In this current age of political divisiveness, conversations between persons of different backgrounds have often resulted in intense disagreements, leading to broken friendships, and disowned family members. One such disagreement is the subject around the LGBTQ+ Community.
As discrimination against LGBTQ+ individuals increases due to political emboldenment, and extremism, it is more important than ever to identify how we can learn to cope and protect ourselves in the face of such discriminations and microaggressions in our daily lives, where in doing so, we can protect the people and we care about.
An Increase in LGBTQ+ Discrimination
Alt-Right Christian Fundamentalists, in addition to voters of the Trump Administration have been making headway towards repealing various protections for Trans Individuals. These repeal of protections consist of Healthcare restrictions for individuals under the age of 19 seeking access to Gender-Affirming Care, and the scrubbing of public-health data and critical resources on LGBTQ+ individuals on Federal Government websites, such as the Center for Disease Control, and the Social Security Administration.
In that process towards repealing our rights, LGBTQ+ individuals have seen an increase in discrimination. An article written by the Center for American Progress, a non-partisan policy institute partnered with the non-partisan research group NORC to identify barriers and challenges LGBTQ+ individuals face in the U.S. and determine how the community is faring across the country. Major findings of the 2024 wave-3 survey include that more than one-third—36 percent—of LGBTQI+ adults in the United States experienced some kind of discrimination in the previous year. Other key findings from the survey include:
- More than 2 in 10 transgender adults reported experiencing some kind of housing discrimination.
- Nearly 1 in 4 LGBTQI+ adults reported experiencing discrimination in the workplace.
- Nearly half of transgender adults reported experiencing discrimination in public spaces, including stores, restaurants, public transportation, and restrooms.
- Nearly 1 in 4 intersex adults had to travel to a different state in order to access abortion, reproductive, or maternal care because laws in their state ban or restrict it.
The results of the 2024 survey make it worryingly clear that LGBTQI+ communities struggle with discrimination and hardship in many areas of life.
What is Discrimination?
One of the best ways of coping against a stressor in our lives, is by understanding where the stressor comes from. Discrimination is the difference of treatment based on an individual’s cultural identity. This difference in treatment could be based on the following cultural identities that we share, from; Socio-economic Status, Gender, Sex, Sexual Orientation, National Origin, First Language, (Physical, Emotional, Developmental Disability), Age, Religious or Spiritual Affiliation, and Race.
Discrimination can be harmful when that difference in treatment is of a lesser or restricted quality to the individual, as opposed to another member who has a more palatable identity. When I think of how discrimination looks like within the LGBTQ+ community, I am reminded of the former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis. Kim Davis’s responsibility as a County Clerk was to issue marriage licenses out to couples, until it became apparent that she has refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples due to her religious beliefs. Considering that Same-Sex Marriage became legalized in 2015, Kim has directly restricted access to marriage licenses to couples by virtue of them being in a same-sex relationship.
What are Microaggressions?
Now that we understand what discrimination is, and the impact that discrimination has on our lives, we turn towards Microaggressions. Microaggressions is a type of discrimination, it is the statement and or action that can isolate or invalidate a marginalized group, most commonly involving race, or another other form of cultural identity.
Microaggressions can be harmful, as it can come from anyone. It is not as direct as blatant discrimination would be. Sometimes it’s as subtle as an unintentional insult. Other times it could be an errant comment or gesture that plays against a person’s cultural identity. In such cases, it can be an awkward experience. It might make the recipient feel uncomfortable, not knowing how to address (or whether it’s even appropriate to address) that discomfort.
Microaggressions often appear in our daily lives, and we can identify them by examining our interactions through a critical lens or reflecting on our experiences with others. But how it differs from discrimination, can stem from a lack of knowledge and awareness of another’s cultural identity. On understanding the difference between what is appropriate, and inappropriate.
What is an Example of a Microaggression?
Within the LGBT+ community, some examples of microaggressions that can be introduced as early as our childhood. Have you ever witnessed a family member introducing a new baby to the family? And when they dress them up and show them off, some comments are made such as, “Oh he’s going to be such a lady killer.” Or “Oh isn’t she beautiful, she’s going to be such a hit with the boys.” These comments are examples of microaggressions. They may not be aware of it when they say it, but the assumption in their comments, is that their children are, or are going to be heterosexual in their development. This can be harmful. It limits or reduces the recipient’s experience, whether they are in their infancy, preteens, teenage, young adult, and adulthood development.
Effects of Discrimination and Microaggressions
As members of the LGBTQ+ community, it is no secret that many of us have experienced some level of discrimination in our lives. Whether it be from strangers out on the street, or members of our own family. In either experience, it can leave us feeling invalidated in our truth. Whether it be regarding our sexuality, or other identities we may align with. If the individual finds themselves constantly experiencing microaggressions in their daily life, it can lead to some more serious consequences.
