‘A standard of how we want to see people be treated’: developing LGBTQ+ community guidelines

Community-based LGBTQ+ focused organizations serve as a vital resource for LGBTQ+ youth who may not otherwise have access to affirming spaces. However, little is known about the organizational practices that lead to feelings of affirmation for youth who attend these organizations. Therefore, this qualitative study investigates the role of community guidelines in creating affirming spaces for LGBTQ+ youth at four LGBTQ+ community-based organizations organizations. A total of <i>n</i> = 30 LGBTQ+ youth and <i>n</i> = 12 staff members participated in this study and were recruited for focus groups and interviews using purposive and consecutive sampling methods. Data were analyzed using a template analysis approach. Four main themes emerged: how to create guidelines, contextual factors related to the uptake of guidelines, the content of guidelines, and strategies for upholding guidelines. Participants emphasized the need for guidelines to be created collaboratively between youth and staff and highlighted several foundational guidelines (e.g., confidentiality, ways to address microaggressions). Finally, participants highlighted the need for guidelines to be regularly and formally re-evaluated. While findings are specific to urban, liberal settings, they provide valuable insights for similar organizations. Further research should adopt intersectional approaches and explore long-term impacts of inclusive and affirmative services for LGBTQ+ youth.