Using Arts-Based Engagement Ethnography to Explore Identity, Belonging, and Violence of Lgbtqia+ Migrant Youth

Background and Purpose

Youth are the fastest‑growing group of migrants in Canada, and migration or forced migration during adolescence introduces distinct social, developmental, and structural challenges. At the same time, LGBTQIA+ youth experience disproportionately high rates of gender‑based violence (GBV) across school, family, and community settings. These risks are compounded for migrant youth, yet the experiences of migrant LGBTQIA+ youth remain largely absent from research, policy, and settlement programming. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the lives of migrant LGBTQIA+ youth, with particular attention to their intersecting identities, experiences of GBV, and pathways to belonging. The research was guided by the following questions: (1) How do migrant LGBTQIA+ youth describe their immigration journeys, identity development, and experiences of safety? (2) How do they encounter, interpret, and respond to GBV? (3) How do they foster resilience, community, and joy?

Methods

The study employed an Arts‑Based Engagement Ethnography (ABEE) design, integrating creative, visual, and participatory methods to support culturally responsive research with marginalized youth. Forty migrant LGBTQIA+ youth (aged 14–24) participated, recruited through community organizations, settlement agencies, and peer networks using purposive and snowball sampling. Participants were provided with various art supplies and guided prompts to encourage reflection. Following the creation of artwork, participants participated in a one-on-one interview and two focus groups. Interviews captured participants’ experiences of identity formation, social integration, safety, and GBV. The data analysis proceeded in three phases. In the pre‑analysis phase, researchers reviewed all artwork and generated preliminary codes that informed subsequent individual interviews. Moving to the second stage, individual analysis involved de‑identifying all data, identifying emergent ideas, coding patterned regularities using NVivo, and summarizing findings. Additionally, group analysis followed the same steps for focus group transcripts and additionally examined interactional dynamics. Finally, integration involved comparing findings across participants and across all data sources (artwork, individual interviews, and focus group sessions) before finalizing the overarching themes.

Results

Participants’ artwork first surfaced early expressions of identity negotiation, belonging, and safety, which were then elaborated through interviews and focus group discussions. Across data sources, youth described navigating family expectations, public spaces, and broader sociopolitical climates, often encountering GBV intersecting with racism, homophobia, and transphobia. These layered accounts revealed both heightened vulnerability and strong expressions of resilience, creativity, and community-building.

Conclusions and Implications

The study highlights the urgent need for community spaces that affirm the intersecting identities of migrant LGBTQIA+ youth and address their heightened exposure to GBV. Arts‑based, community‑centered approaches such as ABEE can promote community-building and social connectedness by offering youth opportunities for self‑expression and connection. Findings underscore the importance of integrating intersectional, culturally responsive approaches into settlement services, education systems, and youth programming. Policy and practice should prioritize inclusive supports that recognize the compounded vulnerabilities faced by migrant LGBTQIA+ youth while amplifying their strengths and lived expertise. Further research is needed to expand evidence‑based models that foster inclusion and well‑being for this underrepresented population.