Colors of PRIDE: Exploring LGBTQIA+BIPOC Youth Experiences and Sense of Belonging in the School Setting

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Cultivating Bridges of Restoration for Healing Within Marginalized Communities (Table 2)

Abstract

A need to belong, to align with one’s cultural and subcultural identities, appears to be buried deep inside our biology (Slavich & Cole, 2013). The effects of belonging-related stressors can be more intense for those who identify with outgroups (Walton & Brady, 2017). One specific group impacted is the LGBTQIA+BIPOC population. This study investigated sense of belonging in LGBTQ+ BIPOC high school students in the educational setting through using semi-structured interviews with 4 LGBTQ+ BIPOC students, attending an urban district in Midwest Illinois. The data indicated family ties, identity affirming communities, and leadership and advocacy are crucial in fostering a sense of belonging.

Author

• Andria Mitchell, Rockford Public Schools #205