Using creative methodology to explore LGBTQ+ love and relationship experiences across the lifespan: Developing inclusive and healthy spaces through positive intergenerational exchange

Introduction

Important lessons can be learned from the intergenerational sharing of lifetime love and relationship stories between multigenerational LGBTQ + people, to inform education, healthcare, and policy. However, such exploratory studies have been limited. The aim of this co-creation study was to explore younger and older peoples’ LGBTQ + love and relationship experiences using creative methodology.

Methods

Three 2-h virtual fictional writing and storytelling workshops were conducted at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Edinburgh, Scotland. Participants included 2 middle-aged adults; 3 older adults aged 55+; and 5 youths who identified as either lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer. Participants’ stories were audio-recorded, transcribed and thematically-analyzed to capture understandings of intergenerational knowledge exchange and LGBTQ + love and relationships across sociocultural and environmental contexts. Diverse experiences were unpacked and shared through a self-reflexive creative writing process.

Findings

Participants identified the act of storytelling and fictional writing as particularly liberating, providing a platform for voice and reflexivity. The reflexive analysis highlighted the importance of reflexivity and the careful navigation of intersectionality and power within research contexts. Our introspective analysis resulted in valuable future directions for employing creative methodologies to further explore diverse experiences within LGBTQ + research.

Conclusions

Participants reported that being able to craft their stories was a freeing experience, enabling sense-making to occur. Using creative methodology was demonstrated as an effective way to facilitate intergenerational engagement, and bring to light the complexities of LGBTQ + love and relationships across generations in a safe environment.