ABSTRACT
This chapter will discuss the pandemic's unique impact on the following subsectors of the LGBTQIA community: (a) LGBTQ youth who are considered a vulnerable sector due to increased likelihood of social isolation, bullying, and at-risk behaviors, (b) LGBTQIA+ older adults (age 50+), who are considered a vulnerable sector due to increased likelihood of social isolation and increased vulnerability to health-care discrimination, (c) transgender individuals, who are considered a vulnerable sector due to intensified structural and social discrimination, violence, and the effects of dehumanization rooted in transphobia, and (d) community members living with HIV, who are considered a vulnerable sector due to increased health-care needs, stigma, and increased need for specialized dietary/wellness considerations. Each of these vulnerable subsectors of the LGBTQIA community has endured intensified impacts specific to their vulnerabilities. This chapter will contribute a specialized perspective of the pandemic's impact and lift the veil to offer present-day examples straight from impacted community members.
