Exploring the life experiences of homosexual youth in a rural University community

Abstract

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the life experiences of a homosexual youth LGBT (Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender) community in a rural university. Homosexual youth between the ages of 17 and 35 served as the population of the study and purposive sampling was employed to select participants for the study. An interview schedule with open-ended questions was used to collect data that was then analysed by thematic analysis. The findings of the study exhibit many homosexual youths being abused and discriminated. The findings further reveal that the university is inaudible in finding mechanisms to raise awareness of homosexuality existence within the university community as well as for people to accept and embrace  homosexuals. It is therefore, recommended that the University management and Student Representative Council (SRC) should initiate projects and  initiatives aimed at raising awareness of the LGBT community on campus.

Keywords: Homosexual, Youth, LGBT, Experience, rural university