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“Coming together after tragedy reafﬁrms the strong sense of community and
pride we have:” LGBTQ people ﬁnd strength in community and cultural values
during the COVID-19 pandemic
Article in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity · June 2021

DOI: 10.1037/sgd0000516
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LGBTQ PEOPLE FIND STRENGTH IN COMMUNITY 1
This is the accepted version of the manuscript; minor changes may appear in the final
published version. Please cite accordingly:
Abreu, R. L., Gonzalez, K. A., Arora, S., Lockett, G. M., Sostre, J., & Mosley, D. V. (in press).
“Coming together after tragedy reaffirms the strong sense of community and pride we have:”
LGBTQ people find strength in community and cultural values during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
LGBTQ people find strength in community and cultural values during the COVID-19 pandemic
June 10, 2021
Roberto L. Abreua, Ph.D., Kirsten A. Gonzalezb, Ph.D., Saumya Arorab, B.A., Jules Sostrea,
B.A., Gabe Locketta, M.S., & Della V. Mosleya, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology, a University of Florida
Department of Psychology, b University of Tennessee, Knoxville

Abstract
For lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) individuals, community and cultural
values have served as protective factors during large scale events such as the HIV/AIDS
epidemic and the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre. Little is known about how LGBTQ
people are drawing on such values during the current COVID-19 epidemic. The current study
sought to explore this gap in the literature. Using thematic analysis, a sample of 130 LGBTQ
participants shared how community and cultural values informed their experiences and reactions
to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: 1) activism, 2) authenticity, pride, and visibility, 3)
collective intergenerational resilience, 4) centering mental health, and 5) intersectionality and
centering those most marginalized. Discussion focuses on implications for practice and activism
for LGBTQ people such as addressing ways in which sense of community increases
psychological well-being among LGBTQ people and partnering with community agencies to
provide comprehensive services to LGBTQ people who are most marginalized.
Keywords: COVID-19, community, LGBTQ, mental health, intersectionality
Statement of Significance: Community and cultural values have served as a protective factor
during large scale events for LGBTQ people. LGBTQ participants in this study shared how
community and cultural values have informed their experiences and reactions to the COVID-19
pandemic including engaging in activism, being authentic, visible, and displaying pride, relying
on collective intergenerational resilience, centering their mental health and that of others, and
tending to intersectionality and centering the voices of those most marginalized.

