Minority Stress and Coping Among Sexual Diverse Latinxs

In this qualitative study, 18 adult sexual diverse Latinxs (i.e., gay, lesbian, bisexual, pansexual, and queer) from various areas of the United States participated in semistructured interviews aimed at understanding their experiences of minority stress and coping. Using thematic analysis guided by an intersectional analytical framework, we identified the following 5 key themes in participants' experiences of minority stress: (a) ambivalence from family, (b) traditional Latinx gender role expectations, (c) marginalization from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, (d) sexual objectification. and (e) intersectional invisibility and misrepresentation in the media. In addition, we identified the following 4 key themes in coping with minority stress: (a) strategic racial/ethnic and sexual identity management, (b) seeking and creating social support from/for LGBT and communities of color, (c) protective distancing, and (d) developing critical consciousness. Throughout our analysis. we highlight how the intersection of racism, heterosexism, and sexism, as well as Latinx cultural values such as familismo, colectivismo. marianismo, and machismo, shape these processes. We discuss implications for research, practice, and advocacy based on our results.