Levels of empowerment among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender [LGBT] People in Gauteng, South Africa / [authors Helen Wells, Louise Polders]

H. Wells, L. Polders

Despite there being an increasing number of international studies into gay/lesbian (G/L) concerns in the past ten years, there is still a lack of South African data (Index to South African Periodicals). The need for research on a South African sample of G/L persons was made explicit at two workshops hosted by OUT and Schorer Foundation. Different G/L organisations and other individual psychologists from throughout the country were invited to attend, and expressed the need for data to be collected on various issues that G/L people encounter in their daily lives. The main aim of this research was therefore to gather data of a quantitative nature that was representative so that expertise can be built around empowerment issues that are faced by G/L persons living in contemporary South Africa. A study of this scale would be the first quantitative study of its kind done in South Africa. The research was initially limited to metropolitan Gauteng, with the possibility of conducting repeat studies in other provinces where services for G/Ls were provided. The scope of this research project was extremely vast including both macro and micro issues to serve as indicators of empowerment. These included investigations into the: social lifestyles; victimisation experienced; experience of the police and / or criminal justice system; health service satisfaction; health status; substance use; well-being; religious interests and discrimination; political interests; and socio-demographics; of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons in Gauteng.