A Qualitative Exploration of Sexual Agency in LGBTQ+ Young Adults Who are Experiencing Homelessness

Abstract

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) young adults (YA) experiencing homelessness are at disproportionate risk of negative sexual health outcomes. Understanding sexual agency and risk-taking behavior of LGBTQ+ YA experiencing homelessness is critical to designing interventions that promote sexual agency and prevent HIV/STIs, sexual violence victimization, and unwanted pregnancies. To explore sexual agency among this population, we conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 31 LGBTQ+ YA (aged 18–24) experiencing homelessness in New York City. Three themes were identified from the data: 1) Communication about sexuality is high, but sexual agency is not always enacted in practice; 2) LGBTQ+ young adults seek stability in their relationships to compensate for housing instability; and 3) Adversity creates a self-sufficiency and self-priority that can trump networks and relationships. This study offers insight into the needs of LGBTQ+ YA experiencing homelessness, which can inform future interventions that work best for this unique population.