At the Intersection of Homophobia and Racism: Sociocultural Context and the Sexual Health of South Asian Canadian Gay and Bisexual Men

South Asian gay and bisexual men (GBM) in Canada are at risk for experiencing intersectional structural oppressions related to homophobia and racism as well as for the acquisition of sexually transmitted infections including HIV. Our objective was to examine intersectional stigma among South Asian GBM and its effects on their mental and sexual health. We recruited 39 South Asian GBM in the Greater Toronto Area and interviewed them via focus groups (n = 37) or one-on-one interviews (n = 2). The facilitators used a semistructured interview protocol covering topics about the sexual health of participants, including how their home backgrounds and experiences of being South Asian GBM in predominantly white gay spaces affected their sexual health, and how these experiences shaped their attitudes about sexual health services. Data were analyzed to understand how intersectional stigma affected perceived choices and health among South Asian GBM. Participants reported significant concerns about the effects of intersectional oppressions as South Asian GBM, including distress about the potential social harms arising to one's family for having a gay or bisexual son. Men also described feeling excluded by the white-dominated gay community. Intersectional stigma led to experiences of loneliness and social isolation among some South Asian GBM, and limited social power in sexual relationships. Findings suggest that South Asian GBM preferred programs that focused on reducing social isolation and loneliness, as opposed to traditional safer sex programming focusing on HIV risk education.