“Oh, are you gay?”: An exploration of LGBTQ+ students’ lived experiences with microaggressions and finding safety on a university campus

Abstract

Studies demonstrate that LGBTQ+ college students experience explicit and covert discrimination with research documenting various microaggressions reported by university students whose gender and/or sex identities are minoritized. Building off existing models of LGBTQ microaggressions, the current study adds to this literature by utilizing focus groups to explore campus safety perceptions among a sample of U.S. undergraduate students who identify as LGBTQ+. Findings highlight the diverse microaggressions experienced by students at the interpersonal and environmental level. Moreover, the results displayed the mechanisms students employed to avoid or disengage from situations where microaggressions may be encountered, as well as underscored ways in which students may combat or engage with persons or climates perceived to be hostile to members of the LGBTQ+ community. Implications for research, policy, and practice are presented