“A little harder to find your place:” Latinx LGBTQ + youth and family belonging

Abstract

Abstract There is a dearth of research about Latinx LGBTQ + youth’s experiences with family belonging. To address this gap in the literature, this phenomenological study explored the experiences of eight Latinx LGBTQ + youth as they relate to belonging within a familial context. Five themes were identified: (a) definitions of belonging and the importance of belonging to family, (b) family rejection/fear of rejection, (c) culture of queer invisibility, (d) divergent experiences among non-parental family members, and (e) resilience. This article presents the themes as they relate to Latinx LGBTQ + young people’s experiences of family belonging and discusses implications for future research and practice.