Health Risks and Resilience in LGBTQ+ Communities of Color

Health Risks and Resilience in LGBTQ+ Communities of Color

The LGBTQ+ community is diverse and vibrant, and its members have made countless unsung contributions to American society. Many people in this community are prevented from living authentically and from achieving other personal successes because of the complex forms of marginalization they encounter based on their race, gender, ethnicity, and cultural background. 

For LGBTQ+ people of color, these challenges can be particularly acute, leading to mental and physical health challenges that are not always well understood or addressed by healthcare providers. 

For example, relatively few Americans are aware of the invaluable accomplishments of Bayard Rustin (1912-1987), a gay black man who served as a close advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In addition to his work as a philosophy teacher and non-violent activist, Bayard played a pivotal role in the civil rights movement as a ghostwriter, proofreader, and strategist for King. He organized and spearheaded the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, along with many other projects. 

He also wrote large portions of King’s memoir, Stride Toward Freedom, but declined to be credited as one of its authors. He knew that his identity as a gay man would harm King’s reputation and, by association, the credibility of King’s civil rights work as a whole. 

Each day, countless LGBTQ+ individuals of color are burdened with the risks and realities of continuing systemic marginalization, a fact which comes with high costs to their mental and physical health. Here’s what you need to know about the challenges that LGBTQ+ communities of color face—and what you can do to honor and support them.

Multiple Forms of Marginalization

Clearly, one of the main challenges that LGBTQ+ people of color have to cope with is the intersection of their sexual orientation or gender identity with their race, ethnicity, and cultural background. People of color frequently experience discrimination based on their race or ethnicity, while LGBTQ+ people encounter bias based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. When these biases are combined as a result of an individual’s multifaceted identity, the health-endangering impacts of inequality are compounded, leading to unique challenges.

For example, LGBTQ+ people of color are more likely to experience homelessness, poverty, and unemployment than their white counterparts. People of color make up a disproportionate number of homeless LGBTQ+ youth, with Black and Latino youth being particularly overrepresented in this demographic. This can be due to family rejection, discrimination in housing and employment, and other systemic factors that make it more difficult for people of color to succeed.

Another form of marginalization that non-white LGBTQ+ people face is within their own cultural communities. Many cultures have traditional values and beliefs that may not be accepting of LGBTQ+ people, which can lead to rejection and isolation within their own families and communities. This can be particularly challenging for people who are immigrants or the children of immigrants, as they may feel caught between two worlds and struggle to find acceptance in either.

Mental Health Challenges

The inequities non-white LGBTQ+ people encounter can have significant negative impacts on their mental health. Studies indicate that non-white LGBTQ+ people experience higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions than their white LGBTQ+ counterparts. These can manifest not only as psychological distress, but as physical health conditions like high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. 

Mental health challenges are also exacerbated by the current relative lack of support and resources available to help non-cisgender and non-heterosexual people of color cope with these challenges.

Physical Health Challenges

Non-white LGBTQ+ people also face unique physical health challenges. For example, Black LGBTQ+ people are more likely to be HIV-positive than their white counterparts. This can be due to a range of factors, including higher rates of poverty and unemployment, lack of access to healthcare, and discrimination within healthcare settings.

Non-white LGBTQ+ people are additionally more likely to experience healthcare disparities related to their sexual orientation and gender identity. People in this group are more likely to experience discrimination, lack of access to healthcare, and lower quality of care when seeking medical services. 

This can lead to delays in care, misdiagnosis, and inadequate treatment, which can have serious consequences for their physical health. Some LGBTQ+ people of color may avoid seeking medical care altogether due to fear of discrimination or stigma, which can significantly worsen existing health conditions.

Further, LGBTQ+ people of color are more likely to experience violence and trauma than their white counterparts. According to a report by the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs, LGBTQ+ people of color are more likely to experience hate violence and police violence, which can have long-lasting physical and psychological effects. They are also at a higher risk of experiencing intimate partner violence, sexual assault, and other forms of violence that can lead to physical injuries and long-term health consequences.

Systemic Changes Needed To Improve the Health of LGBTQ+ Communities of Color

The challenges faced by non-white LGBTQ+ people are complex and multifaceted, and they require a comprehensive approach to address them. Healthcare providers, policymakers, and community leaders must work together to address the systemic factors that contribute to these challenges, such as discrimination, poverty, and lack of access to healthcare. They must also work to create safe and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ people of color, where they can feel valued and respected for who they are.

What You Can Do 

Along with acknowledging and educating others about the acute injustices that non-heterosexual and non-cisgender people of color live with, it’s equally important to recognize the resilience and strength of these communities. Despite the numerous obstacles they face, many LGBTQ+ people of color continue to advocate for their rights and work toward a more just and equitable society. 

By listening to their stories and experiences, we can gain a better understanding of the challenges they face and work together to create a world where everyone can thrive, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identity. A great way to gain exposure to these narratives is to watch films, plays, and other performances centered on the lives of non-white LGBTQ+ individuals.

See ONE IN TWO at Mosaic Theater Company June 1-25, 2023

Mosaic Theater Company in Washington, DC produces bold, culturally diverse theater that illuminates critical issues, elevates fresh voices, and sparks connections among communities throughout our region and beyond amid the most important events of our times. 

Dedicated to making theater an inclusive model of diversity at every stratum, on stage and off, Mosaic invests in the new as it keeps abreast of changing and challenging times. Mosaic does this to ensure that theater is a responsive gathering space, while nurturing and producing art of the highest order.

From June 1 to June 25, 2023, Mosaic will feature performances of Donja R. Love’s One in Two directed by Raymond O. Caldwell. Three Black queer men sit in an ethereal waiting room inviting audiences to join them in a whimsical theatrical experiment that is equal parts harrowing, hilarious, and hopeful. Inspired by his own HIV diagnosis and the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community, award-winning playwright Donja R. Love shines an honest light on the people behind the statistics in this “defiantly life-embracing” (The New York Times) new play.

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