Community participation Table 2.4 details levels of community participation amongst respondents. Just over 1 in 5 respondents belonged to a regional LGB group, roughly 1 in 4 were members of an online LGB group, 17% belonged to a peer support group within the LGB community, 23% volunteered outside the LGB community and only 13% were involved with local politics. These rates of participation are comparable to the Counted Out 2003 survey findings (30% reported being involved in community events, 22% were LGB volunteers and 13% were involved with local politics). Table 2.4: Community Participation Type of Group
Value
N
Percent*
Regional LGB Group
No Yes Unknown
305 88 10
75.7 21.8 2.5
Peer support within LGB Community
No Yes Unknown
323 67 13
80.1 16.6 3.2
Online LGB Groups
No Yes Unknown
293 96 14
72.7 23.8 3.5
Voluntary work outside LGB community
No Yes Unknown
301 93 9
74.7 23.1 2.2
Local politics
No Yes Unknown
338 54 11
83.9 13.4 2.7
N=403 respondents *Percentages are of the whole sample
Figure 2.5 shows respondents’ gender by type of community participation. Statistically significant differences were found between men and women in relation to online LGB group membership and involvement in local politics. Just under a third (29%) of women belonged to an online LGB group
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