(see Poster Gallery) Understanding Climates for Diverse 2SLGBTQ+ People in 2SLGBTQ+ Leisure Spaces: A Mixed Methods Study

Background and Purpose: 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces and activities, such as 2SLGBTQ+ social groups and sports leagues, are considered spaces of resilience that contribute to members’ sense of belonging and wellbeing. While studies have examined these spaces, finding that trans, racialized, and disabled people often face exclusion, research has tended to use qualitative methods, thus relying on small samples and not addressing both experiential and psychological climate. Using a sequential explanatory mixed-method design, this study examines the holistic climate of 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces. It identifies the demographic and organizational factors and outcomes (belonging, mental health) associated with quantitative profiles of climate, and explains the climate profiles through narratives examining experiential and psychological climate and mechanisms underlying the range of climates.

Methods: Participants from Canada and the US were recruited using purposive and quota sampling for an online survey (n=548; 49.1% Canadian; 55.5% trans; 34.1% racialized; 49.3% disabled) and semi-structured interviews (n=22; 36.4% Canadian; 63.6% trans; 68.2% racialized; 50.0% disabled). Measures included intersectional discrimination (α=0.91), perceived inclusive climate (α=0.95), perceived comfort, sense of belonging in the space (α=0.92), psychological distress (α=0.82), positive mental health (α=0.92), antidiscrimination policies, and inclusive leadership practices. Interviews explored perceptions of climate and experiences of discrimination, including indirect discrimination. Mplus v.8.6 was used to create profiles of climate and to explore sociodemographic characteristics, organizational factors, and outcome covariates. Using NVivo 12 thematic analysis was conducted to analyze the interview data; member-checking promoted analytic trustworthiness.

Results: Three profiles emerged: contentious, ambivalent, and welcoming climates. Trans and disabled individuals were more likely to be in the contentious and ambivalent climates. Policies and leadership practices were associated with all three profiles, whereby individuals in the welcoming profiles were more likely to report these factors compared to those in the contentious or ambivalent climates. Each profile was associated with progressively greater sense of belonging and positive wellbeing (high positive mental health, low distress), with greatest wellbeing among the welcoming profile. Qualitative analysis identified that many participants in the welcoming climate felt welcomed in spaces where their intersectional identities were embraced and appreciated, but not in other, general 2SLGBTQ+ leisure settings. In these other spaces (e.g., rainbow choirs or gay bars), the primary theme of policing belonging arose, with participants from all climate profiles reporting perceived negative climate and discriminatory experiences—both direct and indirect—related to gender identity and expression, race, and disability; all of which contributed to their sense of exclusion within the setting. Analysis also identified mechanisms underlying the climate to explain exclusion/inclusion: a dismissive attitude toward marginalization based on other social markers, invisibility vs representation of diversity, progressive leadership practices, “take space to make space,” and meaningful conversations.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings provide a holistic understanding of climate in 2SLGBTQ+ leisure spaces and how climate relates to social and mental health outcomes. This study highlights the need to address negative experiential and psychological climate for trans, racialized, and/or disabled individuals to ensure their safety and inclusion so that all participants can benefit from engaging in 2SLGBTQ+ leisure experiences.