Digitally Queer: The use of Video-Mediated Communication within the Gay and Lesbian Community

Computer-mediated communication has expanded the ways in which individuals can seek information and create content. Moreover, it allows for the forming of new connections between individuals that may otherwise be impossible. In the last decade, video-mediated communication has been adopted by the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community, as well as straight allies to share information and reach out to the wider community, particularly those who have been the victim of bullying. Despite this increase in video-mediated communication, most research in the area of gay men and lesbians has been focused on the construction of online identity and narratives of the coming-out journey. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate how video is utilised to disclose matters pertaining to lived experience to further understand this community, and identify how video could be used to better support this minority group.

In the first stage of this research study, a qualitative analysis of online video was carried out to investigate how individuals engage with LGBT bullying content. The findings revealed individuals to openly disclose deeply personal, and identifiable, information to a global audience. Next an empirical study was carried out with a sample of gay men and lesbians to allow for the close examination of verbal and visual content disclosed in offline video diaries. This was followed by an interview study to examine the practicalities of using wearable and handheld technologies to facilitate this disclosure. Content was found to vary between sexes and recording device, with wearables facilitating a greater degree of discussion for certain topics. Moreover, the recording of point-of-view video diaries was found to be a useful tool in personal development.

The findings from this thesis extend understanding of how gay men and lesbians engage in video-mediated communication. In addition, the findings reveal how wearable and handheld video recording can be used as a beneficial tool both for this group and the wider community.