“Sorry, we don’t have any LGBTQI+ service users” : bridging gaps towards inclusion in social services

Urek, Mojca (author), Jurček, Anže (author)

This article addresses the persistent gap between the ethical foundations of social work-rooted in human rights, social justice, and anti‐oppressive practices - and the exclusionary experiences of LGBTQI+ people within Slovenian social work and care services. It examines how these services respond to LGBTQI+ needs, identifies the typical patterns of practice, and explores how general equity principles can be more effectively translated into everyday work. The article draws on a narrative synthesis of three research projects conducted between 2018 and 2021, focusing on the experiences of LGBTQI+ older people, children, and youth in Slovenian social and care services. These include two European projects and a small‐scale qualitative study during the Covid‐19 epidemic. Based on these findings, the article identifies recurring themes and patterns in the response of services, including instances of openly inappropriate treatment, denial through universalist approaches, the “transparent closet,” and examples of inclusive and affirming practices. While exclusion remains widespread, the article highlights promising practices - particularly within NGO‐led initiatives - and calls for systemic change.

• Language: English
• Keywords: human rights, LGBTQI+, children and young people, older people, professional conduct, social care services, professional conduct, social justice, social work
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FSD - Faculty of Social Work
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2025
• Number of pages: 21 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, art. 10563
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-175961
• UDC: 364.4-055.3
• ISSN on article: 2183-2803
• DOI: 10.17645/si.10563
• COBISS.SI-ID: 254340355
• Publication date in RUL: 14.11.2025

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Social inclusion
• Publisher: Cogitatio Press
• ISSN: 2183-2803
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523399961

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: človekove pravice, LGBTQI+, otroci in mladina, stari ljudje, socialno delo, socialne službe

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: J5-2566
• Name: SOCIALNO DELO KOT DRUŽBENA NAPRAVA SOLIDARNOSTI: IZBRANE PROBLEMATIKE V ZGODOVINSKI IN IZKUŠENJSKI OPTIKI