Who We Are

Our scientific mission is to improve the health and wellbeing of vulnerable populations and decrease health disparities through the development and implementation of trauma-informed, community engaged interventions with the potential to mitigate experiences of minority stress (e.g., structural and interpersonal experiences of discrimination, rejection, violence/victimization; internalized stigma) and bolster community connectedness, identity pride, and resilience.   

We aim to support the collective thriving of folks who experience marginalization like lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) people through community engaged research. Our work is rooted in community and strong science. We consider the intersection of sexual orientation and gender identities with other identities and experiences including racial and/or ethnic identity, geographic location and local policy, and engaging in stigmatized behaviors such as substance use on access to healthcare and, ultimately, health.

Secondarily, we hope to improve the healthcare experiences of marginalized populations to put the ‘health’ and ‘care’ back into healthcare. We use data to highlight the ways in which a system that privileges white, heterosexual, cisgender, able-bodied individuals contributes to marginalization and worse physical and mental health. We make recommendations for practice and policy improvements with the potential to create physically and psychologically safe healthcare environments for everyone.

We envision a world in which all LGBTQIA+ people thrive and have access to affordable and culturally sensitive healthcare that is individualized to their unique needs and life circumstances. 

Together, we rise.