Intersecting Identities, Intersecting Issues: Exploring the Needs of LGBTQ+ Communities in Wisconsin
To identify the most critical needs facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus (LGBTQ+) communities in Wisconsin postmarriage equality, this case study utilizes intersectionality as a theoretical framework for conducting a needs assessment through collaborative engagement with social service agency leaders, a community foundation, and a university research center. Adopting intersectionality as a framework allows for a more nuanced understanding of the various communities (racial, class, sexual orientation, gender, etc.) comprising the LGBTQ+ population and, just as critically, generates important qualitative data about the ways in which key social determinants, such as poverty, discrimination, and violence, impact certain communities in more substantive ways.