The Spatial Impacts of COVID-19 Restrictions on LGBTIQ Wellbeing, Visibility, and Belonging in Tasmania, Australia.

Grant, Ruby; Gorman-Murray, Andrew; Briohny Walker, Briohny

International emergency management and disaster risk reduction policies and planning have rarely included lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people's specific health and wellbeing concerns, despite increasing research showing that these groups face some specific vulnerabilities and additional challenges. Emerging studies in the US and UK noted increased feelings of loneliness, minority stress, and vulnerability to family violence since the outbreak of COVID-19. However, little is known about LGBTIQ people's experiences of COVID-19 in Australia. This article explores the effects of COVID-19 on LGBTIQ mental health and wellbeing in Tasmania, Australia. Drawing on a survey of 231 LGBTIQ respondents aged 14-78, we use the spaces of wellbeing framework to examine the impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on LGBTIQ (in)visibility in relation to the public, private, and online spaces, arguing that COVID-19 restrictions affected LGBTIQ Tasmanians' experiences and use of spaces in ways that detracted from wellbeing, visibility, and belonging.