A study conducted in 2023 focused on the psychological effects of microaggressions toward sexual and gender minority individuals through quantitative data pulled from fourty-five studies examining: Sexual Orientation-, Trans+Identity-, or Intersectional Identity-based microaggressions and various psychological outcomes. The results of the study identified that Sexual Orientation microaggressions were risk factors for depression, anxiety, and internalized stigma. Trans+identity-based microaggressions were positively associated with depression, suicide attempts, and cannibis usage. LGBTQ intersectional identity-based microaggressions concerning race/ethnicity were associated with depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation.
When we are experiencing these symptoms, it can lead us towards wanting to find ways to cope. And while coping can be important for our survival, it’s also important to reflect on how this coping strategy is helping you.
Why is Coping Important?
Stress, we all experience it, in one form, or another. Whether it is in our homes, at school, even at work. Stress can come in many forms. When you are working towards something meaningful in your life, that could be considered “helpful stress.” It allows you to recognize how important your task is, in order to push you towards completing it. While helpful stress can benefit our lives, unhelpful stress often affects us differently. You may experience stress after a loss in the family. Anxiety about losing a job can also create unhelpful stress. Worrying about how to pay your next bill can be another source. Sadness or depression following a breakup can also create negative stress. These are all examples of situations that can produce unhelpful stress. I am certain you can imagine moments that have left a sour taste in your mouth. This is where unhelpful stress comes from.
When we experience microaggressions, this can accumulate unhelpful stress within ourselves. Whether we are aware of it or not, we seek various forms of comfort as a way to lessen the stress we’ve experienced. These comforts can look like curling up on the bed with your favorite snack watching your favorite movie, or going to the gym and experiencing the rush of your blood coursing throughout your body, even spending time with a loved one, and talking about your day. These comforts are called coping strategies, and these coping strategies help us to destress from the events of the day.
How Can We Cope and Build Resiliency?
Because we understand the impacts of discrimination and microaggressions, we have to ask ourselves, how do we cope? Below are some strategies that you may have tried, or have yet to try, all of which is set on helping to increase your self care and emotional support toolbox.
If you see something, say something!!
When we talk about the discrimination or microaggressions that you have witnessed, and the act of saying something, I think of how Advocacy and the LGBTQ+ community go hand in hand. They span a long history of Organizations like the Gay Men’s Health Crisis Center (GMHC) and ACT UP. They provide support for Gay men during the AIDS Epidemic, to the Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries (STAR) who provided shelter, food, among various resources for Trans youth, in addition to condemning Transgender abuse. Because of their support, we have a more tolerable and informed society towards LGBTQ+ individuals. That does not mean the work is far from over.
Those organizations saw something that was occurring, and decided to say something, even more, they decided to act. Because of these organizations calling out the issues of the time, they began to make progress towards providing knowledge, and support for countless generations that come after. If history has taught us anything, whenever we experience microaggressions, especially from people we regard as friends and family members, it may be an opportunity to sit with them, and have a conversation about how the things they may have said could be seen as a microaggression, and how that made you feel. And while the idea of having that conversation may be uncomfortable for you, it is in having these conversations that we begin to take the first steps towards a shared understanding of one another.
Seek Mental Health Support
Ask yourself this, what if I’m not ready? What if I don’t quite feel comfortable having those conversations about discrimination and microaggressions yet? To which I say, that’s ok. It’s normal to need time to pause and reflect on how a particular interaction with another person made you feel, and how to articulate your words in a way that feels authentic to you. I am reminded of another myTherapyNYC blog that I found to be quite insightful on LGBTQ+ Mental health. The blog discussed the importance of reaching out to mental health professionals, whether you are in your teens, you may benefit from speaking with a counselor from the Trevor Project or the Human Rights Campaign Resources section to get knowledge on various LGBTQ+ topics like Health & Aging, College, HIV & Health Equity, and more. It is important to know that you have a mental health professional in your corner to help you get some clarity on your life experiences with microaggressions and discrimination, and what some next steps could look like for you.
Read more about the LGBTQ+ Mental Health blog here.
The Importance of Chosen Families
If we take a step back, and ask, what if we aren’t able to afford a mental health counselor? I say, that’s ok too. Sometimes we are not in the best situation financially to afford one. That is why it’s important to talk about Chosen Families. Chosen Families are a staple within the LGBTQ+ community. Individuals who feel like they aren’t being seen in their authentic self, can be seen, loved and supported by others. A chosen family is a network of people that one feels they can turn to for support, compassion, and love. While they may not be related to you in blood, you treat them as family. Whenever we as LGBTQ+ individuals have experienced microaggressions or discrimination, it is important to seek out those who support you best. It is in having those strong supports that one can feel empowered to talk about these complex issues. Then we can find out what next steps would look like.
Do you want to explore coping with discrimination in therapy? Reach out to myTherapyNYC to find out which of our therapists would be a good fit for you!
Do you know of any organizations that you feel like you could turn to, for knowledge and support? Join the conversation in the comments below!
- How to Cope with LGBTQ+ Discrimination and Microaggressions - June 11, 2026
- Why Do Relationships End? How to Know if You Should Break Up - July 31, 2025