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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2025 Aug 26.
Published before final editing as: Psychol Sex Orientat Gend Divers. 2024 Apr 22:10.1037/sgd0000733. doi: 10.1037/sgd0000733

Table 2.

Positive experience percentages by gender and race and ethnicity.

Total
(n = 888 entries)
(%)
Cisgender
(n = 568 entries)
(%)
Transgender & Nonbinary
(n = 320 entries)
(%)
White
(n = 573 entries)
(%)
Racial and Ethnic Minorities
(n = 315 entries)
(%)
Theme Subtheme
Social Support Family Support Time Spent 1.58 1.23 2.19 0.87 2.86
Conversations 1.58 1.41 1.88 1.57 1.59
Gender Affirming Language 0.68 0.00 1.88 0.52 0.95
Engagement with LGBTQ+ Community and Media 1.35 1.23 1.56 1.57 0.95
Encouraging Openness and Expression 0.79 0.35 1.56 1.22 0.00
General or Unspecified Support 1.13 0.88 1.56 1.40 0.63
Support from Heterosexual / Cisgender and Unspecified Friends and Peers Time Spent 4.28 5.63 1.88 3.14 6.35
Conversations 4.95 5.28 4.38 4.71 5.40
Gender Affirming Language 0.45 0.18 0.94 0.17 0.95
Engagement with LGBTQ+ Community and Media 1.24 1.41 0.94 1.05 1.59
General or Unspecified Support 4.28 4.58 3.75 4.01 4.76
LGBTQ+ Peer Social Support Identity Affirmation 1.24 1.58 0.63 1.57 0.63
Time Spent 6.19 6.51 5.63 5.24 7.94
Discovery of LGBTQ+ Peers 2.70 2.82 2.50 1.75 4.44
Belonging among LGBTQ+ Peers 5.52 5.99 4.69 6.63 3.49
Supporting/Affirming LGBTQ+ Peers 1.58 1.58 1.56 1.57 1.59
Vicarious Peer Affirmation 1.80 1.41 2.50 1.75 1.90
Support from Romantic and Sexual Relationships Identity Affirmation 0.79 0.70 0.94 0.87 0.63
Time Spent 6.19 7.04 4.69 6.63 5.40
General Support 0.68 0.88 0.31 1.05 0.00
Support from Others and Unspecified Individuals Conversations 1.24 1.23 1.25 0.87 1.90
Identity Affirmation 1.01 0.53 1.88 0.87 1.27
Gender Affirming Language 1.13 0.35 2.50 1.22 0.95
General Support 4.39 5.46 2.50 3.66 5.71
Romantic and Sexual Relationships Interest 5.63 6.16 4.69 6.11 4.76
Physical Intimacy 1.35 1.58 0.94 1.92 0.32
Positive Connection to the LGBTQ+ Community Representation Positive Media Representation 13.96 14.79 12.50 15.88 10.48
Flags or Symbols 7.88 8.45 6.88 9.08 5.71
Curriculum and Teaching 1.69 1.76 1.56 2.09 0.95
LGBTQ+ Community Groups and Events. Community Pride Events 7.88 8.63 6.56 7.33 8.89
Clubs or Other Groups 4.95 3.70 7.19 6.11 2.86
Other LGBTQ+ Events or Places 2.03 1.58 2.81 2.09 1.90
School Activities 1.80 2.29 0.94 2.27 0.95
Activism 1.13 0.70 1.88 1.40 0.63
Exploring and Disclosing Identity Identity Affirmation Self-Acceptance and Pride 11.60 11.27 12.19 12.57 9.84
Sexual Orientation Identity Expression 1.80 1.94 1.56 2.44 0.63
Outness 6.98 7.04 6.88 7.50 6.03
Gender Expression and Affirmation Gender Expression and Presentation Happiness with Gender Expression & Presentation 3.83 0.70 9.38 5.58 0.63
Reactions to Gender Expression & Presentation 2.03 1.06 3.75 2.62 0.95
Binding 1.13 0.00 3.13 1.75 0.00
Gender Affirmation Gender Affirming Healthcare 1.80 0.00 5.00 1.57 2.22
Access to Affirming Bathrooms 1.46 0.35 3.44 1.57 1.27

Note. Frequencies are expressed in percentage form and represent the percentage of joyful and positive identity-related experience entries that involve the given subtheme for that demographic category. Participants who identified as a racial minority or designated their ethnicity as Hispanic/Latino(a)/x/e were categorized as racial and ethnic minorities.