337866
HIS Stories
health, particularly as it relates to their increased risk of HIV/AIDS. Young, Gay and Transgender
Individuals of Color (YLGBTC) encounter structural, emotional, and physical isolation, that
hinders their ability to maintain good health and social well-being. Contrary to the dominant
discourse about the high rates of HIV/AIDS among YLGBTC, emerging methodologies, such as
digital storytelling, offer a new lens to examine their nuanced experiences of resiliency and
engagment in reducing their exposure to HIV/AIDS.
Objective: To examine risk and resilience in the lives of YLGBTC who participated in a digital
storytelling project exploring how social inequality and relationships affect their health outcomes
as it relates to HIV/AIDS.
Methods: Young, Gay and Transgender Individuals of color aged XX-XX participated in a
day digital storytelling workshop. Each participant created, edited, and finalized his own digital
story. Youth provided assent or consent and parents provided permission for minors. Using
Minority Stress Theory (MST), narrative analysis was conducted by three independent coders to
identify salient themes across three digital stories.
Results: Consistent with MST, stories elucidated several salient themes in life course resilience,
including: sexual identity development; coming out; discovering and finding love; and physical,
emotional, and sexual vulnerability; family and community acceptance. Awareness about the risk
of HIV/AIDS was ever present. Sources of resilience were identified in young LGBT’s romantic,
family, and community relationships, as well as their ability to internally cope with and overcome
their risks of HIV/AIDS.
Discussion: Digital stories offer a nuanced look into the lived experiences of YLGBTC. Their
stories revealed common themes across identity development, awareness of HIV/AIDS, as well
as finding hope and comfort. Their stories also highlighted personal and community resilience
factors that were harness to overcoming the risks of HIV/AIDS. Storytelling offers a new approach
in in the field of Public Health to explore the use of digital stories to discuss minority stress factors
at a deeper level, and define supportive relationships that harnessed resilence among YLGBTC
that offset their risk of HIV/AIDS.
Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health educationDiversity and culture
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Analyze risk and resilience in the lives of YLGBTC who participated in a storytelling project exploring how social inequality and relationships affect their health outcomes as it relates to HIV/AIDS.
Keyword(s): Administer health education strategies, interventions and progra, Assessment of individual and community needs for health educatio
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: As a media artist and facilitator of the Storyographers method, I provided oversight for the project as well as serving as lead producer and post-production editor.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.