Perceptions of government guidance, considerations, and impact
Many felt that the government did not consider their support networks when implementing restrictions and guidelines throughout the pandemic. Some believed that this was because the government does not consider the needs of LGBTI+ people in general. Some felt that the guidelines were broad and need not have considered social needs, including those of LGBTI+ people.
“The restrictions and guidelines were so important, but they did not consider queer people, people who have alternative family situations, people who were forced lived at home with parents due to losing jobs, people who aren’t in traditional relationships (who don’t live together or have other partners) etc. It’s been so hard to not see and spend time with other queer people.”
(vs.)
“Why would the government consider this at all? They were trying to minimise infection and if people can’t figure out how to move their networks online that’s on them. No hand holding from the government needed.”
The government did not take chosen family into account when creating restrictions around ‘family’ units/bubbles.
“I think there were no opportunities for single queer people to consider who we needed to connect with or have a bubble with.”
“The rules surrounding households and families did not really consider “chosen family” and the need for us to come together – we didn’t fit within the definitions of who could be together during lockdown. Also the government didn’t appreciate the importance of nightlife for our community – as a safe space, a place for connection and to form friendships.”
“No matter how otherwise progressive, most political parties still have very traditional (family-based) models of kinship, and this leads them to make big presumptions about the way people live their lives.”
“During the pandemic I was living quite far from my friends and family (far in terms of the restrictions of where you were allowed to go!), and that was pretty isolating at times and probably put a strain on my relationship because my partner was the only person I could see. When other people were able to go for walks with people, I didn’t have anyone within the restricted distance that I could do that with. So I would say perhaps they didn’t take into account how limiting it could be for people who didn’t live in the same local authority as anyone they know.”
The Zoom account(s) for LGBTI+ groups, funded by the Scottish Government, were a valuable resource — the Equality Network distributed funding through this scheme to groups across Scotland to help people get online.
“Our lesbian group met regularly on a zoom [account] funded by the scot gov thru Scottish Equality Network.”
