LGBTQ+ Community Voices Series Presents: LGBTQ+ in Quarantine: Aaron Wiegand

Description

LGBTQ Life is proud to host its LGBTQ+ Community Voices Series, designed to highlight under-examined parts of the LGBTQ community with the hope that these topics allow attendees to examine intersections of identities, develop skills as allies, and have a forum to share perspectives. Presenters are members of the Johns Hopkins communities who will share their stories, lead discussions, and help educate our community.

How has the pandemic affected queer and trans individuals? What can their responses teach us about overcoming crisis? Last semester, Aaron Wiegand and a classmate created a survey and received responses from about 50, mostly young, LGBTQ+ individuals in quarantine who told us about their experiences with navigating their queer and trans identities, accessing healthcare, and searching for the community while quarantining with family and friends. We felt that it was important to document and archive their experiences because queer and trans individuals are often marginalized and left out of history. We learned, unsurprisingly, that many individuals struggled with quarantining and returning home to their families, particularly if they were closeted. These individuals' stories teach us about the unique challenges that queer and trans people have faced due to the pandemic.