COMMUNITY CASE STUDY article
Front. Sociol.
Sec. Gender, Sex and Sexualities
Volume 10 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fsoc.2025.1438408
This article is part of the Research TopicUn/belonging Identities: Relating Narratives of Queer TraumaView all 13 articles
Immigration, Language Education, & Trauma: Exploring the Intersectionality of Gay Dominican Immigrant Experiences
Provisionally accepted
- St. John's University, Queens, United States
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This article explores the intersectionality of immigration, language education, and trauma among gay Dominican immigrant men living in New York City. Utilizing a qualitative case study approach, the research examines the lived experiences of four individuals, highlighting the compounded adversities they face due to their intersecting identities as LGBTQ+, men of color, and immigrants. The case studies reveal significant trauma and mental health struggles stemming from pre-migration violence, in-transit dangers, and post-migration discrimination. Additionally, the study addresses the critical role of language proficiency in their integration and the importance of tailored support systems, including community networks and legal protections.The findings underscore the severe impact of discrimination based on sexual orientation, race, and immigration status on the mental health and social integration of gay Dominican immigrant men. Despite these challenges, the participants demonstrate remarkable resilience and hope for the future, striving for better employment opportunities, educational advancement, and community belonging. This article provides insights into the specific needs of LGBTQ+ immigrants and offers recommendations for improving support systems, policies, and educational practices to better serve this vulnerable population.
Keywords: Intersectionality, LGBTQ+ immigrants, Dominican immigrants, Trauma, Language education, resilience, New York City
Received: 25 May 2024; Accepted: 23 Jul 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Gonzalez. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Jordan Gonzalez, St. John's University, Queens, United States
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