Kinship, Family, and Support Networks in Scotland’s LGBTI+ Community

“Some professionals can be judgemental on someone’s LGBTQI+ status. Or, support may not be provided or up to standard as someone who identifies as cisgender and straight.”

“Access to sexual health and well-being services can be off-putting if support staff do not understand the complexities of men who have sex with men as opposed to gay men, for example. Or support services not recognising the needs of trans men and women in their sexual health needs. Too often support services will deal with the immediate presentation – looks like a man, is a man – rather than asking/exploring the possible ‘difference’ in [front] of them.”

“I feel safer and more comfortable in spaces where I know nobody’s going to be weird about my gender or sexuality. … [N]ow I’ve had LGBTQI+ therapists I don’t think I’d ever go back to seeing a cishet therapist. There’s a shorthand of shared experience that I find immensely valuable to getting more quickly into a meaningful relationship.”

“I think it’s really important to have gay-friendly spaces where you know there are people like you, or people who understand you, particularly for young people trying to figure out their place in the world.”

“Essentially networks of support need to offer the same kind of loving, safe, respectful, just and nourishing relationships important to everyone. People identifying as LGBTQI+ and non-binary are likely to have suffered repeated discrimination, marginalisation, often abuse of various kinds and to have experienced personal rejection by loved ones.”

“I feel most at home among other queers, they don’t have to be trans as well just queer. It’s easier to breathe and exist in a queer space without the worry that someone will be bigoted towards you. You speak in a different way and using queer slang, you get community references and it feels like coming home to the place you live after having been abroad. Suddenly you’re in a place where you make sense and people speak your language (metaphorically but also a bit literally when using queer terms).”

“LGBTQI+ people need direct support from their peers who also identify as LGBTQI+ as the parallel life experiences offer true understanding of challenges, needs and a source for camaraderie in the face of adversity as a minority.”

“Being LGBT is not the entirety of what I am but it’s important for LGBT to have at least some LGBT support and understanding of issues that we have all gone through or had to face like coming out, bullying, homophobia.”

“Pride is always lovely though as an older person I don’t have the energy to stay out in the evenings and I would like more LGBTQI+ spaces for older age groups or intergenerational activities which aren’t based on clubbing/drinking alcohol. My old friends have passed away for the most part and though I know a lot of people through volunteering and community work I’m not always comfortable coming out to people who aren’t close friends unless they have shown themselves to be LGBTQI+ allies.”

“Networks of support differ for bi women because they can’t necessarily rely on queer groups for support and community [and] are criticized for benefiting from straight passing privilege or not being gay enough/ just seeking attention. It makes us take more distance from the queer community as it’s not as much as a safe place.”