At the Intersection of Intersectional Identity and Microaggressions: An Examination of the Experiences and Identity of Sexual and Gender Diverse BIPOC Individuals

Objectives: Sexual and gender diverse (SGD) Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) live at the intersection of identities that produce idiosyncratic experiences of marginalization. Existing theories often rely on single-axis (e.g., SGD or BIPOC) or additive/multiplicative (e.g., SGD + BIPOC/SGD x BIPOC identity scores) frameworks that fail to capture unique intersectional identity phenomenon experienced by SGD-BIPOC communities. Additionally, the bulk of research focuses on the negative experiences of SGD-BIPOC and misses opportunities to quantitatively examine resilience factors (i.e., intersectional identity affirmation) and how they co-occur with other intersectional identity phenomenon (i.e., conflicts in allegiances) to serve as protective factors against adverse mental health outcomes. The present study examined the co-occurring experiences of intersectional identity phenomenon and how it may influence negative mental health outcomes and intersectional microaggression distress (IMAD). Method: We conducted a latent profile analysis among 418 SGD-BIPOC to identify profiles based on co-occurring intersectional identity phenomenon (i.e., identity cohesion, identity-based growth, and conflicts in allegiances). We then tested to see if profiles differed on IMAD, anxiety, and depression. Results: Analyses yielded two distinctive profiles: High Identity Conflict and High Identity Cohesion. The relationship between IMAD and mental health (i.e., anxiety and depression) was moderated by latent profile membership. Conclusions: Our findings provide quantitative evidence on intersectional identity affirmation as a resilience factor for SGD-BIPOC communities, thereby expanding existing theories. Implications for research, clinical practice, and social justice are discussed.