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.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	Australia, COVID-19, LGBTIQ, mental health, wellbeing
Research Division:	Human Society
Research Group:	Gender studies
Research Field:	Sexualities
Objective Division:	Law, Politics and Community Services
Objective Group:	Community services
Objective Field:	Gender and sexualities
UTAS Author:	Grant, R (Dr Ruby Grant)
UTAS Author:	Walker, BB (Ms Briohny Walker)
ID Code:	146753
Year Published:	2021
Web of Science® Times Cited:	17
Deposited By:	Sociology and Criminology
Deposited On:	2021-09-24
Last Modified:	2021-10-28
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