Sexual orientation for the LGBTQ+ community: Information sources and barriers

Abstract

This study aims to identify the information barriers that the LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, other) community encounters when seeking information about sexual orientation. For this study, a qualitative methodology was followed based on a questionnaire that was answered by various groups within the community. The findings reveal that the respondents preferred the Internet when searching for information due to the abundance of resources, easy accessibility and anonymity. However, they found it insufficient to determine their sexuality due to the presence of inaccurate information and hurtful comments from other users. Additionally, only a few of the respondents were aware of the existence of specialized LGBTQ+ libraries. They believed that the lack of financial resources results in these libraries selecting some resources over others. Therefore, libraries can play a key role in serving the LGBTQ+ community by curating collections in relation to their sexual orientation. This could overcome barriers by providing reliable information for the LGBTQ+ community.