Empowering LGBTQ+ Youth Through Participatory Action

Utilizing a traditional Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) model, data collected from a previous study was thematically analyzed and presented back to the participating Gay-StraightAlliance (GSA) chapter. Following the presentation of data, students responded to the findings by developing a social justice project of their own creation in which a key issue related to being a member of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Asexual, Pansexual, Two Spirited (LGBTQ+) community was addressed. It was hypothesized that participants directly involved with the planning and execution of a social justice project would feel empowered by taking proactive, positive action which would also improve positive psychological functioning and perceived quality of life. A pretest/ posttest design was employed to test these variables. It was found that students felt empowered immediately after the project was complete. Additionally, participants reported higher levels of positive psychological functioning and perceived quality of life. Furthermore, students reported a desire to get more involved with activism and other social justice actions. We believe that this participatory approach is effective for youth participants specifically because this particular population is often underrepresented and/or denied the privilege of advocacy. This research design can be implemented in school settings and utilized as an effective intervention for minority youth. By encouraging individuals to address their community’s concerns through advocacy and participatory action, this model can be extended to empower other at-risk populations such as ethnic minorities, gender non-conforming individuals, and victims of domestic violence or sexual assault.