LGBTQ people find strength in community and cultural values during the COVID-19 pandemic
LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) individuals experience a
disproportionate number of negative mental health outcomes when compared to heterosexual and
cisgender counterparts because of systemic barriers such as discrimination, harassment, and
violence (Meyers, 2003; Mustanski et al., 2016). For example, LGBTQ individuals experience
higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and anxiety (to name a few) when compared to their
heterosexual and cisgender peers (Haas et al., 2011; Vargas et al., 2020). Additionally, LGBTQ
individuals report experiencing less social support from family and friends (e.g., see review in
Abreu, Riggle et al., 2020; Abreu, Rosenkrantz et al., 2019; Christie, 2020). Research shows that
community has served as a protective factor for LGBTQ people during large scale events such as
the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Little is known about how LGBTQ people are drawing on such
community values during the current COVID-19 epidemic.
Minority Stress and LGBTQ Community Connectedness and Support
According to minority stress, LGBTQ people experience increased stigma and unique
stressors as a result of their minoritized sexual and gender identity (Brooks, 1981; Brooks, 1992;
Meyer, 2003; Meyer & Frost, 2013). Research shows that minority stress leads to poor physical
and emotional health for LGBTQ people, such as increased anxiety and depression (e.g., Meyer,
2015; Meyer & Frost, 2013). LGBTQ people experience stress on a continuum of distal and
proximal stressors. Distal stressors happen out of the control of the LGBTQ person, such as
experiencing discrimination, victimization, and microaggressions (Brooks, 1981; Brooks, 1992;
Meyer, 2003). Proximal stressors are experienced by an LGBTQ person at the internal level as a
result of negative perceptions about their sexual and/or gender identity, including internalized
heterosexism and binegativity (Brooks, 1981; Brooks, 1992; Meyer, 2003). In the face of
minority stress, LGBTQ individuals have found ways to cope, be resilient, and experience well-
being through community connectedness and belonging (e.g., Lytle et al., 2014; Meyer, 2015).
Research shows that community connectedness buffers experiences of heightened
negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ people (Hall, 2018; Meyer, 2003). Through their
connections to the LGBTQ community, LGBTQ people have created chosen families, or
networks of social and familial support who do not necessarily have a biological connection.
Chosen families have been found to provide LGBTQ individuals with a sense of comfort, safety,
and social support (Wardecker & Matsick, 2020). Similarly, the concept of queer kinship
explains how LGBTQ people form relationships and bonds with other LGBTQ members in a
way that defies cisheteronormative expectations and boundaries (Mizielinska et al., 2018; Prasad,
2020). Despite pathological explanations of queer kinships rooted in cisheteronormativity, queer
kinships provide a strong source of support for LGBTQ people in the face of adversities such
loss and grief (see Prasad, 2020).
Community provides LGBTQ people both tangible (e.g., community centers, support
groups) and intangible resources (e.g., connection to other LGBTQ people, source of pride)
(APA, 2021; de Lira & de Morais, 2018). These resources serve as a source of resilience and
resistance for LGBTQ people. For example, research shows that LGBTQ-affirming community
centers, community support groups, and role models serve as source of resilience for LGBTQ
people (see review Szymanski & Gonzalez, 2020). According to research, connection to
community has been crucial for LGBTQ people during large scale events, with the HIV/AIDS
epidemic and the 2016 Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre being some of the most noticeable
events that have impacted the LGBTQ community (e.g., Cochran et al., 2009; Hutchison, 2015;
Jackson, 2017; Ramirez et al., 2018). Hutchison (2015) documented the crucial role of lesbians
in blood donation as a form of community connectedness and activism during the HIV/AIDS
epidemic. Similarly, in a study of 33 LGBTQ-identified people, Jackson (2017) found that
community connectedness helped participants process the emotional distress in the aftermath of
the Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre.
LGBTQ Culture and Cultural Values
Whereas community refers to a group of people who share common characteristics (as
cited in Parmenter et al., 2020), culture facilitates connections to specific people and events and
provides meaningful and unique messages about a particular group (e.g., Sue & Sue, 2012).
Research across multiple disciplines (e.g., psychology, gender and sexuality studies, queer
studies) have identified several values that are unique to LGBTQ culture, including survival,
compassion for LGBTQ and other oppressed people, activism within political movements,
visibility and pride, strong connection to chosen family, acceptance, and inclusion (e.g., Goltz,
2014; Parmenter et al., 2020; Weststrate & McLean, 2010). Although some of these values have
been more prevalent than others for LGBTQ people at different points in history (e.g., activism
during the HIV/AIDS epidemics and the years leading to marriage equality), LGBTQ cultural
values have prevailed over the years. For example, in a study with 14 LGBTQ young adults,
participants identified inclusion, liberation and pride, and striving for equality and social action
as core values that make up LGBTQ culture and that have persisted over the years (Parmenter et
al., 2020). Given the importance of LGBTQ culture values throughout time, it is important to
investigate the role that these cultural values have played during the COVID-19 pandemic.
LGBTQ People Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Within the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected
minoritized populations and exacerbated social and health inequalities (see review in Authors, in
press). Specifically for the LGBTQ community, the COVID-19 pandemic has increased
experiences of isolation, exposure to unsupportive family members, and overall loss of support
(Fish et al., 2020). For example, when quarantine and subsequent school closings took effect,
some LGBTQ youth were forced to isolate in homes where their sexual and/or gender identity
were not affirmed, creating unsafe and oftentimes abusive environments (Salerno et al., 2020).
Additionally, given that 40% of LGBTQ employees work in the service industry in the United
States, they were especially vulnerable to immediate effects of the COVID-19 pandemic such as
loosing employment and health-insurance-status (as cited in Whittington et al., 2020).
While the pandemic has exacerbated the negative mental health outcomes for LGBTQ
people, their access to mental health resources and social and community support has decreased
(e.g., Hawke et al., 2021; Salerno et al., 2020). Although a few studies have documented the
impact and experiences of LGBTQ people during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as forms of
support for LGBT youth (e.g., Fish et al., 2020), psychological distress among LGBT college
students (e.g., Hawke et al., 2021; Hunt et al., 2021), psychological distress and alcohol use
among sexual minority women (Cerezo & O’Shaughnessy, 2021), and the role of resilience for
LGBTQ people (Author, in press; Goldbach et al., 2020), to our (the authors) knowledge, no
research has documented how community and cultural values have impacted the experiences of
LGBTQ people during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aims to uncover ways in which
community and cultural values have informed LGBTQ people’s reaction to the COVID-19
pandemic.
Current Study
The documented increase in social and health inequities brought by the COVID-19
pandemic on minoritized communities (Dorn et al., 2020) has also taken its toll on members of
the LGBTQ community (e.g., Fish et al., 2020; Salerno et al., 2020). Research shows that
connection to the LGBTQ community has buffered the negative effects of large-scale events for
LGBTQ people such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic (e.g., Cochran et al., 2009; see review in
Hutchison, 2015). Also, the LGBTQ community has relied on unique cultural values throughout
the years for survival. Although a few studies have documented the impact and effects of the
COVID-19 pandemic on LGBTQ people, to the authors’ knowledge no research has explored the
role of community and cultural values in LGBTQ people’s experiences during the COVID-19
pandemic. The current study sought to explore this gap in the literature. The following research
question guided the focus of the study: 1) How have community and cultural values informed
LGBTQ people’s experiences and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Method
The current study was part of a larger study about LGBTQ peoples’ reactions and
experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, the study inquired about: 1)
experiences and impact of isolation, 2) resilience, and 3) community and cultural values as a
source of strength. The authors wrote one other manuscript from this dataset that focused on how
resilience has informed LGBTQ peoples’ reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic (Authors, in
press). Given the richness of the data collected and the participants’ extensive narratives about
how community and cultural values have served as sources of strength for LGBTQ people during
the COVID-19 pandemic, it was important to have one manuscript focused on this area. The
authors followed the standards for dividing results from qualitative research into several articles
(see Levitt et al., 2018). The framework, open-ended survey question analyzed, and results for
this paper differ from the previously published paper from this dataset.
To explore the current study’s research question, we analyzed the data from an online
survey with 130 self-identified LGBTQ people. In order to recruit a diverse sample from the
United States, including hard-to-reach communities (e.g., rural areas, people of color) and reach
as many potential participants as possible in a safe space, an online survey was administered (see
Kazmer & Xie, 2008; see Riggle et al., 2005). A thematic analysis approach by Braun and Clarke
(2006; 2013) was used given this qualitative approach’s focus on content rather theory-building
and its emphasis on critical reflection. This study was approved by the institutional review board
(IRB) at [enter institution name].
Participants
Participants in the study (N = 130) self-identified as LGBTQ people. The age range for
participants was 19 - 75 years-old (M = 34.39, SD = 13.07). Participants resided in 29 states,
Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico at the time of the study. The plurality of participants
identified as White (n = 101, 77.69%), cisgender (N = 100, 76.9%), bisexual (N = 33, 25.38%),
middle class (n = 50, 38.46%), and having a Master’s degree (n = 40, 30.77%). We would like to
acknowledge that our sample was largely composed of participants with multiple privileged
identities such as White, cisgender, and middle class. Readers are encouraged to be aware of how
these privileged identities might have influenced participants’ responses and buffered their
experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. See Table 1 for a complete breakdown of
participants demographics.
Recruitment and Procedure

