“If Rainbows Were Everywhere”: Nonmetropolitan SGM Youth Identify Factors That Make Communities Supportive

ABSTRACT

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth in nonmetropolitan communities face marginalization due to their SGM identities. Community support may mitigate the negative outcomes associated with marginalization. Using the strengths perspective, this study investigated the factors SGM youth identify as making their communities supportive. Interviews were conducted with SGM youth to explore their perceptions of their community, community climate, and the factors that contribute to making communities supportive to SGM youth. Findings revealed four supportive community factors: supportive people, SGM visibility, SGM resources and education, and SGM-inclusive policies. Implications include creating SGM resources and providing professional training on SGM issues.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBTQ youth
• nonmetropolitan communities
• strengths-based practice
• community-based practice

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the SGM youth who took the time to share their lives and experiences with us. Additionally, H. Denise Arizpe and Amanda Hwu assisted with data analysis for the larger research project. The first author would like to thank her dissertation committee from which this study originated: Janet Liechty, Ramona Oswald, Benjamin Lough, Jennifer Greene, and Shelley Craig.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Graduate College, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and The Williams Institute.