In the decade that has passed since the first edition of this book was published, there has been a significant cultural shift towards the acceptance of LGBTQ people in the United States, yet there are many ways that institutional and interpersonal discrimination takes place in the lives of LGBTQ people.

Even as the world changes for the better- with the legalization of same-sex marriage, federal protections for LGBTQ people in the workplace, and more widespread acceptance of LGBTQ people- everyday homophobia and transphobia persists. Microaggressions are subtle, unconscious, and unintentional discrimination that is experienced by people of marginalized groups.

In contrast to outright assaults and hate crimes, or conscious prejudicial treatment motivated by fear or dislike of "the other," microaggressions are more covert in nature, sometimes intentional or unintentional, communicating hostile, insulting, or negative messages about people of oppressed groups. This book highlights the microaggressions that LGBTQ people face on an everyday basis and examines the impacts that such experiences have on mental health.