Embracing minority joy: Positive experiences of trans and nonbinary identities

Past research on trans and nonbinary (TNB) people has primarily addressed minority stress and discrimination. Recently, researchers began to examine the positive dimensions of TNB identities, conceptualizing the construct of "minority joy". The present study aimed to contribute to the theoretical development of this construct by analyzing the experiences of Italian TNB individuals. Data were drawn from two studies exploring the well-being of 12 trans men, 8 trans women and 8 nonbinary individuals (age range = 19-54; mean = 27.5) using semi-structured interviews. Using a codebook thematic analysis, we identified four domains of positive experiences associated with TNB identities: (1) Gender Euphoria from authenticity to recognition; (2) Feeling pride and playing with gender norms; (3) Critical awareness as a form of liberation from norms; (4) Queer Community as a source of individual and collective support. These findings emphasize the role of interventions and prevention strategies promoting gender identity pride, authenticity, and self-affirmation.