Black Queer Health in College: Exploring the Emotional, Physical, and Mental Well-Being of Black Queer Collegians in the U.S. Deep South

• In Event: Joy and Aliveness: Perspectives on Queer and Trans Wellness in Higher Education

Abstract

The purpose of this exploratory investigation is to understand how Black lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) college students attend to their emotional, physical, and mental health in the contexts in the U.S. Deep South. Several reports show a persistent trend of health disparities among Black LGBTQ populations, particularly those ages 13-35 years old and within the southern region of the United States. While public health scholars have studied health disparities broadly impacting LGBTQ communities, there remains a dearth in higher education research aimed at better understanding this issue. This study seeks to understand how sociocultural determinants inform health outcomes amongst this population, with attention to the unique opportunities and constraints of collegiate contexts and student identity.

Author

• Reginald A. Blockett, Auburn University