How Queer BIPOC Can Build Resilience in a Post-Pandemic NYC
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated many challenges faced by queer BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) individuals in New York City, intensifying the already-existing systemic issues of marginalization, discrimination, and economic inequity. Queer BIPOC individuals have been disproportionately affected by unemployment, housing instability, and limited access to healthcare during the pandemic. A report by the Human Rights Campaign in 2020 found that LGBTQIA+ people of color were more likely to lose jobs, face wage reductions, and struggle with food insecurity compared to their white counterparts. This reality has led to heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression within the queer BIPOC community.
Depression in these communities often goes beyond temporary sadness, manifesting as a persistent sense of hopelessness or emptiness. This emotional weight can be compounded by the intersecting experiences of racial, sexual, and gender-based discrimination, leading to feelings of isolation or a lack of community support. Without culturally competent mental health care, these emotions can deepen, becoming more difficult to manage. For queer BIPOC individuals in NYC, where gentrification, economic disparities, and systemic oppression are daily realities, depression can feel insurmountable.
However, it’s important to recognize that these emotions are not something you need to face alone. Therapy, especially with a provider who understands the unique experiences of queer BIPOC individuals, can help you process these feelings, address their root causes, and develop coping strategies to regain control of your mental health.
1. Prioritize Accessible Mental Health Support
The pandemic intensified mental health struggles for queer BIPOC individuals, making it vital to seek culturally competent therapy. It’s essential to find mental health professionals who understand the intersectionality of race, gender, and sexuality. In NYC, many organizations cater specifically to the mental health needs of queer BIPOC individuals, such as:
NYC Affirmative Psychotherapy: Specializes serving LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC clients with affirming, inclusive therapy services.
Callen-Lorde Community Health Center: Offers comprehensive mental health care for queer communities, with a focus on LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC individuals.
Investing in professional mental health care ensures a safe space to address trauma, manage anxiety, and develop coping strategies to build long-term resilience.
2. Build Strong Community Networks
Resilience is often built through community. Queer BIPOC individuals, who may feel isolated or underrepresented in traditional spaces, can find strength by connecting with others who share similar lived experiences. NYC has a rich network of organizations that cater specifically to queer BIPOC communities, fostering both activism and emotional support.
Some of the most impactful organizations include:
The Audre Lorde Project: A community organizing center for LGBTQIA+ people of color, providing a space for activism, healing, and solidarity.
GAPIMNY (Gay Asian Pacific Islander Men of New York): Offers a supportive environment for queer API individuals, including social events, advocacy efforts, and community care.
Engaging with these groups helps reduce feelings of isolation while empowering queer BIPOC individuals to build emotional strength through collective support.
3. Practice Self-Care and Emotional Wellness
Emotional wellness is critical for queer BIPOC individuals facing pandemic-related challenges and systemic inequities.
Creating a consistent self-care routine can provide stability during uncertain times. Simple practices such as mindfulness, meditation, exercise, and journaling can improve emotional regulation and reduce stress.
NYC also offers numerous wellness spaces focused on mental and physical health for marginalized communities:
Harlem Wellness Center: Provides holistic wellness programs for BIPOC individuals, including yoga, meditation, and fitness.
The Shine App: is a wellness app co-founded by two women of color, offering daily self-care rituals, guided meditations, and mindfulness practices designed for people from marginalized communities. The app includes resources on stress management, self-compassion, and community support, making it a great option for queer BIPOC individuals seeking mental and emotional support.
Self-care doesn’t have to be an individual pursuit. Joining wellness communities and participating in group activities can foster a sense of belonging and contribute to emotional resilience.
4. Engage in Activism as a Form of Healing
For many queer BIPOC individuals, activism is a powerful tool for emotional healing and resilience. Engaging in movements that challenge systemic oppression can provide a sense of purpose and empowerment. Activism allows individuals to reclaim their narrative, advocate for justice, and foster community healing.
In post-pandemic NYC, queer BIPOC individuals can engage with activism through several important organizations:
Black Lives Matter NYC: Focuses on dismantling systemic racism while amplifying the voices of Black queer and trans individuals.
The Okra Project: Provides meals and support to Black trans individuals, addressing immediate needs and creating long-term support networks.
Activism allows queer BIPOC individuals to contribute to collective change, which can be empowering and provide emotional strength in the face of adversity.
5. Enhance Financial Resilience
Financial resilience is another key aspect of emotional well-being, particularly for queer BIPOC communities, who may face heightened economic instability in a post-pandemic world. Strengthening financial literacy, seeking mentorship, and accessing resources can provide economic stability and reduce financial stress.
NYC offers several initiatives focused on empowering queer BIPOC individuals economically:
Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF): The Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) provides advocacy and legal services aimed at improving the lives of transgender people, including support for economic empowerment through legal assistance. TLDEF offers pro bono services related to employment discrimination, name changes, and healthcare access, helping transgender individuals navigate the legal hurdles that often impact their economic well-being.
In addition to legal support, TLDEF works to protect the rights of transgender individuals in the workplace, providing educational resources and outreach to create inclusive environments that empower the trans community economically and socially.
Start Small Think Big: Provides free business and legal services to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC entrepreneurs, helping individuals achieve financial independence.
Focusing on financial resilience can alleviate long-term stress and provide queer BIPOC individuals with the security they need to thrive.
6. Reconnect with Nature for Emotional Healing
Spending time in nature is proven to improve mental health and emotional resilience. In NYC, parks and outdoor spaces offer an escape from the fast-paced city life, providing a space for queer BIPOC individuals to relax, reflect, and rejuvenate.
NYC’s outdoor initiatives offer wellness programs that cater to BIPOC and queer communities:
Hike Clerb: Hike Clerb is an intersectional women’s and non-binary people’s outdoor club that centers Black, Indigenous, and women of color. While based in Los Angeles, Hike Clerb hosts hikes and outdoor wellness events across various locations, including NYC, promoting wellness, mindfulness, and community building for BIPOC individuals. This inclusive space allows queer BIPOC individuals to connect with nature, de-stress, and foster meaningful relationships with others who share similar experiences.
NYC Parks Department: Offers free fitness and wellness activities in parks, including yoga and meditation sessions.
Engaging in nature-based activities can help reduce stress and promote mental clarity, supporting emotional resilience.
To Build Resilience is to Address Both Personal & Systemic Challenges
For queer BIPOC individuals in NYC, building resilience means addressing both personal and systemic challenges. Whether through mental health care, community involvement, activism, or self-care, queer BIPOC individuals can cultivate emotional strength and create lasting change for themselves and their communities. As NYC continues to recover from the pandemic, fostering resilience will not only help individuals thrive but also contribute to a more just and supportive society for queer BIPOC communities.