OUT IN TECH
The Future of Us | Exploring Support and Community
Role: UX Researcher
Tools Used: Miro, Google Forms, Google Drive
As a UX researcher within Out in Tech's RUXSTARS 2025 program, my team led a mixed-methods study to examine how queer communities connect, support members, and cultivate belonging.
Our objective was to generate actionable insights and design frameworks that guide organizations and community leaders in creating safe, affirming, and impactful spaces for LGBTQIA+ individuals.
Despite the growth of queer networks, LGBTQIA+ individuals often encounter barriers to fully engaging with affirming communities. Limited insight into peer support needs, engagement practices, and emotional norms can hinder the intentional design of inclusive spaces. Our research focused on identifying these gaps and translating findings into actionable strategies for stronger queer-centered communities.
Primary Question:
What does meaningful and supportive queer community feel like?
Supporting Questions:
+ How connected do LGBTQIA+ individuals feel to their communities?
+ What types of peer support are missing or underdeveloped?
+ How do emotional norms, rituals, and shared practices shape engagement?
+ How can communities strengthen belonging and connection among members?
Expected Outcomes:
+ Identification of community practices that foster connection and support
+ Documentation of peer support gaps and unmet needs
+ Insights into rituals, norms, and practices that signal belonging and safety
+ Understanding where and how members seek connection, online and offline
Criteria:
+ LGBTQIA+ individuals engaged in at least one queer community (e.g., ERGs, local or online collectives)
+ Diverse representation across age, race/ethnicity, disability, and geographyInterested in contributing to research on community engagement and peer support
Recruitment:
+ Slack and LinkedIn outreach
+ Social media and online community groups
+ Direct invitations via cohort and network connections
Interviews (Qualitative):
One-on-one sessions capturing nuanced, personal experiencesFocused on emotional safety, community belonging, and peer supportPre-interview exercises prepared participants to reflect on their engagement
Surveys (Quantitative):
Complemented interviews to validate findings across a broader participant poolMeasured trends in connection, support, and engagement
Desire for Low-Pressure, Relaxed Connections
Participants want approachable, informal ways to connect that reduce social anxiety and encourage authentic interactions.
Need for Deeper Emotional Connection
While most members feel generally supported, many highlighted a gap in deeper inclusion and meaningful engagement.
Limited Accessible and Identity-Affirming Spaces
Some participants noted a lack of spaces that fully accommodate and affirm diverse identities, signaling an opportunity for more inclusive community design.
Interest in Local and Lightly Structured Events
Members expressed a desire for more localized events with gentle structure, creating safe, welcoming environments for connection.
Social Support
+ Expand local events and meetups to foster in-person connection.
+ Prioritize identity-specific, accessible spaces for deeper engagement.
+ Offer small, informal, lightly structured formats to reduce social pressure.
Career Support
+ Develop tangible career programs and projects.
+ Strengthen pipelines through mentorship, networking events, and field-specific groups.
Digital Connection
+ Curate online channels for easier navigation and improved discoverability.
+ Centralize resources so members can quickly find relevant information.
+ Guide members to channels most aligned with their interests and needs.
This project reinforced the importance of centering the lived experiences of queer community members in research. By combining interviews and surveys, we were able to uncover nuanced insights about how members experience connection, support, and inclusion, highlighting gaps that might not be visible through quantitative data alone.
Working as a team within RUXSTARS, we developed a research process that balanced rigor with empathy, ensuring participants felt safe and heard while generating actionable insights for community-building. For company Employee Resource Groups (ERGs), these findings are especially valuable: understanding the ways queer employees seek connection, career support, and safe spaces can guide ERGs in designing programs, events, and digital platforms that truly meet members’ needs.
Ultimately, this project deepened our understanding of what meaningful community looks like in queer contexts and informed strategies for fostering stronger social, career, and digital connections among LGBTQIA+ individuals.