"I have some place to be myself": components of belonging in LGBTQ+ communities.

Abstract

A sense of belonging, and feeling part of a group that values, supports, and accepts oneself, is a vital aspect of overall well-being and buffers against a myriad of psychological stressors. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexual and/or gender marginalised (LGBTQ+) people often turn to LGBTQ+ communities to connect, feel safe, and avoid overly internalising stressors they face. Belonging in LGBTQ+ communities, while beneficial, has yet to be conceptualised specifically from LGBTQ+ people's perspectives. In this study, 404 LGBTQ+ adults, surveyed via Prolific, responded to an open-ended survey question to share the factors they believed contribute to their sense of belonging in LGBTQ+ communities. Using thematic analysis, the following six themes were developed: mutuality; accepting environments; identity and authenticity; having existing relationships in LGBTQ+ communities; active engagement; and LGBTQ+ representation. Findings provide nuance to existing conceptualisations of belonging and offer mental health practitioners identify potential areas to explore so as to help LGBTQ+ people develop a sense of belonging. Implications for research and advocacy are discussed.