Can Rage, Humour and Joy Help LGBTQ+ Young People Fight Back? New Canadian Study Explores Resistance

Anger is not always destructive, laughter can challenge political authority, and happiness can become a form of resistance. A new Canadian study has explored how LGBTQ+ young people use these emotions to respond to government policies affecting their lives, with researchers identifying creativity and community as important ways of challenging discrimination.

Published on 5 November 2026 in the academic journal Cultural Sociology, the research examines how queer and transgender young people in Alberta are responding to legislation affecting gender identity, healthcare, education and sport. Rather than concentrating solely on the negative effects of discrimination, the researchers wanted to understand how young people use art, humour and shared experiences to express themselves and imagine more positive futures.

The study, written by JJ Wright of MacEwan University and Gillian Robinson of the University of Alberta, suggests that rage, humour and joy can serve different but connected purposes. Each offers a way for young people to challenge political narratives, express their experiences and strengthen relationships within LGBTQ+ communities.

How was the LGBTQ+ research carried out?

The research forms part of Wright's wider Queer Joy! Project, which has involved more than 300 LGBTQ+ young people aged between 15 and 35 across Canada, most of them in Alberta. The newly published study focuses on visual arts workshops held across the province rather than analysing all 300 participants.

Young people created collages and short films exploring barriers to LGBTQ+ happiness and imagining a future where queer and transgender communities could thrive. Researchers analysed the artwork and accompanying discussions, identifying anger, humour and joy as important ways participants made sense of their experiences.

Why are LGBTQ+ young people in Alberta concerned?

The workshops took place against a backdrop of controversial legislation introduced by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government. The measures include restrictions on certain gender-affirming medical treatments for under-16s, parental notification and consent requirements concerning names and pronouns in schools, restrictions on transgender participation in female sport and parental opt-in requirements for lessons addressing sexuality and gender identity.

In December 2025, Alberta's government invoked Canada's notwithstanding clause to protect several of these measures from specified rights-based legal challenges. The government argues that its policies protect children's health, parental involvement and fairness in sport, while LGBTQ+ organisations have raised concerns about their impact on transgender young people.

For some participants, these political debates affected everyday experiences at school, work and in social settings. Several described feeling pressure to conceal aspects of their identities or adjust their behaviour depending on whether they expected acceptance from others.

Why did researchers identify rage as resistance?

Anger emerged as a significant response among participants who felt political decisions were restricting their ability to express themselves. Some described living in two different worlds, feeling comfortable discussing their identities in supportive environments while hiding aspects of themselves elsewhere.

Non-binary participants spoke about the pressure to limit their self-expression to gain acceptance. Researchers found that expressing anger allowed young people to direct responsibility towards the political decisions and social expectations they believed were creating these difficulties, rather than blaming themselves.

The authors argue that rage became a form of resistance because participants were rejecting the idea that their identities were problems requiring political intervention. Their anger also created opportunities to recognise shared experiences and discuss concerns openly with others.

How did humour help challenge political messages?

Humour offered another way of responding to political hostility, with participants using satire and jokes to question arguments about LGBTQ+ identities. One short film parodied a prescription medicine advertisement, presenting queer joy as a treatment and prompting laughter among those watching.

Another artwork used the slang expression 'mid', meaning mediocre or disappointing, in a joke aimed at Alberta's Premier. The researchers interpreted these examples as attempts to challenge political authority by highlighting what participants considered absurd or contradictory arguments.

The laughter did not suggest that young people regarded the legislation as harmless. Instead, humour allowed them to address serious concerns creatively while finding connection and relief through shared experiences.

Why was queer joy such an important finding?

While anger and humour emerged during the analysis, joy was central to the original research project. Participants described happiness through friendship, creativity and spending time in environments where they felt accepted without having to explain or defend their identities.

One participant, identified as Carrie, created a collage featuring an armoured dove, combining imagery of peace and protection. She explained: "I think it's joyful to stand together, and how we create something better."

Another participant described the workshop as somewhere they could simply exist without constantly managing how others might perceive them. Researchers interpreted these experiences as evidence that joy can help LGBTQ+ people maintain a positive sense of identity and build supportive communities during difficult circumstances.

Importantly, joy did not mean ignoring discrimination or pretending political difficulties did not exist. The authors found that anger, exhaustion and happiness could coexist, with creative activities offering opportunities to imagine a better future while acknowledging present challenges.

What does the study mean for LGBTQ+ communities?

The findings offer a different perspective from research concentrating primarily on discrimination, mental health difficulties and social exclusion. Wright and Robinson argue that examining creativity and positive experiences can reveal how LGBTQ+ communities actively respond to challenges rather than simply experiencing their consequences.

The study suggests that resistance does not always involve demonstrations, legal challenges or political campaigns. Shared laughter, artwork and supportive relationships can also help young people challenge negative narratives and maintain a sense of belonging.

However, the research is qualitative and cannot establish how widespread these experiences are among LGBTQ+ young people. Participants voluntarily attended creative workshops, and the authors acknowledge that questions about barriers to joy may have encouraged discussion of negative experiences.

The findings also cannot demonstrate that expressing anger or humour directly improves wellbeing or leads to political change. Instead, they provide insight into how some LGBTQ+ young people use creativity to understand their circumstances, support one another and imagine positive futures.

The researchers conclude that these experiences have value even when they do not produce immediate political results. Their work highlights how community, creativity and shared happiness can help young people sustain a sense of identity in an environment they experience as increasingly hostile.

For a UK perspective, SoapLandTV has also examined whether LGBTQ+ young people are receiving the support they need, following a conference exploring the challenges facing younger generations. Both discussions highlight the importance of environments where LGBTQ+ young people feel supported and able to express themselves.

About the research: The study by JJ Wright and Gillian Robinson was published in Cultural Sociology on 5 November 2026. Read the original research paper.