Resilience in motion: place, social support, and identity development in trans and non-binary youth

Environments shape trans and non-binary (TNB) expression and identity development, yet this is under-researched beyond specific settings such as healthcare or sport. TNB identities are becoming more frequently expressed, yet not necessarily fully supported. This study uses minority stress theory and queer geography to explore how geographical and social environments, including urban spaces like Newcastle upon Tyne, influence TNB identity development, examining both supportive and tension-filled aspects of place in relation to participants’ previous environments. We conducted semi-structured interviews with nine TNB people and these were interpreted via Reflexive Thematic Analysis. We identified three themes from the dataset: Firstly, participants challenge gender-normative expectations learned in youth and place of origin from their later context of Newcastle, variously vitalizing or problematizing relations with prior places and people. Secondly, they experience possibilities for TNB expression and development via Newcastle’s visibly queer and liberal environment. Finally, they subsequently build minority resilience via this newfound autonomy, finding like-minded TNB and ally peers. Our findings highlight greater minority stress for TNB people in places perceived as gender-normative and the development of minority resilience via a supportive environment (social and physical).