Participants were eligible to participate in the study if they identified within the LGBTQ
umbrella, were at least 18-years-old, and were living within the United States during the
COVID-19 pandemic. A flyer with information about the purpose of the study, eligibility
criteria, and the investigators’ contact information was created. The flyer also included a link to
the online survey. Participants were recruited from social media platforms such as Twitter,
Facebook, Tumblr, and professional listserves. Specifically, the authors used research team
social media accounts and personal social media accounts for recruitment. Also, the authors
asked LGBTQ organizations social media pages and other LGBTQ researchers in the field of
psychology and other behavioral science to share the flyer on their own professional and
personal social media accounts. Data collection took place during May and June of 2020.
Interested participants were invited to fill out an online survey. Participants were asked a
series of demographics questions (e.g., age, race and ethnicity, socio economic status). After
completing demographic questions, participants were then presented with nine open-ended
questions about their experiences during the pandemic. The following open-ended question from
the study was analyzed for this paper: 1) As a person with a marginalized identity, what
community or cultural values have informed your reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic? Please
provide as many details as you would like. It is important to note that because LGBTQ identities
intersect with multiple other identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, immigration status) and the term
community and cultural values encompasses a wide range of lived experiences, we did not
restrict participants to a unique definition of community or cultural values as this would have
yielded narrow and biased responses. In addition, while identifying within the LGBTQ umbrella
was part of the criteria to participate in this study, participants were not instructed to base their
responses solely off of their sexual orientation or gender identity as we wanted participants to
bring their true, authentic selves when responding to the survey.
Research Team Positionality
The authors included in this study had a range of identities across race, ethnicity, gender
identity, and sexual orientation. These identities provided a diverse perspective throughout the
analysis and writing process. The research team included an assistant professor of psychology
who identifies as a first-generation Latinx, gay, queer, cisgender man (first author). The research
team also included an assistant professor of psychology who identifies as a third-generation
Latinx, heterosexual, cisgender woman (second author), a PhD student who identifies as South
Asian, queer, cisgender woman (third author), a PhD student who identifies as a Latinx,
pansexual, genderfluid person (fourth author), a PhD student who identifies as African
American, queer, trans man (fifth author), and an assistant professor of psychology who
identifies as a Black, queer (bi+), cisgender woman. All research team members have been
trained in advanced qualitative methodologies and have co-authored multiple peer-reviewed
qualitative studies.
The team’s diverse identities and experiences were instrumental in the coding and writing
process. Researchers discussed how their identities and experiences influenced their biases and
assumptions about the data at hand, providing a rigorous process for accurately analyzing and
presenting the participants’ narratives. For example, as the first author was auditing the finalized
thematic structures from the two coders (third and fourth authors), he kept notes in a journal and
reflected about his own assumptions and reactions (Gilbert, 2001) to how participants description
of community might not fit his own definition. Given that the first author identifies as a Latinx,
gay, queer cisgender man who grew up in a predominantly Latinx community, it was important
for him to be aware that the predominantly White LGBTQ sample in this study likely had a very
different conceptualization of what community means to them. In addition, the second author
(who identifies as heterosexual and cisgender) also served as an auditor and facilitated
discussions with the first, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth authors (all who identify as a sexual
and/or gender diverse) throughout the coding process to engage in peer-examination (LeCompte
& Goetz, 1982).
Data Analysis
Thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke (2006, 2013) was used to analyze the data.
Because it was the author’s goal to focus on the content of the narratives and not to form
assumptions or build a theoretical explanation, an inductive and semantic approach to thematic
analysis was used (see Braun & Clarke, 2006). Because of the newness and many unknowns
about the current pandemic at the time when the data was collected, the authors were interested
in exploring and learning about the participants’ real-time experiences by using their own
narratives. Thematic analysis allowed for the authors to use a holistic approach to understanding
the experiences of the participants by analyzing patterns in the data (Braun & Clarke, 2006).
The first four authors began by independently becoming familiar with the data and then
meeting to discuss their initial reactions and observations. Then, the third and fourth authors
independently generated initial codes by dividing responses into interpretable ideas (i.e., phrases,
sentences) about participants’ use of community or cultural during the current COVID-19
pandemic. The third and fourth authors then met to finalize themes. The first, second, third, and
fourth authors then met to discuss the initial themes, as well as to reconcile discrepancies across
themes and add, delete, and/or reframe themes to best capture the participants’ narratives as
needed. The third and fourth authors incorporated the feedback from the first and second authors
and created a final themes list. The authors collaboratively determined that five themes and two
subthemes captured all of the codes. The third and fourth authors then coded the participants’
narratives into the finalized thematic structure. The first author quantitatively calculated an
85.59% interrater reliability across the two coders. All four members of the data analysis team
met to discuss discrepancies, reconcile themes, and come to a consensus. Finally, once the results
section of the manuscript was drafted, the fifth and sixth authors provided further feedback about
the finalized thematic structure, resulting in the merging of four themes.
Results
Results from an online survey yielded five themes and two subthemes illustrating ways in
which LGBTQ people used community and cultural values during the COVID-19 pandemic,
including: 1) activism (subtheme 1: using LGBTQ values to support and advocate for others;
subtheme 2: defying individualistic, colonial, and normative United States values), 2)
authenticity, pride, and visibility 3) collective intergenerational resilience, 4) centering mental
health, and 5) intersectionality and centering those most marginalized.
Activism
Some participants (n = 28; 21.54%) discussed activism as a guiding cultural value that
has facilitated resilience and strength during the current pandemic. Participants provided rich
narratives about engaging in activism within the LGBTQ community, as well as other
communities. Also, participants provided details about rejecting oppressive United States
Eurocentric White values including racism, colonialism, and patriarchy. The importance of
activism for the participants in this study was observed through two subthemes including: 1)
using LGBTQ values to support and advocate for others and 2) defying individualistic, colonial,
and normative United States values.

