The Importance (and Limits) of Community Belonging as a Protective Factor for Wellbeing in LGBTIQ+ Individuals

Recent psychological research into the wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ individuals has identified “community belonging” as a protective factor that may buffer the negative effects of minority stress (Aybar Camposano et al., 2025a; Lefevor et al., 2024). In line with both theoretical models and lived experiences, belonging to the LGBTIQ+ community can provide validation, identity affirmation, and opportunities for authentic connection (Huynh, 2023; Tinlin-Dixon et al., 2025). While belonging may enable collective coping in response to stigma and discrimination, its benefits are not uniformly distributed across LGBTIQ+ populations. Experiences of belonging vary between sub-groups, and not all individuals feel equally represented or included within LGBTIQ+ spaces due to racism, trans exclusion, and other intersecting inequalities (Cyrus, 2017; McCormick & Barthelemy, 2021). Furthermore, framing community belonging as a universally protective factor can obscure the systemic discrimination which LGBTIQ+ individuals continue to face. Therefore, the protective role of community belonging is likely overstated and requires consideration through an intersectional lens.