LGBTQ+ Experiences with Internet and Information Communication Technology

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ+) lives use technology in many ways that are seldom examined. The problem to be addressed by this study is that computer science scholarship is failing to examine the end-user experiences and possible concerns regarding LGBTQ+ identities and their ICT and internet use. LGBTQ+ lives are impacted by this problem, but so are technology professionals and leadership creating and maintaining technologies. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenology study framed by queer theory is to explore the phenomenon of LGBTQ+ individuals and their experiences with information communication technology (ICT) and internet use to determine end-user experiences. Twelve self-identified LGBTQ+ college students were interviewed and asked about their lives, ICT, and the internet. The questions were open-ended to ask about positive and negative experiences, and the notebook recorded findings were mixed. Many positive aspects were noted, like discovering identity, coming out, finding resources related to identity and navigating identity, representation, gaming, social support, exploring Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, and self-actualization. Participants also noted negative aspects like encountering systems that deadnamed, public deadnaming and outings, forms conflating gender and sex that also work in the gender binary, and insincere one-month pride logos from companies that don't have a good track record in supporting LGBTQ+ causes. The conclusions were that participants wanted technology professionals to know about the positive and negative aspects along with seeing LGBTQ+ representation in technology, notably video games. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]