‘This is our place, but we’re the outsiders’: the navigation of identity and spaces of belonging by Indigenous LGBTIQ + women in Australia

Abstract

A secure sense of identity and belonging plays a crucial role in social and emotional wellbeing. While there has been research that investigates the exclusion of Indigenous people from a broad range of the workings of society in Australia, such as social spaces and institutions, there exists limited literature that specifically focuses on Indigenous LGBTIQ + women’s experiences. Building on the limited research on Indigenous LGBTIQ + individuals’ lived experiences, this article analyses Indigenous LGBTIQ + women’s navigation of their identity and sense of belonging using data generated from interviews with the target group. Participants’ experiences reveal a diverse range of coming out journeys which all culminated in a strong sense of pride in their identity and belonging with their close family members and LGBTIQ + community. Themes of exclusion were also evident, particularly with other family members, schools, and other social spaces.