LGBTQ+ Youth and the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Although the pandemic’s emotional weight has been universally felt, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth face unique stressors due to changes in access to affirming and supportive resources. Despite this, a limited number of studies empirically investigate how the pandemic and its social consequences have altered the daily experiences of LGBTQ+ youth. Access to specific physical environments was restricted due to the pandemic, blurring the boundaries between these contexts for LGBTQ+ youth. This chapter focuses on three distinct but overlapping contexts relevant to LGBTQ+ youth and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19): schools, families, and the Internet. We discuss how changes in these environments during the COVID-19 pandemic presented unique experiences and opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth. The implications of these experiences, and the opportunities the pandemic has engendered for the future, are discussed. © 2022 selection and editorial matter, Nazneen Khan;individual chapters, the contributors