Using LGBTQ Values to Support and Advocate for Others
Participants shared about the importance of supporting not only those within the LGBTQ
community, but also other marginalized communities. The LGBTQ participants specifically
shared that by supporting and advocating for others, they were acting in accordance with the
values of caring, inclusiveness, and advocacy of the LGBTQ community. For example, a 34-
year-old, White, pansexual, gray-asexual, cisgender woman shared, “Inclusiveness, community
and well-being… It's important that we proactively advocate for wellbeing (both physical and
psychological), develop camaraderie, support through building and sustaining community and
that we center the struggles of those who are [ ] impacted by COVID.” Many participants
identified the importance of using their marginalized identity as a queer person to center the
experience of those who are most marginalized in society during the COVID-19 pandemic. A
25-year-old, White, queer, nonbinary person said:
I strongly identified with all marginalized peoples as a result of my own marginalization
as a queer/trans person. I also strongly believe that we must center the most vulnerable
people in the lgbt community and society at large - the undocumented, the indigenous, the
imprisoned, the homeless, trans women, people of color, the disabled. As such, my
response to the pandemic has been to do what I can to support the marginalized, those
who are falling through the cracks and are being excluded from covid financial relief and
whose economic insecurity has been exacerbated by the pandemic. I have been
contributing to mutual aid funds and adding my voice to calls for de-carceration and
support for the undocumented.
Defying Individualistic, Colonial, and Normative United States Values

