The Future of Queer Community
As a UX researcher within Out in Tech's RUXSTARS 2025 program, my team led a mixed-methods study examining how LGBTQIA+ communities connect, support members, and cultivate belonging. Despite the growth of queer networks, individuals often encounter barriers to fully engaging with affirming communities.
Our research focused on identifying these gaps and answering a core question: What does meaningful and supportive queer community feel like?
Client:
Out in Tech
My Role:
UX Researcher
Year:
2025
Service Provided:
User Experience Research
Research Approach:
We recruited LGBTQIA+ individuals engaged in at least one queer community, prioritizing diverse representation across age, race/ethnicity, disability, and geography.
Our mixed-methods approach combined one-on-one interviews capturing nuanced personal experiences around emotional safety and belonging, with surveys that validated findings across a broader participant pool.
Key Insights:
Our research revealed four key patterns: participants want low-pressure, informal ways to connect that reduce social anxiety; while most feel generally supported, many highlighted gaps in deeper emotional connection and meaningful engagement; some noted a lack of spaces that fully accommodate diverse identities; and members expressed interest in more localized events with gentle structure.
Recommendations:
We identified opportunities across three areas — Social support through expanded local meetups and identity-specific spaces with informal formats; Career support through tangible programs, mentorship, and field-specific networking; and Digital connection through curated channels, centralized resources, and better discoverability.
This project reinforced the importance of centering lived experiences in research. For ERGs especially, these findings can guide the design of programs, events, and platforms that meet members' needs — fostering stronger social, career, and digital connections among LGBTQIA+ individuals.
