Abstract
OBJECTIVES: This study explores food insecurity among lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and other sexual and gender minority (LGBTQ +) individuals in Nova Scotia, Canada. METHODS: Using a descriptive qualitative research design, guided by queer theory, LGBTQ + participants with lived experience of food insecurity were recruited from across Nova Scotia. Data were generated through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis, drawing on the queer theoretical lens, alongside concepts from minority stress theory, queer activism, and food justice. RESULTS: Eleven participants, representing a range of sexual orientations and gender identities, described food insecurity as shaped by factors such as non-standard work schedules, limited transportation, stigma, and gaps in healthcare and gender-affirming care. Three themes are reported: (1) Structural Barriers and Institutional Failures, (2) Healthcare Barriers and Food Insecurity, and (3) Structural Economic Exclusion and Food Insecurity. CONCLUSION: This study highlights how food insecurity among LGBTQ + individuals is shaped by intersecting structural inequities. It calls for inclusive, equity-focused food systems and policy reforms that reflect LGBTQ + lived realities.