Cultural and linguistic diversity

Young people who are LGBTIQ+ and from a minority culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) background each have individual experiences of culture, faith, gender, sexuality and experiences of intersex variations.

When providing mental health support to a client with these intersecting experiences:

• recognise their own sense of cultural and LGBTIQ+ experiences
• recognise the diversity of perspectives within cultures
• acknowledge the importance of connection to culture.

Experiences of LGBTIQ+ and CALD young people

Intersecting experiences that can lead to stigma, conflict, isolation and discrimination include:

• pressure from family to conform to traditional cultural norms and values (this can include homophobia, which exists in all cultures in different forms)
• balancing dual identities of ethnic or cultural heritage with sexual orientation or gender identity, which can make people feel they don’t fully belong to either community
• experiencing stigma and discrimination in community and health services due to innate variations of sex characteristics, alongside racism or xenophobia in these spaces
• limited availability of mental health services that are sensitive to a person's cultural and LGBTIQ+ identity.

Experiences of LGBTIQ+ young people of faith

There are many people across all faiths who are LGBTIQ+ affirming, or LGBTIQ+ themselves. However, their faith is often invisible.

Young people can familiarise themselves with the different groups and people in their community of faith who are accepting, to find support and connection.

While some faiths and religions are non-affirming, homophobic and transphobic, it’s often the interpretation of religions rather than the religions themselves that are discriminatory and hostile to LGBTIQ+ communities.

Non-affirming faith communities can cause LGBTIQ+ young people spiritual trauma. Their mental health distress may be compounded when they cannot access their faith community, as spirituality can be an important component of someone’s recovery.

Affirming practice

When working with LGBTIQ+ clients from CALD backgrounds (including those of faith):

• acknowledge and affirm the whole person seeking support, including their LGBTQ+ identity, innate variation of sex characteristics (if disclosed), cultural identity, language and other communities they may belong to
• explore the way LGBTIQ+ experiences are understood in their cultural group, including language used
• understand that both intersecting identities may experience stigma and discrimination that may impact mental health, and that affirmation is an important part of care
• ensure access to interpreters and translated resources, where needed
• connect them to LGBTIQ+ CALD community groups and support networks
• show respect for significant cultural and faith holidays and festivals, including acknowledgement of the complexities around potential expectations of gender and sexuality
• understand that for LGBTIQ+ people of faith, their spirituality is inseparable from their LGBTIQ+ identity
• connect with LGBTIQ+ affirming faith groups and inclusive resources
• affirm their decision not to engage with non-affirming community and/or faith spaces for their mental wellbeing.