Acculturation vs. Southeast Asian LGBTQIA Higher Education Students in Texas

The experiences of LGBTQIA identifying Southeast Asian individuals is a topic that is not widely discussed at the intersection of their experiences. This leads to misunderstanding of this population of people and contributes to marginalization of individuals who embody both identities. Within postsecondary institutions in Texas specifically, there is a limited understanding and awareness of the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA Southeast Asian Students and how to best support them. This study examines the experiences of three LGBTQIA identifying Southeast Asian students who attend three different postsecondary institutions located in Texas and found that they experience acculturative affects of dual exclusions based on their identities. These students are also often silenced and isolated in different campus spaces that are designed for students’ unique identities. Because the experiences of this particular group of students is widely unacknowledged, it is crucial that future research continue to understand the experiences of LGBTQIA identifying Southeast Asian students, so that postsecondary institutions in Texas can inform and develop more inclusive practices.