Participants discussed ways in which they have defied individualistic, colonial, and
normative United States values to build and feel closer to their community and find strength
during the pandemic. Some participants in this study rejected capitalistic, patriarchal,
heterosexist, and cissexist ideologies. These participants specifically endorsed collectivism,
building interpersonal connections, solidarity, and liberatory practices. For example, a 23-year-
old, multiracial, lesbian, cisgender woman shared that they coped with the current pandemic by
endorsing anti-capitalist ideologies and moving toward making meaningful connections with
others. She said,
These things have been even more crucial to me [during COVID-19]. It has showed me
that many of the things we focus on and get consumed in do not matter as much as they
can be taken away at any point . . . attempting to counter the capitalist systems at work as
much as possible and focus on building meaningful connections with people.
Other participants rejected the normative narratives that dominate United States culture
(e.g., whiteness, patriarchy, and capitalism as the norm) to better understand how systems of
oppression such as racism, classism, and patriarchy affect themselves and others. For example, a
38-year-old, multiracial, bisexual, genderqueer woman shared:
I have also been able to draw on my cultural heritage outside of White American values
in order to cope with issues of racism and classism inside and outside of LGBTQ+
communities . . . And again, I find that my cultural background outside of White
American dynamics helps in different ways from my engagement with many American
LGBTQ+ communities… [This] is helpful in a situation like [COVID-19].
Participants shared narratives about engaging in organizational efforts and investing time
as a way of embracing the LGBTQ values of collectivism and solidarity they considered
important and necessary to reject capitalistic, colonial ideologies and gain strength during the
pandemic. For example, a 32-year-old, White, lesbian, cisgender woman said, “I have increased
my outreach, increased calls to local, state, and federal government officials, and participated in
numerous letter writing campaigns.” Similarly, a 27-year-old, White, bisexual, cisgender man
shared:
Solidarity. During Covid, I helped found a mutual aid organization that has now fed and
supported thousands of people in my community. The only reason that organization
works is because we are committed to the principles of solidarity, not charity.
Authenticity, Pride, and Visibility
Some participants (n = 36; 27.69%) discussed being authentic as an essential component
of building community and engaging in the LGBTQ cultural values of visibility and pride during
the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, participants in this study prioritized pride and visibility as
sexual and gender minorities. For example, a 27-year-old, Biracial/multiracial, pansexual,
nonbinary person shared, “My queer community values love and authenticity, so I'm practicing
acceptance of my own emotions and needs as well as acceptance and support for the emotions
and needs of others”. Similarly, a 22-year-old, White, lesbian, cisgender woman stated the
importance of being visible and the importance of LGBTQ culture in being their authentic
selves, “I literally just bought a shirt that says ‘I am a lesbian.’ I mean - this shit helps!! It tells
me that I can be myself, and that help[s] during quarantine.” In addition, a 34-year-old, White,
queer lesbian shared about the importance of pride as LGBTQ people in the face of a tragedy,
saying, “Coming together after tragedy reaffirms the strong sense of community and pride we
have.”
Collective Intergenerational Resilience

Some participants (n = 16, 12.31%) shared drawing strength from their community’s
intergenerational resilience. Specifically, participants shared lessons of strength and resilience
from their ancestors. For example, a 44-year-old, Black, lesbian, cisgender woman shared, “I am
an American Descendent of Slavery. I find that I draw strength from my ancestors. My people
survived, I too will survive.” In addition, other participants shared lessons of strength and
resilience from their ancestors. A 27-year-old, multiracial (Latinx and Taino), pansexual,
nonbinary person shared, “I am a Taino Indian, from Puerto Rico. Knowing my ancestors'
history has given me the ability to call on them for strength. The Taino people were and are
known for our generosity and our deep love for people.” Similarly, a 24-year-old, White,
bisexual, cisgender woman shared, “I’m also Jewish, and I feel intergenerational resilience and
strength through the hardships that my ancestors had to overcome so that I didn’t.”
Centering Mental Health
A few participants (n = 31, 23.84%) shared narratives about checking-in on loved ones’
mental health and advocating for mental health services as a community cultural value that has
helped them find strength during the pandemic. For example, a 23-year-old, White, trans, queer,
woman shared about the importance of checking in with other LGBTQ community members
about how the current pandemic is affecting their mental health in the face of being around
individuals who might not be supportive:
I think it has more so impacted how I check up on other people. A lot of friends are being
forced to live with family, which means that their identities might be invalidated, thus,
negatively impacting their mental health on top of the general struggles that everyone is
going through due to the pandemic.
Similarly, a 36-year-old, White, bisexual, cisgender woman shared:

I think my values have informed my response in that I have a wide network of queer and
trans people in my life and I make sure to check in with people. Some of them deal with
the same mental health issues I do, so we do check-ins. We can talk about stuff I wouldn’t
be able to talk about with my actual family. “How are you? Have you eaten? How’s your
anxiety? Are you going easy on yourself?” The folks I’m not as close with I check in with
too but not as frequently.
Intersectionality and Centering Those Most Marginalized
Some participants (n = 14, 10.77%) shared narratives about the importance of being
aware of how intersectionality and attending to the needs of the most marginalized within the
community as a way of engaging in the LGBTQ cultural values of strong interpersonal
connections, acceptance, and inclusion. Engaging in these cultural values helped participants be
alert of who the pandemic is affecting most, as well as ways in which they are able to intervene.
For example, a 29-year-old, White, gay, cisgender man stated:
Being aware of the value of intersectionality, I am actively concerned about the
disproportionate impact the pandemic has had on other minority communities that may
or may not share the same socioeconomic status or racial background as myself. I value
the need to support all communities, especially those marginalized, as they are an
equally important part of society and should be treated as such.
Similarly, a 26-year-old, White, lesbian, gender-nonconforming/non-binary person shared the
importance of being aware about their positionality and advocating for marginalized groups who
are being most affected, “Recognizing intersectionality and fighting for other marginalized
groups has become very central in my reaction to the pandemic.”

Other participants shared the importance of centering the experiences and voices of those
who are most oppressed within society. A 23-year-old, White, queer, non-binary person shared,
“[I have supported] to other people that are typically on the margins and who might be most
negatively impacted by COVID.” Similarly, a 38-year-old, Latinx, pansexual, cisgender woman
shared:
I care more about marginalized communities and how this is affecting them. I want to
make sure that they are not forgotten and that they are cared for now more than ever and
I’m seeing how so many communities are stepping up to care for each other, which has
made me proud and hopeful. Especially living in Los Angeles, this is apparent with how
much is being done by our local officials to make sure no one is left forgotten. I only wish
this were the case everywhere else.
Discussion
LGBTQ people have historically relied on community support to cope and be resilient in
the face of societal rejection and institutional discrimination, specifically during large-scale
events such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic (Dentato et al., 2014). It is important to explore how
community and cultural values have impacted the experiences of LGBTQ people during the
COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings indicate the importance of community to the LGBTQ
population during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings highlight the specific ways in which
community has been helpful for LGBTQ individuals, including engaging in activism, being
authentic, relying on intergenerational resilience, centering the importance of mental health, and
centering the experiences of the most marginalized in society.
Our participants highlighted how they have relied on activism to show their support and
solidarity not only for other LGBTQ people but other marginalized groups. This is consistent
with previous research about the importance of community building for LGBTQ individual
during large-scale social events (Blair & Pukall, 2015; Porta et al., 2017), including the traumatic
events of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s (e.g., Cochran et al., 2009) and most currently
during the 2016 Orlando shooting (Jackson, 2017). Our findings are unique, however, in that our
participants’ activism was informed by collectivistic values of building meaningful interpersonal
connections and rejection of materialistic, individualistic, and capitalistic values that often
inform decisions and interpersonal relations in the United States. In addition, participants shared
how the LGBTQ community values of authenticity, pride, and visibility has helped them stay
grounded during the COVID-19 pandemic. While research has documented the importance of
authenticity, pride, and visibility in the psychological well-being of LGBTQ people (e.g., Riggle
& Rostosky, 2014; Riggle et al., 2008; Vaughan et al., 2014), our findings suggest that these
values have also been protective of LGBTQ people during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Many participants reported drawing personal strength from their collective
intergenerational resilience, and specifically in terms of lessons of survival and resistance passed
down from their ancestors. While other studies have documented the importance of collective
resilience and resistance in the face of systemic oppression toward LGBTQ people, such as the
HIV/AIDS epidemic (Hutchison, 2015), to our knowledge no other study has documented how
LGBTQ people have drawn strength from ancestors to help them survive a pandemic that has
significantly affected members of the LGBTQ community. Furthermore, participants in this
study not only shared narratives about the importance of checking-in with other LGBTQ
community members, but they specifically named the importance of checking-in about
community members’ mental health. While previous studies have documented the importance of
community support in terms of resilience and survival during key events that have threatened the
well-being of the LGBTQ community (HIV/AIDS epidemics, the Pulse nightclub massacre;
Hutchison, 2015; Jackson, 2017; Ramirez et al., 2018), our findings are unique in that they
document the importance of community for LGBTQ people’s mental health during health
epidemics such as COVID-19. Finally, our findings show how the LGBTQ participants in this
study were keenly aware of who is being affected the most by this pandemic (e.g., LGBTQ
people of color) and took steps to center their experiences. While previous research has
documented LGBTQ people’s ability to empathize with other groups who share marginalized
identities (see review in Riggle & Rostosky, 2014), our findings contribute to the current
literature by documenting LGBTQ individuals’ ability to prioritize the well-being of those who
are most marginalized during large scale health epidemics.
Implications for Practice and Advocacy
Practice
Given the importance of community in the well-being of LGBTQ people, it is crucial for
practitioners to be mindful of potential barriers that might prevent their clients from accessing
their LGBTQ community during the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, we posit that as part of their
interventions, clinicians should discuss with their clients ways in which community increases
psychological well-being among LGBTQ people. By attending to these experiences, especially
given the context of this community’s history with global health crises, practitioners will be
better suited to effectively help their LGBTQ clients process how the effects of the COVID-19
pandemic can be buffered by actively seeking and providing community support. For example,
given recent research to support that LGBTQ people have been able to access community though
online platforms (e.g., Authors, in press), one way to provide a better processing space for
LGBTQ clients is for clinicians to facilitate groups for LGBTQ people to come together. This
would allow for community to be more accessible to LGBTQ individuals, especially those who
might not have access to LGBTQ community centers such as in rural communities.
Practitioners can also draw on LGBTQ clients’ endorsement of authenticity, pride, and
visibility to focus on the positive aspects of being LGBTQ. Research suggests that as a result of
their oppressed identities, LGBTQ people have found it liberating to love themselves and
members of the LGBTQ community authentically and unapologetically. These community and
cultural values that have allowed LGBTQ people to endure systemic oppression, seem to buffer
the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on this community. Clinicians can empower their
LGBTQ clients by pointing out these unique and positive aspects of being an LGBTQ person.
Researchers have suggested utilizing a strengths-based approach, which is effective in validating
the experiences of LGBTQ individuals and understanding the impact of adversities (Domínguez
et al., 2015). Based on our participants’ narratives, relying on positive narratives has not only
served as a source of resilience for them, but has also propelled them to care for, advocate, and
empower those around them. Furthermore, by encouraging a strong connection to LGBTQ
community and cultural values, practitioners can build agency and self-empower their clients
(Raj, 2007).
Advocacy
While our participants highlighted the ways in which they kept themselves grounded and
advocated for others through their sense of community, it is imperative to advocate at the
institutional level for better access to mental health support services for LGBTQ individuals
during the pandemic. Although our participants named the significance of community for them
and those around them during the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ individuals are still at a higher
risk for mental health concerns due to social support and being cut off from sources of
community and family support (Salerno et al., 2020). Thus, it is crucial to recognize that well-
being involves more than simply working with and empowering LGBTQ people; it is important
to remove barriers that impede access to community and other mental health support resources
for LGBTQ people. This can be done by increasing the availability of online support spaces
exclusively for LGBTQ individuals, especially for those living with family who are unaccepting
of their LGBTQ identity.
Through our participants’ narratives, it became clear that LGBTQ people are engaging in
activism to maintain their ties to the community. Furthermore, our participants named the role of
intergenerational resilience and intersectionality in shaping their experiences during the COVID-
19 pandemic. Advocates could partner with different community agencies, not just LGBTQ
agencies, to provide comprehensive services to members of the LGBTQ community who are
most marginalized (e.g., trans people, women, people of color). For example, reaching out to
organizations and community centers within BIPOC communities might help reach BIPOC
LGBTQ people who are not active within LGBTQ-specific organizations due to previous
experiences with racism and/or xenophobia. Furthermore, while researchers, practitioners, and
advocates focus on dismantling systems of oppression, it is important to do so in a way that
prioritizes LGBTQ people’s needs, and strong sense of community. That is, researchers,
practitioners, and advocates must co-create initiatives that follow the recommendations of
members from within a specific community rather than engaging in colonial, white supremacist,
cisheteronormative ideas of what a specific community needs to thrive.
Strengths and Limitations
At the time, this study is the first of its kind to examine how community and cultural
values have informed LGBTQ individuals’ response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Given that we
are still in a pandemic, this study’s findings highlight the unique ways that LGBTQ individuals
have been able to depend on their community and cultural values such as activism and
authenticity, pride, and visibility, to keep them connected despite the different societal changes
that the COVID-19 pandemic has imposed on people. Our findings also provide insight into the
different ways in which LGBTQ individuals feel tied to their community. Additionally, our
sample consisted of individuals identifying all across the sexuality spectrum–including bisexual
and pansexual individuals, who are commonly excluded in narratives of LGBTQ research (see
Authors, in press; Gonzalez & Mosley, 2019; Mosley et al., 2019).
This study presents limitations that are important to address. The sample in our study was
predominantly White and cisgender. Although we aimed to amplify the voices of our LGBTQ
participants of color as well as our transgender and gender diverse participants through quotes
that represented their experiences, there is disproportional representation of White and cisgender
people in our sample. Also, because our survey was web-based, our findings did not encompass
the experiences of LGBTQ individuals who do not have access to the internet. In addition, the
educational attainment of the sample is not representative of LGBTQ populations. That is, about
two-thirds of participants in our study had a Bachelor's degree or higher, yet research shows that
LGBTQ people continue to be underrepresented in higher educational attainment compared to
their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts (The Williams Institute, 2019). Furthermore, given
that we recruited from LGBTQ organizations social media pages, it should be noted that the
members of these community organizations may have a different understanding of community
and cultural values than LGBTQ people who are not active members of such organizations.
Therefore, the results of this study should not be generalizable to all LGBTQ people.
Directions for Future Research

