How Those with Close Connections with LGBTQ2S+ Talk About That Community

Abstract

There has been a steady increase in North America of people who identify as LGBTQ2S+. In a 2017 survey done by GLAAD, 20% of millennials identify as LGBTQ2S+. This increase would seem to increase the odds that soon we are all going to have someone close to us who is LGBTQ2S+. With that in mind, this research was done with the idea that having someone close to you that identifies as LGBTQ2S+ could affect the way you talk about that community. Critical discourse analysis was used through the lens of qualitative research, the use of a focus group and a qualitative interview from convenience sampling were done, and from those data collection techniques, language, behaviours, attitudes, and perceptions of the participants were analyzed. While many studies focus on the negative attitudes and language of society, this study took the approach of starting from the positive aspects of having a close relationship and being a support to someone who is LGBTQ2S+. Due to the nature of my subject matter, I chose to use gender neutral pseudonyms, gender neutral pronoun references and refrained from gender binary language.

Department: Sociology

Faculty Mentor: Dr. Kalyani Thurairajah