Scoping study to explore understandings and experiences of 'community' among lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people

This project seeks to conduct a UK literature review and related consultation activities on understandings and experiences of 'community' among lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people. It is often assumed that LGBT communities have a shared experience of oppression or exclusion from broader communities, yet what research exists tends to be disparately located across varied disciplines (e.g. humanities, health studies, social sciences). The term has also been critiqued for neglecting diversities within and between LGBT communities. Nevertheless, research has documented the historical development of LGBT communities, for example in relation to 'gay rights' political activism, community responses to the emergence of HIV/AIDS, and in the growth of the commercial 'gay scene'. The value of social support from community members has been reported as beneficial to LGBT health and wellbeing, particularly where individuals may be excluded from their own families or immediate communities (Keogh et al 2006; Pugh 2002; Weeks et al 2001). The review element of this study will seek to draw together evidence in this area, supplemented by a complementary consultation exercise.

The consultation stage will involve the use of an interactive website and four workshops; three of these will take place within LGBT communities and one will be for professionals working in the LGBT field. Potential participants will be invited to contribute comments or other 'submissions' (e.g. photographs) to the website and/or invited to take part in discussions as part of a workshop. Issues that will be explored within both the literature review and consultation stages will include exploration of how community members perceive their relationship and potential contribution to wider society as well as current policy interests in equality, community cohesion and civic participation within a 'big society'. Greater understanding of these issues also relates to perceptions of community self-reliance and sustainability. Throughout, there will be an explicit focus on an assessment of the implications of understandings and experiences of 'community' for LGBT health, wellbeing and 'quality of life'. The study will contribute to developing thought and discussion about the meanings of 'community' and 'connectedness' more generally within the Connected Communities programme, for example what it is that creates and maintains links between potentially diverse groups of people, currently and over time. In particular, for minority groups, how much does a sense of 'community' relate to historical and cultural contexts (e.g. experiences of 'belonging' or shared identity vs. experiences of exclusion, protest and/or adversity)? Similarly, how much are communities rooted in shared values or experiences (despite their potential diversity), or is there a necessity for physical proximity (e.g. the commercial gay scene, Pride events) and/or virtual connections (via the Internet)? General insights on understandings and experiences of 'community' and potentially socially excluded groups will be gleaned from a close examination of LGBT communities in their specific social and historical contexts.

A study aim is to engage and bring together academics, practitioners and LGBT community members. Final outputs will include an accessible project summary, a Discussion Paper, and a national dissemination event. These will bring together themes from both existing research and insights from the consultation. They will establish to what extent the review themes correspond with participants' and stakeholders' experiences, or if anything is missing from the review, thus pointing to current research gaps. The website will remain as a legacy of the project and its outcomes (including all documents produced and an online references resource).

This project seeks to engage the involvement of a variety of beneficiaries/participants, including LGBT community members, stakeholders working in the field, and academics with an interest in this area. Bringing together insights from these groups will potentially have an impact on all those involved through the facilitation of greater mutual understanding of community experiences.

The anticipated impact will be at two levels; first, to generate and share understandings about LGBT communities via specific workshops in different localities and through online consultation methods. This will aid awareness about the existence, and potential benefits, of community ties which could heighten senses of wellbeing among some participants as existing research suggests some LGBT people can feel isolated (Formby and Willis 2011; Whittle et al 2007); conversely where this is not the case there can be positive health impacts of feeling part of a community (Keogh et al 2006; Pugh 2002; Weeks et al 2001). Second, it seeks to generate wider discussion about the concept of 'community' as it may be experienced by different groups. These discussions might be within populist and academic circles, during and after study completion, but will be specifically informed by the production of various outcomes connected to the study. This includes:
1. A short document outlining the study (aim and objectives, research process, etc.)
2. Contribution to AHRC meetings/events, as appropriate
3. Summary of study results
4. Discussion Paper
5. Final dissemination event
6. Project website including online bibliographic resource, participant submissions, Outputs 1, 3 and 4 above, and a summary report of the dissemination event
7. Further dissemination via appropriate academic and LGBT community publications and events (at least one: peer reviewed journal submission, practitioner/community publication or presentation, and academic conference presentation)
8. At least one further funding application depending on outcomes of the study

A final dissemination event also plans to engage the interest of academics, practitioners and LGBT community members. In particular, it is envisaged that this event and the website (with its inclusion of downloadable project documentation and an online bibliographic resource), and the allied creation of a clearer understanding of LGBT communities might be useful to a variety of groups, including:
- a broad range of academics and students
- policy-makers and practitioners looking to develop their thinking/practice (or applying for funding) in relation to LGBT support services, community cohesion and equality/human rights more broadly
- educators (such as personal, social, health and economic education teachers in schools or those with a responsibility for pastoral care or pupil wellbeing) trying to support LGBT young people and/or raise awareness about LGBT equality/human rights more generally.

In other words, the study could enhance the effectiveness of public and voluntary sector service provision and education, and/or policy developments within the LGBT/equalities field, as well as stimulate academic debate about the concept of community and related issues more broadly. The former, in turn, could contribute to increased emotional wellbeing and 'quality of life' among LGBT groups, thereby influencing the health of society and the economy at large (more information on this is provided in 'Pathways to impact').

Potential impact of the study will also be maximised by broad awareness raising about the study and its results; this will utilise a variety of media and practitioner outlets, which the applicant has used successfully previously to promote research and disseminate summarised project findings. Thus, the potential LGBT communities and individual beneficiaries are far broader than those directly involved in the project.