Future research should continue exploring the ways in which the meaning of community
has changed or stayed the same over the course of time, especially given the impact of the
COVID-19 pandemic. This can be done through qualitative studies exploring how connectedness
to LGBTQ community has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, there are
many measures that are used to assess community support in LGBTQ individuals (e.g., Lin &
Israel, 2012). In conjunction with emerging scales that measure mental health during the
pandemic (e.g., Lee, 2020), researchers can identify how perceived community connectedness is
correlated with mental health during the pandemic. In addition, future research should continue
to explore the ways that LGBTQ individuals provide support to their community members,
which was a dominant emerging theme in our findings. Finally, future research can more
specifically examine how interlocking systems of oppression have shaped LGBTQ individuals’
conceptualizations of community and community support. This will provide greater insight into
how LGBTQ individuals differ in their ways of accessing community, both during the COVID-
19 pandemic and in general.
Conclusion
Community and LGBTQ cultural values continues to be of great significance for LGBTQ
individuals, especially in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings suggest that, despite
existing barriers, LGBTQ individuals have found ways to stay connected to one another. Also,
LGBTQ individuals have relied on values of activism and authenticity, pride, and visibility to
support themselves and those around them during the COVID-19 pandemic. By drawing from
their community and cultural values, practitioners and advocates will be better able to support
LGBTQ individuals during this pandemic and moving forward. Future research should continue
exploring the ways that LGBTQ individuals rely on and provide community support.
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Table1. Participant demographics
Total N = 130
% (n)
Sexual Orientation
Bisexual 25.38 (33)
Lesbian 23.85 (31)
Queer 20.77 (27)
Gay 18.46 (24)
Pansexual 9.23 (12)
Heterosexual 1.54 (2)
Other 0.77 (1)
Gender Identity
Woman/ Trans Woman/ Trans Feminine 54.62 (71)
Man / Trans Man/ Trans Masculine 23.85 (31)
Nonbinary / Genderqueer / Agender 19.23 (25)
Other 2.30 (3)
Identify as Trans/Trans History
No 76.92 (100)
Yes 23.01 (30)
Race/Ethnicity
White 77.69 (101)
Hispanic/Latinx 6.92 (9)
Biracial/Multiracial 6.15 (8)
Asian/Asian-American 3.85 (5)
Black/African-American 3.08 (4)
Other 2.30 (3)
Educational Background
High School Degree/ GED 2.31 (3)
Associate’s Degree 6.92 (9)
Some College 14.62 (19)
College Degree (BA/BS/BFA) 16.15 (21)
Some Graduate School 12.31 (16)
Graduate Degree (Master’s or Doctoral Degree) 47.69 (62)
Socio-Economic Status
Working Class 13.08 (17)
Lower-Middle Class 20.77 (27)
Middle Class 38.46 (50)
Upper-Middle Class 16.92 (22)
Upper Class 1.54 (2)
Don’t Know 9.23 (12)
Other 1.5 (2)
Table 2. Themes, Subthemes, and Frequencies (N = 130)
Theme/Subtheme % of Sample
Activism 21.54% (n = 28)
Using LGBTQ values to support and advocate for others
Defying individualistic, colonial, and normative United States values
Authenticity, Pride, and Visibility 27.69% (n = 36)
Collective Intergenerational Resilience 12.31% (n = 16)
Centering Mental Health 23.84% (n = 31)
Intersectionality and Centering Those Most Marginalized 23.84% (n = 31)
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Article in Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity · June 2021

