Exploring LGBT spaces and communities: LGBT people’s perceptions and experiences of ‘gains’ and ‘losses’ in the UK

Eleanor Formby, Senior Research Fellow, Sheffield Institute of Education, Sheffield Hallam University

In this talk I’ll draw on UK-wide research which explored understandings and experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) ‘communities’ (a term frequently used in policy and practice arenas), and which examined the implications for LGBT wellbeing. The study brought together existing research literature with insights from 627 survey respondents and 44 participants involved in in-depth interviews and/or discussion groups.

I’ll explore some of the key issues raised in the research, focussing particularly on experiences of ‘LGBT space’ (whether physical or virtual). Within this, the importance of a sense of ‘belonging’ and/or source of ‘support’ among LGBT friends and networks will be discussed, and the impact of broader social contexts on LGBT relationships and constructions of ‘community’ examined. Perhaps surprisingly, I uncovered a significant proportion of people talking about the past with nostalgia in relation to places, events and experiences that have been ‘lost’ as a consequence of improved legislation and attitudes towards LGBT equalities. This suggests that when there was more to – as one participant said – “be angry about”, some people had a greater sense of community, shared within particular venues and/or at particular times. Drawing these data together, conclusions will be drawn about what if anything may connect “people like us” across time or space.

@EleanorFormby

New book Exploring LGBT spaces and communities: Contrasting identities, belongings and wellbeing out now:www.routledge.com/9781138814004

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