ABSTRACT
Scant research examines the barriers Black queer youth face in accessing postsecondary education, and how these barriers are both similar to and different from Black youth who identify as heterosexual and/or cisgender. Additionally, much of the literature on Black youth who are sex and gender minorities, and who may identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual or pansexual (LGBTQIAP) focuses on the experiences of cisgender young Black men who identify as gay, bisexual, and, in some cases, same-gender loving. In this chapter the authors report the findings of interviews and focus groups with a less well-known population of Black queer youth: Black queer and trans young women (BQTYW). The purpose of the study was to explore BQTYW who are newcomers to Canada and their life experiences “back home” in their countries of origins as well as their experiences since migrating and attending Canadian elementary and/or secondary schools.
The goal was to learn more about non-financial barriers that affect postsecondary education (PSE) access for these newcomer women. Thematic analysis of interview and focus group transcripts revealed familiar barriers related to anti-Black racism and credentialism. However, the narratives also provided new insights on the ways violence related to the intersections of race, class, gender, sexual orientation and migration have affected BQTYW’s access to postsecondary education. We conclude our chapter by considering ways in which individuals, schools and community organizations can support BQTYW who want to access postsecondary education as part of their plans for lifelong learning.
