Sexuality, gender, and the transformative potential of ayahuasca: a naturalistic inquiry

Psychedelic research has re-emerged as a prominent area of interest in contemporary mental health care. However, little is known about how LGBTQ+ individuals perceive, interpret, and make meaning of psychedelic experiences within naturalistic ceremonial settings. In a naturalistic inquiry of 19 people, all of whom identified as a sexual and/or gender minority, we engaged in a reflexive thematic analysis of interviews conducted following participation in a two-day ayahuasca ritual. Six themes were discovered among participants’ narratives:(1) ayahuasca affirms prior self-knowledge, personal growth, and agency;(2) ayahuasca presents a challenging but ultimately positive experience;(3) ayahuasca facilitates the sense of community connection;(4) ayahuasca promotes acceptance of gender imaginaries, particularly strengthening connections to femininity;(5) ayahuasca provides the context for psychological liberation by facilitating thought expansion, self-acceptance, authenticity, and shedding of normative thinking; and (6) ayahuasca provides the opportunity for narrative re-processing to promote positive identity development and intention-setting for the future self. Results are discussed in relation to the potential of psychedelics to promote positive psychological development among individuals minoritized due to their sexual and/or gender identities. Together, these findings highlight the importance of queer-affirming set and setting in shaping psychedelic healing.