Roberto L. Abreu Kirsten A Gonzalez

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Saumya Arora Gabriel Lockett

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LGBTQ+ Well-Being After 2016 Election View project

The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file.

June 10, 2021

B.A., Gabe Locketta, M.S., & Della V. Mosleya, Ph.D.

Department of Psychology, a University of Florida

Department of Psychology, b University of Tennessee, Knoxville

to the COVID-19 pandemic, including: 1) activism, 2) authenticity, pride, and visibility, 3)

collective intergenerational resilience, 4) centering mental health, and 5) intersectionality and

provide comprehensive services to LGBTQ people who are most marginalized.

Keywords: COVID-19, community, LGBTQ, mental health, intersectionality

tending to intersectionality and centering the voices of those most marginalized.

LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) individuals experience a

cisgender counterparts because of systemic barriers such as discrimination, harassment, and

community values during the current COVID-19 epidemic.

Minority Stress and LGBTQ Community Connectedness and Support

experiencing discrimination, victimization, and microaggressions (Brooks, 1981; Brooks, 1992;

Research shows that community connectedness buffers experiences of heightened

2020). Despite pathological explanations of queer kinships rooted in cisheteronormativity, queer

loss and grief (see Prasad, 2020).

epidemic. Similarly, in a study of 33 LGBTQ-identified people, Jackson (2017) found that

the Orlando Pulse Nightclub massacre.

LGBTQ Culture and Cultural Values

LGBTQ People Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

loosing employment and health-insurance-status (as cited in Whittington et al., 2020).

LGBTQ people’s experiences and reactions to the COVID-19 pandemic?

(IRB) at [enter institution name].

participants was 19 - 75 years-old (M = 34.39, SD = 13.07). Participants resided in 29 states,

Recruitment and Procedure

bring their true, authentic selves when responding to the survey.

Research Team Positionality

team also included an assistant professor of psychology who identifies as a third-generation

trained in advanced qualitative methodologies and have co-authored multiple peer-reviewed

& Goetz, 1982).

assumptions or build a theoretical explanation, an inductive and semantic approach to thematic

the finalized thematic structure, resulting in the merging of four themes.

subtheme 2: defying individualistic, colonial, and normative United States values), 2)

authenticity, pride, and visibility 3) collective intergenerational resilience, 4) centering mental

health, and 5) intersectionality and centering those most marginalized.

and normative United States values.

Using LGBTQ Values to Support and Advocate for Others

year-old, White, pansexual, gray-asexual, cisgender woman shared, “Inclusiveness, community

25-year-old, White, queer, nonbinary person said:

I strongly identified with all marginalized peoples as a result of my own marginalization

support for the undocumented.

Defying Individualistic, Colonial, and Normative United States Values

heterosexist, and cissexist ideologies. These participants specifically endorsed collectivism,

others. She said,

much as possible and focus on building meaningful connections with people.

38-year-old, multiracial, bisexual, genderqueer woman shared:

communities . . . And again, I find that my cultural background outside of White

LGBTQ+ communities… [This] is helpful in a situation like [COVID-19].

supported thousands of people in my community. The only reason that organization

works is because we are committed to the principles of solidarity, not charity.

Authenticity, Pride, and Visibility

Some participants (n = 36; 27.69%) discussed being authentic as an essential component

sexual and gender minorities. For example, a 27-year-old, Biracial/multiracial, pansexual,

Collective Intergenerational Resilience