INTRODUCTION

LGBTI people in the Nordic countries who belong to multiple minority groups are in a particularly vulnerable position. These groups are exposed to several forms of discrimination and marginalisation based on, for example, racism, homophobia and ableism. Studies show that LGBTI people with disabilities or a foreign background are more likely than other LGBTI people to report exposure to bullying, violence, threats and hate crimes. A study shows that LGBTI people who belong to multiple minority groups also generally have poorer finances than other LGBTI people (Swedish Agency for Youth and Civil Society, 2022). 

Sometimes the term intersectional discrimination is used to capture how different types of oppression interact and affect conditions for a particular group or individual. LGBTI people who experience intersectional discrimination face structural barriers that affect conditions in different areas of society, such as the labour market and the housing market. 

Multiple stress or multiple minority stress refers to the effects of overlapping forms of discrimination of people belonging to multiple minority groups. Being a minority increases the risk of being exposed to various psychosocial stressors, such as having to deal with bullying, discrimination and violence. Such stressors can affect mental health. More quotidian, subtle negative events can also contribute to minority stress. These are called microaggressions and can include, for example, looks and comments that reflect a lack of understanding or prejudice.

A recurring theme in the studies on conditions for LGBTI people belonging to multiple minority groups is a constant sense of being different. There is a feeling of standing out even in groups to which you ‘belong’, which can give rise to feelings of not belonging anywhere. This is described, for example, in a Swedish study in which LGBTI people belonging to ethnic minorities talk about experiences of racism and exoticisation within the LGBTI sphere (Miller, 2022).

Exotification is the portrayal of a person or group as different, fascinating or mysterious in a way that serves to be oppressive and/or reinforce stereotypes.

In the same study, LGBTI people belonging to ethnic minorities describe experiences of being invisible within the LGBTI movement. The silence surrounding, for example, Sámi or Roma LGBTI people, or LGBTI people who are racialised, contributes to ignorance of the specific experiences and challenges of these groups. This silence can lead to challenges specific to these groups not being included in the political agenda, which can result in important reforms being overlooked. Increasing visibility is therefore important for empowering LGBTI people belonging to multiple minority groups and promoting change.

Racialisation is a process in which society makes assumptions about a person’s capacities, customs and morals, for example, on the basis of their skin colour or assumed ethnicity

(Non-Discrimination Ombudsman/​Yhdenvertaisuusvaltuutettu, 2025)

Studies in the Nordic countries also point to the need for social meeting places, highlighting the importance of access to empowering communities in which a person is not questioned on the basis of minority affiliations. Many LGBTI people who belong to several minority groups find it difficult to meet other people with similar experiences to their own, and it is also not certain that they will be represented in popular culture. The lack of role models and representation is repeatedly highlighted as a problem in Nordic studies and by organisations that bring together LGBTI people belonging to multiple minority groups.

One group that has been highlighted as particularly vulnerable in the Nordic Region is LGBTI asylum seekers. In many cases, these are people who have fled persecution in their countries of origin and are still dealing with trauma. At the same time, they are forced to live under uncertain conditions even here in the Nordic Region. Language barriers and asylum status can limit their options. There have also been reports of LGBTI people being subjected to harassment, violence and sexual violence in asylum centres (SOU, 2017). Transgender asylum seekers often face particular challenges, not least those requiring gender-affirming care. In Sweden, for example, asylum seekers are not able to receive an assessment for gender dysphoria. This means that they cannot access gender-affirming treatment unless they already have a diagnosis and have started hormone treatment. Asylum processes are often long, as are waiting times for gender-affirming treatment. This means that many asylum seekers requiring gender-affirming treatment are forced to wait many years and live with gender dysphoria and the potentially severe consequences in the meantime (Young Håkansson, 2024). Some enter the informal labour market, where they can face exploitation, to try and pay for their treatment themselves. 

Another group that is particularly vulnerable in a Nordic context is Sámi LGBTI people. Racism against the Sámi can take many different forms and is based on colonial notions of indigenous people being less developed. These images are also projected onto Sámi LGBTI people, who also face homophobia, biphobia and transphobia. The Swedish report Våld mot samiska kvinnor (Violence against Sámi women) from 2024 reported for the first time on exposure to violence among Sámi LGBTI people, with statistics showing that they experience significantly higher rates of exposure than the Sámi population overall (Brandén et al., 2024). The underlying causes of violence among Sámi LGBTI people and the identity of perpetrators is not clear from the study, and the researchers emphasise the need for more knowledge. At the same time, they write that their results are in line with other research that shows LGBTI people in general are more exposed to violence than other groups. 

In general, there is very little research on the living conditions of Sámi LGBTI persons. A Norwegian study interviewed Sámi LGBTI people who described challenges linked to invisibility, a lack of meeting places, the importance of religion in Sápmi, double minority stress and pressures to live up to certain expectations both as an LGBTI person and as a Sámi (Grønningsæter et al., 2009). Since the study was published, a Sámi LGBTI movement has begun to emerge through, for example, the ‘Queering Sápmi’ project, the recurring Sápmi Pride event and the growing Garmeres organisation. New figures from 2024 on Sámi LGBTI people’s exposure to violence can be seen as an expression of the fact that there is still much to be done to improve conditions for Sámi LGBTI people. 

The particular vulnerability of lgbti people who belong to multiple minority groups is also confirmed by studies from the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association (ILGA). They find, for example, that LGBTI people who belong to multiple minority groups are more likely than other LGBTI people to report discrimination in the labour market, housing and education. LGBTI persons who belong to multiple minority groups are also more likely to experience barriers to health care and discrimination in public spaces such as shops, restaurants and bars (ILGA, 2023). The report is based on data produced by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) in its second LGBTI survey from 2019, which was analysed by ILGA with regard to ethnicity, religion and migration experience, among other factors. Overall, the report shows that LGBTI people belonging to multiple minority groups are more likely than other LGBTI people to be at risk of violence, poor health and social and economic marginalisation. 

This is also confirmed by a report focusing on conditions for transgender people, produced by Transgender Europe (TGEU), which shows, among other things, that transgender people who are BIPOC (black, indigenous, people of colour) are disproportionately affected by poverty and economic insecurity and that exposure to violence is particularly high for non-white transgender people (Karsay, 2021).