Joy Is a Radical Act: Thematic Insights on LGBTQ+ Identity Concealment, Political Fear, and Psychological Resilience in a Hostile Sociopolitical Climate

Virtual · October 2025

Poster · Social Psychology

Ramnik Dhingra
The New School for Social Research

Abstract

This study analyzed open-ended responses from 60 LGBTQ+ adults using thematic coding in Dedoose. Findings highlight identity concealment, fear-driven self-protection, and affective resilience as core themes in navigating political hostility. Participants described re-closeting, healthcare avoidance, and joy as resistance, revealing complex emotional strategies shaped by anti-LGBTQ+ sociopolitical climates.

LGBTQ+

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Joy Is a Radical Act: Thematic Insights on LGBTQ+ Identity Concealment, Political Fear, and Psychological Resilience in a Hostile Sociopolitical Climate

Abstract

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