"Previous Resilience Has Taught Me That I Can Survive Anything:" LGBTQ Resilience During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has disproportionately negatively affected the lesbian, gay, bisexual. transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, a group who faces identity-based marginalization in society. LGBTQ resilience narratives are important in buffering against the negative impact of minority stress, but little is known about how LGBTQ people have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. The current research addresses this gap in the literature. Participants included 129 LGBTQ individuals who shared how they have been resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed three COVID-19-specific resilience themes, including: (1) Previous preparation fostered resilience, (2) Radical acceptance as resilience, and (3) Resilience through providing support and building community. Discussion explores how psychologists can work with LGBTQ people to identify and cultivate resilience narratives focused on self-love, self-acceptance, radical acceptance, and community resilience.