Between binaries: life story interviewing with nonbinary plurisexual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia

Background and Aim Historically, the perspectives and lived experiences of First Nations people whose identities fall between traditional gender and sexual binaries have often been overlooked or homogenized in research centered on broader LGBTIQA+ communities. This article foregrounds the life stories of four Indigenous Australians whose experiences traverse and disrupt normative binaries of gender and sexuality, illuminating the complexity of identities at diverse intersections. This article explores how nonbinary and plurisexual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians interpret their developmental trajectories during adolescence and early adulthood, situating these understandings within the context of their intersecting identities.Methods Drawing on Atkinson, a Life Story Interviewing approach was employed and analyzed through Phillips and Bunda’s Storying framework, an approach grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of knowing, being, and doing. Interviews were conducted with four young Australian adults aged 18 to 30 years identifying as nonbinary and plurisexual (e.g. bisexual, pansexual, queer) and sought to understand how they explored their gender and sexual identities and experiences through narrative reflection.Results Throughout this piece, the stories of four participants are interwoven, highlighting both the shared and distinct aspects of their journeys in shaping a vessel that honors historically marginalized voices. The article explores experiences of connection, disconnection, and mental health within multiple contexts – including peer, family, social, and cultural environments. While some participants described affirming and accepting family relationships, other navigated significant challenges within their family dynamics.Conclusions This research offers deeper insights into the lived experiences of young nonbinary and plurisexual Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians and highlights both the challenges and strengths within their lived realities. Study findings may inform professional practice for those working with diverse young people from priority populations, enhancing understanding and responsiveness to the unique needs of nonbinary, plurisexual and Indigenous Australians.