Out of One, Many: Challenging the Myth of Monolithic Black LGB Adult Mental Health

Prior research has shown mental health and wellbeing disparities among plurisexual (bisexual+ or pansexual) and monosexual sexual minorities (lesbian or gay). These disparities, however, are understudied with Black LGB samples. The current study problematizes the notion of a monolithic Black LGB community by exploring the differences in self-esteem, stress, psychological well-being, and intersectional minority stress between 106 Black plurisexual and monosexual sexual minority adults. Differences were assessed with nonparametric analyses using SPSSv31. Black plurisexual adults reported higher levels of general stress and lower psychological well-being than Black monosexual sexual minority adults. Black plurisexual adults also reported experiencing more distressing interactions from within racial-ethnic minority communities rather than from within LGB communities. These findings challenge assumptions of monolithic Black sexual minority experiences and suggest that Black plurisexual adults face an additional form of minority stress, namely racialized monosexism, which may weaken access to protective community resources and support.