An Exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Volunteerism in North American Social Service Organizations

Trevor Gates; Samantha Lillie

doi:10.1080/01488376.2020.1768201

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An Exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Volunteerism in North American Social Service Organizations

Journal article

Peer reviewed

An Exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Volunteerism in North American Social Service Organizations

Trevor Gates and Samantha Lillie

Journal of Social Service Research, Vol.47(3), pp.303-314

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01488376.2020.1768201

Appears in UniSC Diversity and Inclusion Research Collection

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Abstract

LGBTQ issues in social services

Volunteerism

sexual orientation and gender diversity in volunteering

volunteer attrition

motivation

UniSC Diversity Area - LGBTIQ+ and Community

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) volunteers engage in service to social service organizations as a form of sociopolitical involvement, activism, and connection to the LGBTQ and broader communities. This study explored LGBTQ motivations for volunteerism, assessed using the Volunteer Functions Inventory, which measures the reason why people volunteer, including improving social ties, enhancing altruistic values, and gaining greater understanding of the needs of the community served by the social service organization. Using an exploratory design with an American and Canadian convenience sample of LGBTQ-identified volunteers (N = 179), findings of the study showed the desire for socialization and a better understanding of the target community were the strongest predictors of attrition for these volunteers. Future research recruiting LGBTQ volunteers of more diverse social, cultural, and linguistic backgrounds and emerging forms of volunteering, such as virtual volunteering, will help strengthen understanding of LGBTQ volunteerism as a means of community engagement.

Details

Title: An Exploration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer Volunteerism in North American Social Service Organizations
Authors: Trevor Gates (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Law and Society
Samantha Lillie (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Social Sciences - Legacy
Publication details: Journal of Social Service Research, Vol.47(3), pp.303-314
Publisher: Routledge
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.1080/01488376.2020.1768201
ISSN: 1540-7314
Organisation Unit: School of Social Sciences - Legacy; School of Law and Society; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Indigenous Services - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99469908602621
Output Type: Journal article

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Web Of Science research areas: Social Work