ABSTRACT One in two Black men who have sex with men (MSM) in the United States will acquire HIV in their lifetime, an inequity that has worsened over time despite Black MSM engaging in fewer sexual risk behaviors, such as condomless anal sex, than White and Hispanic/Latino MSM. This disparate HIV incidence is especially prevalent in early adulthood, making it crucial to understand factors surrounding poor sexual health outcomes of young Black MSM (YBMSM), ages 18-29 years. YBMSM are often impacted by multiple, intersecting systems of oppression, resulting in intersectional discrimination and a variety of experiences that can adversely impact their sexual health. The goal of the proposed research and training fellowship is for the applicant to acquire the skills and expertise necessary to become an independent, mixed methods researcher focused on sexual health equity among sexual and gender minoritized (SGM) populations. The proposed research and training will be conducted at the Duke University School of Nursing, supported by Sponsor Dr. Marta Mulawa and Co-Sponsor Dr. Rosa Gonzalez-Guarda. Specific training goals include advancement of theoretical and pragmatic knowledge of intersectionality and SGM sexual health, mixed methods integration, and development of scientific dissemination skills rooted in community engagement. These goals will be accomplished through a variety of workshops, mentorship activities, and execution of the proposed research that strives to understand the heterogeneity of intersectional discrimination experiences among YBMSM and their sexual health. This study’s aims are to: 1) identify latent subgroups of YBMSM with different patterns of intersectional discrimination experiences due to various reason(s) (race/ethnicity, physical appearance, sexual orientation, and education/income level); 2) determine the relationship between the identified latent subgroups of discrimination with latent subgroups of sexual health, determined by multiple indicators (pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) awareness, lifetime PrEP use, lifetime HIV and STI testing, recent STI testing, and condomless insertive and receptive sex); and 3) contextualize how intersectional discrimination experiences may shape sexual health among purposively sampled YBMSM participants (n = 20) based on identified discrimination subgroups, using semi-structured individual interviews. To achieve these aims, an explanatory sequential (QUAN à qual) mixed methods design will be used, analyzing data from a subsample of YBMSM ages 18-29 from a large dataset (R01MD013623), which will inform subsequent in-depth interviews. By combining quantitative and qualitative strands of data, the proposed study will thoroughly examine and contextualize the variation in YBMSM experiences with discrimination and sexual health, providing a critical foundation for future tailored interventions focused on mitigating sexual health inequities. The sexual health equity focus of this study closely ali...