I Want to Take the Space to Develop As My Queer Self Completely: Understanding Queer Joy

Background: Research underlines health and mental health disparities among sexual minority groups are well documented. Numerous studies have demonstrated heightened prevalence of depressive and anxiety disorders among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans groups compared to heterosexuals. Some authors posit that these disparities are the result of the stress that prejudice and perceived discrimination can cause leading to minority stress (Bostwick et al., 2014). Minority stress may contribute to these inequities by generating adverse psychological responses to stress such as hypervigilance, concealment of identity, and internalization of homophobia, which in turn increase risk for mental health disorders (Noyola et al., 2020). However, the emphasis of trauma creates a single-story narrative and supports what Shuster and Westbrook (2022) term a joy-deficit, instead of using a desire-based framework to account for the wisdom of lived lives and communities (Tuck, 2009). Focusing on Philadelphia, the project seeks to answer: (1) What is joy for this community; (2) How is joy experienced; and (3) Where does joy manifest?

Methods: A Photovoice approach guided this study. Photovoice is a qualitative research method rooted in Participatory Action Research (PAR) that incorporates photography, analysis, group discussions, and action (D'Amico et al., 2016; Delgado, 2015), Photovoice was selected to give a greater voice to the population of the study. As an approach that is participant oriented, Photovoice allows the research participants to express themselves and their lives. The population targeted for recruitment self-identified as Queer or LGBTQ+ 18 and older residing in the Philadelphia area. The sampling approach was purposive. Smith et al. (2009) stated that in Photovoice studies samples are selected purposively (rather than through probability methods) because they can offer a research project insight into a particular experience (p. 48). Recruitment was conducted via social media posts, direct email recruitment to LGBTQ+ resource centers in Philadelphia, and by word-of-mouth. The sample size was 15 participants.

Results: 5 focus groups totaling 15 participants were conducted. The mean age of participants was 27.8. The gender identities represented in the sample include queer, cisgender male, transgender man, transgender woman, and genderfluid and the sexual orientations represented include queer, bisexual, and gay. Although experiences varied across the sample, prevalent narratives that emerged include “joy is self-acceptance”, “joy is validation”, “joy is community”, and “joy is multidimensional.” Participants shared a common understanding that joy can results from both internal and external factors. They discussed joy is found in community. Finally, participants shared joy is multidimensional, experienced in multiple ways, and emerges from a variety of circumstances.

Implications: Current research does not have a clear understanding of how queer and trans individuals experience joy, how they understand joy, and how they define joy. This study provides an inclusive understanding of joy from a community centered perspective. Lastly, this knowledge will allow direct service providers to gain insights into the psychosocial impacts of joy from the perspective of queer and trans individuals, informing interventions that seek to reduce negative outcomes.