Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland: the positive aspects of being a young person from within a sexual and gender minority community

A positive psychology approach to inquiry offers a way of understanding LGBTQI+ lives from a generative and prosocial perspective. This paper presents findings from the Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland study (n = 2,806). It focusses on self-reported positive aspects of being LGBTQI+ as presented in the responses of 14–25 year old participants (n = 1,054) to an open text question that asked what they liked most about being LGBTQI+. A qualitative descriptive analysis identified six broad themes: 1) Belonging and connection to the LGBTQI+ community; 2) Attraction, dating, relationships; 3) Friendships; 4) Personal growth and development; 5) Freedom: being myself and being different; and 6) LGBTQI+ history, culture and politics. These findings are discussed in terms of young LGBTQI+ people’s strengths and the potential benefits for young LGBTQI+ people, and for professionals working with and supporting this population. These positive findings are particularly important in the context of the high levels of discrimination, violence, harassment and anti-LGBTQI+ hate speech that continues to be encountered by LGBTQI+ people. A strength-framing approach offers insight into LGBTQI+ lives that moves beyond merely understanding and engaging with negative experiences, to a focus that can be utilised in the development of positive identities.