Beyond Blame: Contemporary Campaigns and Understanding the Health Experiences of LGBT Youth of Color

Theoretical Background and research questions/hypothesis:  LGBT youth of color are often framed in health communication materials in terms of risks that they represent: for disease, for mental illness, and substance abuse. Contemporary health communication campaigns addressed to LGBT youth of color have focused on HIV testing and individual responsibility for health outcomes.  However, recent calls for more culturally competent, holistic communication approaches to reduce health disparities of the LGBT population requires a greater understanding of the health experiences of underserved sub-groups, including youth of color.  This paper explores the interactions and experiences with health and the health care system and compares them to current health communication campaigns targeted to LGBT youth of color.

Methods:  Data from a national sample of LGBT people of color (N=4,953) and selected youth of color (ages 18-24) from that sample (n=959) selected for descriptive analysis describes how and where LGBT youth of color access health-related information and services, and their self-reported feelings about their mental and physical health. Content analysis of a selection of current health campaigns are also explored in order to provide context for successful communication campaigns. 

Results:  Most health campaigns targeted to LGBT youth of color focus on issues of HIV and testing, though some current health communication campaigns are increasingly focused on positive health and living. Healthcare provider comfort level with LGBT youth of color needs to improve; LGBT youth of color receive health information from friends, family and the internet more than from medical professionals; most LGBT youth of color have positive perceptions of their own health, have a positive sense of self and are hopeful about the future.

Conclusions:  Effective  health campaign materials must target its prevention messages by building on the knowledges, attitudes and behaviors that contemporary LGBT youth of color have towards the health care system.  

Implications for research and/or practice:  These findings will help to build new health communication campaigns that are informed by positive health perspectives to provide more effective care and prevention messages to LGBT youth of color.