The Impact of Stigma on Sexual and Gender Minority Communities During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The global COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in life-altering changes for millions of people. Historically, marginalized groups prove to be among the most vulnerable populations during times of crisis due to the additional stress, isolation, fear, and stigma they already face in society. Through focus group research, this study sought to explore how one marginalized group, the LGBTQIA community, has been affected by the pandemic. The study found that although members of the LGBTQIA community did not face any specific COVID-19 stigma, the pandemic exacerbated the already disproportionate socioeconomic issues they faced. Already at risk of being socially isolated, the pandemic created a further division between participants and their personal relationships. In addition, participants faced the loss of jobs and health insurance, which increased their health risk. Participants expressed maintaining routines and relying on the resiliency they have built up over a lifetime of facing social stigma as ways that they were able to cope with the pandemic.

Keywords:

• Coronavirus
• COVID-19
• LGBTQIA
• pandemic
• stigma

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Table 1. 3. SGM GROUP ROUND 3 PART 1

Table 1. 4. SGM GROUP ROUND 3 PART 2

Table 1. SGM COVID-19 stigma participants demographics.

–Table 1.1 FOCUS GROUP PARTICIPANTS

SGM GROUPS ROUND 1

Table 1. 2. SGM GROUP ROUND 2