Abstract Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ) identified youth are overrepresented in the Los Angeles County foster care system, and the majority are also youth of color. Many experience extreme discrimination, violence, and oppression related to their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression before, during, and after foster care. There is limited research regarding LGBTQ-identified youth who have aged out of the foster care system. Theoretically informed by intersectionality, queer, and feminist theories, the purpose of this community-based research study was to merge narrative approaches with photovoice methodology to better understand the aging-out experiences of 18 diverse LGBTQ youth in foster care. In-depth qualitative interviews with former foster youth between the ages of 18 and 26 provided participants with the opportunity to narrate their histories and pathways into the foster care system. Photovoice methodology invited youth to visually represent their experiences before, during, and after foster care. This article presents the findings from the photovoice portion of the project. An individual and cross-case photovoice analysis of all participants’ photos revealed the following prevalent themes: (1) experiences of foster placement history and transitioning out of care; (2) LGBTQ identity and coming out: moving from shame and stigma to empowerment and pride; (3) overcoming barriers in life related to mental health and substance abuse; and (4) the value of education as a source of resilience. This article concludes with recommendations for practice, policy, and research with LGBTQ former foster youth, informed by the narratives and visual voices of the research participants themselves.

中文翻译：

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使用 Photovoice 方法来阐明 LGBTQ 前寄养青年的经历

摘要 洛杉矶县寄养系统中被认定为女同性恋、男同性恋、双性恋、跨性别或酷儿 (LGBTQ) 的青年人数过多，而且大多数也是有色人种青年。许多人在寄养之前、期间和之后都经历过与其性取向或性别认同/表达相关的极端歧视、暴力和压迫。关于已脱离寄养系统的 LGBTQ 认定青年的研究有限。理论上，受交叉性、酷儿和女权主义理论的启发，这项基于社区的研究的目的是将叙事方法与 photovoice 方法相结合，以更好地了解 18 名不同 LGBTQ 青年在寄养中的老化经历。对 18 至 26 岁的前寄养青年进行的深入定性访谈为参与者提供了讲述他们进入寄养系统的历史和途径的机会。Photovoice 方法邀请年轻人在寄养之前、期间和之后直观地表现他们的经历。本文介绍了该项目 photovoice 部分的发现。对所有参与者照片的个人和跨案例语音分析揭示了以下普遍主题：（1）寄养历史和脱离照料的经历；(2) LGBTQ 身份与出柜：从羞耻和污名走向赋权和自豪；(3) 克服与心理健康和药物滥用有关的生活障碍；(4) 教育作为复原力来源的价值。