Sexual Orientation as Social Justice Fault Line: The Role of Stigmatised Identities and Minority Community Solidarity in Social Inequalities in Wellbeing

Social views of sexual interest in same-sex partners continue to vary widely across historical era and cultural context. Sexual minorities continue to experience social stigma and marginalization, despite increased acceptance in many, mostly Western counties. This reflects the prevailing expectations of heterosexuality and gender conformity. Social stigma compromises the social identity of LGB people and adversely affects their social inclusion and mental and physical health. This social inequality in health and wellbeing is a result of the additional, minority stressors that LGB people uniquely face, including experiences of discrimination, rejection, internalized stigma, and concerns regarding disclosure. The solidarity of LGB communities and their heterosexual allies is critical to providing social support and facilitating the collective activism required to achieve social justice for LGB people.