Abstract
In the fifteen years prior to 2020, the United States received 3,451,082 refugees, according to Refugee Processing Center (2020). Refugees identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ), whether openly, with selective disclosure, or covertly, are at increased risk for social adversity due to the general risks of refugee status and the specific risks for their sexual orientation and identity. This survey research explored the interactions between resettlement staff and interpreters in Sacramento, California, with the aim of contrasting their services with the National Association of Social Workers guidelines for cultural competency. Ultimately, the role of language interpretation in providing affirmative services for LGBTQ refugees was examined. The research, though limited in generalizability due to the small, non-probability sample, showed interesting results. Despite the fact that all 24 respondents had used interpretation in some form, only 16 had received training for this task. LGBTQ-affirmative training was received by 17, but such training did not lead to giving a higher ranking for a LGBTQ-affirmative procedural priority (ask for and use personal pronouns), or even using first-person pronouns (a professional interpretation standard). Therefore, the impact of training experience is not evident. Technology use emerged as an important factor, 23 respondents reported having used telephone interpretation. In conclusion, this exploratory research has charted ideas for future research to address with more refined research questions and research approaches.