Minority Stress In The LGBTQ Community

LGBTQ who are also members of other minorities – particularly vulnerable LGBTQ youth – are subjected to an especially toxic mix, leading to depression, desperation, and suicidal tendencies.

We present an interview with Ilan H. Meyer, Ph.D., Williams Distinguished Senior Scholar of Public Policy at the Williams Institute for Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the UCLA School of Law. Through a number of frequently cited papers, Dr. Meyer has developed a model of minority stress for examining the factors that can cause health disparities between LGBTQ people and straight, cisgender people.

Included is a discussion about of how discrimination creates additional and frequent stress for minority groups, and how stigma and prejudice from family and friends affects LGBTQ, with internalized negative stereotypes, soul-deadening concealment of identity, expecting rejection, and the greater risk of bullying and physical violence.

Credits:

Host: Outcaster Sarah. OutCasting youth participants Ian, Becca, Ari, Jamie, Callie, Adam, Andrea, Brianna, Emma, Alex, Lauren, Jack, Nicia, Max, David, Dante, Dhruv. Assistant producers Alex Mintz and Josh Valle; Executive Producer: Marc Sophos.


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