Abstract
Youth participation literature is yet to fully explore how high-school aged sexually and gender diverse (SGD) youth engage in the political sphere. The literature has only just begun to explore the intersection of youth and SGD identity in relation to political participation. This chapter furthers the existing research by sharing the findings of a modest study conducted with high-school-aged SGD youth in the Wellington region of Aotearoa New Zealand about how they engage in political life in its various forms. The data showed most participants did not view their SGD identity as political. Most respondents felt as though they have greater political efficacy and ability to make a change as SGD people than they do as young citizens under the voting age. Furthermore, analyses revealed the extent youth feel they belong to the SGD community positively affects the extent they are involved in the SGD community. This research challenges normative assumptions of political participation, and thus broadens understandings of how minority groups perform their citizenship, and engage in politics. It provides valuable insight into the civic and political lives of SGD youth.