• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
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• v.68 no.2
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• pp.233-256
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• 2016

This study aims to illustrate the essence of meaning through sexual minorities' participant experiences in a sexual minority community. This research intends to explore essential meaning structure revealed in sexual minorities' reasons for joining a sexual minority community and in their experience in community activities. The study participants were 8 sexual minorities, and data was collected by in-depth interview. Data analysis was described using Giorgi's analysis methodology in phenomenological research method. As a result, the sexual minorities' participation was consisted of 13 meaning units, 6 derived topics, and 3 essential topics, which were 'An unquenchable thirst', 'Another world called oasis', and 'Real estrangement' Moreover, based on the essential topics, the study participants' common meaning of essence was analyzed as 'spiritual diaspora'. Sexual minority communities shall contribute to developments of own organizations through mutual compensations by vitalizing exchanges with other communities based on this study. Also, the communities should the variety in sexual minorities to allow various people's participation. People's awareness on sexual minorities must be transformed so that closed communities can change. Comprehensive knowledge on sexual minorities should be distributed in the social welfare fields so that sexual minorities may search solutions on issues through various access not limited to certain communities.