Summary of implications for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers

Drawing from the findings on sexual minority and gender diverse (SMGD) concerns and relationships across the 12 countries included in this volume, this chapter provides a summary of the implications for researchers, clinicians, and policymakers. Although the countries are diverse with respect to SMGD-related rights and protections, a review of their results suggests that research focused on the impact of distal minority stressors and structural stigma on the well-being of SGD people is needed. Also, SMGD people continue to experience minority stressors and relationship challenges related to structural stigma and are in need of clinical interventions that are culturally responsive and take into account structural stigma, particularly for the most vulnerable subgroups within SMGD populations (i.e., bisexual, transgender, and gender diverse identified people). Finally, chapter findings have implications for influencing policy, including focusing prevention efforts directly on family and relationship concerns, developing initiatives to reduce minority stress, and strategizing mechanisms to advance SMGD people's human rights and access to SMGD-affirmative quality care and treatment.