LGBTQ Stigma

Abstract

AbstractLesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ) individuals face significant stigma globally. Examples of stigma range from extreme acts of violence, such as murder, to more subtle yet pervasive forms of marginalization and social exclusion, such as being socially rejected, denied employment opportunities, and given poor healthcare. Stigma has been identified as a fundamental cause of global LGBTQ health inequities. This chapter summarizes research on and theory that defines LGBTQ stigma, documents ways in which stigma is manifested and experienced by LGBTQ individuals, articulates how stigma leads to health inequities among LGBTQ populations, and identifies evidence-based intervention strategies to address LGBTQ stigma. Moreover, recommendations for addressing stigma to promote LGBTQ health equity globally are provided. As examples, promoting policy change and investing in social norm campaigns can reduce stigma at the structural level, enhancing education and providing opportunities for interpersonal contact can reduce stigma among individuals who perpetrate stigma, and bolstering resilience can protect LGBTQ individuals from stigma. Intervention strategies that have been developed in the Global South are being applied in the Global North (e.g., participatory theatre) and vice versa. As the field moves toward addressing stigma to achieve LGBTQ health equity, it is worth bearing in mind that stigma is neither fixed nor insurmountable. Rather, it is malleable and intervenable: it has changed and will continue to change with time. Public health researchers, practitioners, policy makers, and other stakeholders have key roles to play in advocating for continued change in LGBTQ stigma worldwide.