“In the Beginning, It Was Little Whispers...Now, We’re Almost a Roar”: Conceptualizing a Model for Community and Self in LGBTQ+ Health Information Practices

Although LGBTQ+ populations experience significant health challenges, little research exists that investigates their health from an informational perspective. Our study addresses this gap by exploring the health information practices of LGBTQ+ communities in South Carolina, focusing on how sociocultural context shapes these practices. Thirty semi-structured interviews with South Carolina LGBTQ+ community leaders analyzed using open qualitative coding informed the development of a conceptual framework describing their information practices. Findings show that participants engaged in two broad types of practices – protective and defensive – as responses to risks and barriers experienced, which are in turn produced by social and structural factors. Findings advance information practices and marginalization approaches and offer ways for medical professionals to improve service to LGBTQ+ populations

A Case of Rejection, Redemption, and Resilience: Commentary on the Case of Rafael

 Paul Clement (2011) presents a unique case of an adolescent with congenital limb deficiency. He integrates a number of approaches that encompass positive psychology, cognitive restructuring, social problem-solving skills, outcome assessment, and a quantitative evaluation of therapeutic change.  We examine this case using resilience as a theoretical framework with an emphasis on identity formation, self-esteem, coping strategies, and assessment. We provide some comments on the strengths of Clement's approach as well as offer suggestions of additional assessment procedures and interventions that may have been beneficial to Rafael's treatment.  

Engaging at the Margins: Theoretical and Philosophical Approaches to Social Justice

This interactive panel demonstrates how critical, interdisciplinary theoretical and philosophical approaches outside the field of library and information science (LIS) can foster new ways of thinking about the concept of social justice. The panel consists of four researchers whose scholarship connects to these approaches. The following areas will be discussed: extending the philosophy of justice‐as‐fairness using the work of Amartya Sen, employing Umberto Eco\u27s theoretical approach of semiotics to critique contemporary LIS practices and ideologies and adopting an information practices approach to highlight the importance of sociocultural context, embodiment and unsanctioned resources among those with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) identities. The panel will consist of a brief introduction followed by panelist presentations and time for questions and answers from the audience. To build on the potential implications for research and practice, panelists will engage the audience in a paired activity to discuss a set of relevant questions. This activity informs a full audience discussion that concludes the panel. Attendees will leave the panel with an understanding of the current issues related to applying social justice‐centric approaches within LIS that can be implemented into future research and practice

Affordances and Constraints in the Online Identity Work of LGBTQ+ Individuals

This research examines how social networking sites (SNS) and search engines (SE) afford and constrain practices related to the development of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) identities. Semi‐structured interviews were performed with 30 LGBTQ+ individuals from the United States between the ages of 18 and 38. Data analysis identified these key affordances: a) identity expression, b) connecting to similar others, c) information access, and d) information control. Key constraints are: a) identity expression, b) information control, c) curation, and d) information access. Whether SNS and SE provide affordances or constraints is influenced by how participants ascribe meaning to these technologies within their everyday lives. Therefore, SNS and SE do not yield deterministically good or bad outcomes. Instead outcomes are shaped by sociocultural context and material properties of the technologies. Findings reveal implications of everyday technology use for LGBTQ+ individuals and suggest how they can leverage affordances and mitigate constraints of SNS and SE to manage identity work