“What If This Happiness Doesn’t Last Forever?”: Stressors Faced by Racialized SOGIE Refugees

This study aims to investigate stressors experienced by racialized sexual orientation and gender identity expression (SOGIE) refugees in Southern Ontario through Meyer’s Minority Stress Theory (MST). Interviews with 10 racialized SOGIE refugees and two service providers living in Ontario, Canada were extracted from a larger study. Participants identified both explicit and implicit stressors in their daily lives, ranging from feelings of isolation and community disconnect, to anticipatory fear of stigma and violence. Consistent with MST’s distinction of distal and proximal stressors, these challenges negatively affected their well-being. Overall, recognizing the unique positionality of racialized SOGIE refugees and finding ways to facilitate positive mental health and well-being is key.