Community-Centred Research Project

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About the project

The ParaPride Community-Centred Research Project is a UK-wide study of the lives and experiences of disabled LGBTQ+ people. It is research by and for our community: the people it is about will help shape its questions, its direction and its outcomes.

Our first step is a short pilot survey. Your answers will help us decide which themes matter most before we move on to the main survey, interviews and focus groups.

The deadline to contribute is November 23rd.

Why this research matters

Research and services often treat disability and LGBTQ+ identity as separate. As a result, people who live at both intersections are frequently overlooked, both in disability spaces and in LGBTQIA+ spaces.

This project focuses on exactly that intersection. It aims to build a clearer, evidence-based picture of what disabled LGBTQIA+ people experience, and to make sure our voices inform the decisions that affect us.

Who can take part

We would love to hear from you if you identify as LGBTQIA+ and as disabled, neurodivergent, or living with a long-term health condition or impairment. You can take part from London or anywhere in the UK.

There is no “right kind” of disabled or LGBTQIA+ person to take part. Every experience is valid and welcome.

We want to understand both the challenges and the positives in the lives of disabled LGBTQIA+ people, including:

  • the barriers people face in accessing LGBTQIA+ spaces, services and events.
  • experiences of ableism within LGBTQIA+ communities, and of exclusion within disability spaces
  • where people find joy, safety and community
  • examples of good practice that deserve wider recognition

How the research will work and who is leading it?

The project will run over several months in four stages:

  1. Pilot survey (now open). Two short, open questions to help us identify the themes that matter most to the community.
  2. Main community survey. A wider questionnaire, shaped by what we learn from the pilot.
  3. Interviews and focus groups. Optional conversations for anyone who would like to share their experiences in more depth. These will take place online to keep them as accessible as possible.
  4. Sharing the findings. We plan to publish the results during Pride season 2027 in a free, accessible report, shared with LGBTQIA+ and disability organisations across the UK.

What we learn will directly inform ParaPride’s future campaigns and initiatives, helping to make LGBTQIA+ spaces and services more inclusive.

The project is led by Dr Francesca Romana Ammaturo, ParaPride Research Lead and Senior Lecturer in Sociology and International Relations at London Metropolitan University.

Your privacy and wellbeing

The research follows the British Sociological Association’s ethical guidelines. This means: your wellbeing is a priority throughout the project your responses will be kept confidential and anonymised taking part is entirely voluntary, and you can withdraw at any time you only share what you feel comfortable sharing

Take part in the pilot survey and help us spread the word

The pilot survey takes just a few minutes and asks two open questions:

  1. If you could direct a research team to investigate one area to improve the lives of disabled LGBTQIA+ people in the UK, what would it be and why?
  2. Where do you find joy, safety and community, and what gets in the way?

You can answer in a single word, a sentence or a few paragraphs, whatever feels right for you.

The more voices we hear, the more this research will truly reflect our community. Please share this page and the survey link with friends, groups and networks, and on social media.

Get in touch

If you have questions about the project, would like to share feedback, or need the survey in a different format, please contact us at researchproject@parapride.org.

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Work With Us

ParaPride is built by people who care deeply about disabled LGBTQ+ inclusion.

We are always looking for volunteers, collaborators, and team members who share that commitment.

Whether you have lived experience, professional skills, or simply time to give, there is a place for you here.

Find out how to get involved and help us grow our impact.

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Support Intersectionality Awareness Week

Intersectionality Awareness Week (IAW) is ParaPride’s annual campaign exploring how overlapping identities, including disability and LGBTQ+ identity, shape people’s lives. It is one of the most important things we do each year.

You can get involved by sharing campaign content, hosting an event, or using our free resources within your organisation or community. The campaign is open to everyone. Individuals, schools, employers, and organisations are all welcome to take part.

By supporting Intersectionality Awareness Week, you help amplify disabled LGBTQ+ voices on a national scale.

Visit IAW Website