Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation: An Exploration of Cisgender Sexual Minority Perceptions of Non-Cisgender People in the United States

Abstract

This study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis to explore cisgender sexual minorities’ perceptions and experiences within the LGBTQ community, particularly regarding relationships with non-cisgender individuals. Grounded in a depth psychological framework, the research aimed to de-literalize gender and challenge conventional understandings of gender identity. Analysis of interview transcripts yielded superordinate and subordinate themes that were examined in relation to prior research. The findings echoed earlier evidence of the politicization of LGBTQ identities, in-group microaggressions, and exclusionary attitudes toward transgender and gender non-conforming people, while also revealing emerging themes of curiosity, empathy, and a desire for increased understanding of non-cisgender experiences. An unanticipated subtheme involved well-intentioned racial microaggressions among White participants. Future research should continue to examine LGBTQ in-group dynamics through an intersectional lens. Given the documented mental health impacts of microaggressions and exclusion, such inquiry is essential to promoting the well-being of LGBTQ individuals across diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds.