Broadcasting LGBT+ support: The scope and limitations of presenting allyship

TY - JOUR

T1 - Broadcasting LGBT+ support

T2 - The scope and limitations of presenting allyship

AU - Einarsdottir, Anna

AU - Siriviriyakul, Sudthasiri

AU - Mumford, Karen Ann

N1 - © Emerald Publishing Limited. This is an author-produced version of the published paper. Uploaded in accordance with the University’s Research Publications and Open Access policy.

PY - 2026/2/24

Y1 - 2026/2/24

N2 - Advance knowledge about LGBT+ allies, their role and contribution, and how they voice support.The research is based on an innovative video booth methodology capturing short video messages recorded by LGBT+ allies. A video booth is like a passport photo booth with an affixed tablet for video recording. The booth was placed in eight organisations during LGBT+ history month, inviting people to talk about their working lives and experiences of LGBT+ networks.Due to sensitivities around identification, the findings are presented in the form of composite narratives of fictionalised characters composed by the researchers. Four versions of support were voiced by LGBT+ allies: ‘the proud ally’, ‘corporate scripting’, ‘professional/personal journey’ and ‘pointing at others’. Employing Goffman’s theory on presentation of self and scholarship on impression management, we illustrate how support is performed for the public and in public, using innovative data and methods of presenting it back to the public.The article expands scholarship on LGBT+ allies by explaining the scope and limits of voicing, and potentially actioning, support. It also illustrates the value of using composite narratives when researching sensitive topics in management and/or organisations.

AB - Advance knowledge about LGBT+ allies, their role and contribution, and how they voice support.The research is based on an innovative video booth methodology capturing short video messages recorded by LGBT+ allies. A video booth is like a passport photo booth with an affixed tablet for video recording. The booth was placed in eight organisations during LGBT+ history month, inviting people to talk about their working lives and experiences of LGBT+ networks.Due to sensitivities around identification, the findings are presented in the form of composite narratives of fictionalised characters composed by the researchers. Four versions of support were voiced by LGBT+ allies: ‘the proud ally’, ‘corporate scripting’, ‘professional/personal journey’ and ‘pointing at others’. Employing Goffman’s theory on presentation of self and scholarship on impression management, we illustrate how support is performed for the public and in public, using innovative data and methods of presenting it back to the public.The article expands scholarship on LGBT+ allies by explaining the scope and limits of voicing, and potentially actioning, support. It also illustrates the value of using composite narratives when researching sensitive topics in management and/or organisations.

U2 - 10.1108/QROM-11-2024-2871

DO - 10.1108/QROM-11-2024-2871

M3 - Article

SN - 1746-5648

VL - 21

SP - 103

EP - 122

JO - Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal

JF - Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal

IS - 1

ER -