I am the Founder and Director of the Queer Intersections, Inclusion, and Innovation (Qi3) Lab. My work includes a broad focus on social determinants of health, structural and community-level racism, the racial patterning of sexual/social networks within LGBTQ+ communities, and health disparities among sexual and gender minorities. I am particularly interested in examining the ways in which stressors (e.g., discrimination, stigma, etc.) across multiple socioecological levels contribute to poor mental health outcomes among young sexual minority men of color.

Dr. Wade’s program of research aims to fill critical gaps in understanding on health and well-being among LGBTQ+ communities. At present, much of his research is focused on occurrences of ‘sexual racism’ in online dating, a phenomenon referred to as Racialized Sexual Discrimination (RSD). Dr. Wade’s research also seeks to identify individual and community-level factors that may be protective in the context of RSD.

Dr. Wade has received federal funding to investigate the association between RSD and mental health outcomes among sexual minority men of color. His work ultimately aims to inform the development of health promotion initiatives aimed at mitigating and/or eliminating the adverse effects of discrimination, as well as other social stressors that disproportionately impact sexual and gender minorities. Dr. Wade is also leading a project that examines the association between anti-LGBTQ policy discourse and psychosocial functioning among LGBTQ+ young adults, in the wake of growing legislative hostility directed towards queer communities. Professor Wade’s research and expertise have been featured in local and national media outlets, including NPR, Business Insider, the Chicago Tribune, and Rolling Stone magazine.

Dr. Wade is currently accepting applicants to the Qi3 Lab.