Exploring LGBT Spaces and Communities

<p>The phrase ‘LGBT community’ is often used by policy-makers service providers and lesbian gay bisexual and trans (LGBT) people themselves but what does it mean? What understandings and experiences does that term suggest and ignore? Based on a UK-wide study funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council this book explores these questions from the perspectives of over 600 research participants. </p><p>Examining ideas about community ‘ownership’; ‘difference’ and diversity; relational practices within and beyond physical spaces; imagined communities and belongings; the importance of ‘ritual’ spaces and symbols and consequences for wellbeing the book foregrounds the lived experience of LGBT people to offer a broad analysis of commonalities and divergences in relation to LGBT identities. </p><p>Drawing on an interdisciplinary perspective grounded in international social science research the book will appeal to students and scholars with interests in sexual and/or gender identities in the fields of community studies cultural studies gender studies geography leisure studies politics psychology sexuality studies social policy social work socio-legal studies and sociology. The book also offers implications for practice suitable for policy-maker practitioner and activist audiences as well as those with a more personal interest.</p>