It's Complicated: Navigating Multiple Identities in Small Town America

During the past few years, research focused on individuals who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) have increased. However, much of this literature focuses on White LGBT individuals, and less on individuals who have intersected identities, such as being both gay/lesbian and a person of color. Consequently, this population becomes obscured in scholarly discourses, thus being made "invisible" with regard to theory, research, and clinical interventions, with the result that clinicians are provided little or no knowledge of theories or best practices when working with individuals who are both sexual minority and people of color. This article discusses an integrated theoretical and treatment process when working with clients who are navigating multiple oppressed identities.