that recreate patterns of inequality, differentially impacting those most marginalized by global capitalism (Nagar et al, 2002). Furthermore, although communities of color experience intersecting systems of oppression that limit their access to health care, education, housing, and social services, they also possess strength and resilience, including support, interconnectedness, acceptance, resource sharing, and collective action (Hudson & Romanelli, 2020).…”

Where Is LGBTQ+ in Ontario’s Health Care Policies and Programs?

“…Krieger (2012) offers the "ecosocial theory of disease distribution" (p. 936) that considers disease distribution in the context of social inequalities, including discrimination, which become embodied and manifest as health inequalities. Thus, there is a fledgling discussion in the literature about turning attention to structural issues such as social stress and exclusion (Gahagan & Colpitts, 2017;Gower et al, 2019;Hudson & Romanelli, 2020;Khan et al, 2017;Krieger, 2012;Meyer, 2003;Steele et al, 2017;Zeeman et al, 2017) housing and poverty (Blosnich et al, 2017;Emlet, 2016;Ferlatte et al, 2018) and issues of migrations status and nativity (Allen & Leslie, 2019;Logie et al, 2016;Oster et al, 2013), including the effects of migration status during COVID-19 (Kline, 2020) We argue that these aspects of health must be prioritized if we are to better understand SOGIE as an SDH and to influence health policy and outcomes for the LGBTQ+ community.…”

“…Other research also documents mechanisms that create a noted wage gap between sexual minorities and heterosexuals (Waite & Denier, 2015). Other income-related elements discussed in the literature include housing, food insecurity, and stable employment (Downing & Rosenthal, 2020;Fredriksen-Goldsen et al, 2017;Hudson & Romanelli, 2020;Lazarevic et al, 2016;Logie et al, 2016). The LGBTQ+ community is also at higher risk of homelessness (Abramovich, 2012(Abramovich, , 2016.…”

“…The LGBTQ+ community also faces greater risks of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, including higher risks of suicide and substance use (Hailey et al, 2020;Kulick et al, 2017;Pakula et al, 2016;Veale et al, 2017), despite evidence that concerted community engagement with this population can have a significant positive impact on mental health outcomes (Crouch et al, 2015;Hudson & Romanelli, 2020;Kosciw et al, 2014;Toomey & Russell, 2011).…”

Qualitative inquiry into barriers and facilitators to transforming primary care for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in US federally qualified health centres

“…Open access acknowledges patients' intersectional social identities [11][12][13][14] ; or deliver evidence-based care for health conditions disproportionally impacting SGM. 'Transforming Primary Care for LGBT People' (Transforming LGBT Care: Though the acronym LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) was used in the project title and the name of one of the intervention components, all SGM patients were included as part of the target population.)…”