Social challenges
The bi+ community, like many others, faced social challenges which impacted their mental health and wellbeing. The isolation and social distancing measures affected people’s ability to connect with their communities and support networks, leading to increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. This was especially difficult for those who may not have disclosed their sexual orientation or gender to the people around them such as family, friends, or neighbours.
Equality Network’s own research has found that many LGBTI+ people felt that the government did not consider their support networks when implementing guidelines and restrictions throughout the pandemic, and specifically did not take into account ‘chosen family’. Others, meanwhile, found that the Scottish Government’s funding of Zoom accounts for LGBTI+ groups were invaluable in keeping communities connected[25].
“I feel that much of the guidance and legislation during lockdown was built on heteronormative middle class ideas of a nuclear family. I and many other lgbtqi+ friends could not meet in supportive environments as before, when households weren’t allowed to mix and ‘bubbles’ only allowed for single households. Many of us are not in nuclear families, we live in shared flats, sometimes with non-supportive people, and couldn’t meet.”
“I didn’t access any official services, but I did feel I have to appear as “normal” as possible to get support from neighbours who did shopping for me.”
“The pandemic made it impossible for me to access my community at all, due to various circumstances making online events completely inaccessible for me.”
Footnotes
- Nagle, A., Crowther, R., Sanders White, E. (2023) ‘Kinship, Family, and Support Networks in Scotland’s LGBTI+ Community’ (Return to reference [25])
