A Decade of Microaggression Research and LGBTQ Communities: An Introduction to the Special Issue

ABSTRACT

Though the Supreme Court of the U.S. legalized same-sex marriage in 2015, heterosexism and transphobia has continued to manifest through many systems in the US — from lack of federal protection in employment non-discrimination laws to polices that prohibit transgender people from using bathroom and public facilities that match their gender identities. Heterosexist and transphobic discrimination have also persisted through interpersonal interactions — ranging from more overt forms (e.g., hate crimes, bullying) to more subtle forms of discrimination, otherwise known as microaggressions. Since 2008, there have been hundreds of articles written on microaggressions, with dozens focusing specifically on experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. Qualitative and quantitative studies have revealed that LGBTQ people who experience microaggressions have reported negative outcomes like depression, low self-esteem, and trauma. This special issue aims to further Microaggression Theory by providing theoretical and empirical papers that focus on the manifestation and impact of microaggressions on LGBTQ people. Using an interdisciplinary approach, articles range in topic from intersectional identities, to health and psychological outcomes, to advancing research methods. Future studies regarding microaggressions and LGBTQ people are discussed- highlighting the influence of the changing landscape of heterosexism and transphobia within general society, as well as new dynamics that have formed and developed within LGBTQ communities.

KEYWORDS:

• Microaggressions
• LGBTQ
• discrimination
• heterosexism
• transphobia

Acknowledgments

Special thank you to the team of peer reviewers who assisted in this process, including Steph Anderson, Rebecca Campon, Kim Case, Melissa Corpus, Kristin Davidoff, Cirleen DeBlare, Tanya Erazo, Lourdes Follins, Alexis Forbes, Carlton Green, Cara Jacobson, Marc Johnston Guerrero, Mira Krishnan, Omar Martinez, Anthony Ocampo, Nic Rider, María Scharron-del Rio, Richard Shin, Avy Skolnik, Charlotte Tate, and Gina Torino. They represent many academic and clinical specialties, sexual orientations, gender identities, racial and ethnic identities, and other backgrounds, and their collective perspectives were invaluable in ensuring this special issue was an inclusive success.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.