Intersecting Identities: Exploring stigma, minority stress, resilience, and identity in sexual and gender diverse youths of color

Sexual and gender diverse youths of color (SGD) navigate complex and intersecting challenges that impact their mental health and well-being, yet they remain largely understudied in empirical research. This qualitative study explores this population's lived experiences of resilience, stress, and identity. Between June and July 2023, we conducted six focus groups as part of a longitudinal cohort study exploring the health behaviors of racial and gender minority youths. A sample of 24 Black and Latinx SGD youths was invited to participate in these discussions, each lasting 60 min. The data collected from these focus groups were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Our findings highlight several key themes, including connection to culture, collective care, uniqueness, resistance through existence, mental health concerns, and survival strategies. Participants described the importance of ancestral and community history, representation, self-exploration, and solidarity in fostering resilience. They shared experiences of discrimination and violence and emphasized the importance of diverse and inclusive spaces in affirming their identities and supporting their mental health. Our findings underscore the resilience of SGD youths of color amidst systemic oppression, emphasizing the importance of intersectional perspectives. Understanding the complex interplay of cultural, social, and individual factors, including race, gender, and sexuality, is crucial for developing interventions and policies that promote the well-being and empowerment of SGD youths of color. By centering their voices and experiences, this research emphasizes the need for community support, advocacy, and systemic change to create inclusive environments that affirm and celebrate the complexity of intersectional identities.