Dream the Dream: Futuring Communication between LGBTQ+ and Cisgender Groups in Metaverse
Anqi Wang, Lei Han, Jiahua Dong, Muzhi Zhou, David Yip, Yuyang Wang, Pan Hui

TL;DR
This paper explores how participatory design workshops in the Metaverse can identify barriers and create inclusive, equitable communication strategies between LGBTQ+ and cisgender groups, emphasizing spatial cues and power dynamics.
Contribution
It introduces a participatory, speculative approach to reimagining inclusive communication in the Metaverse, highlighting design principles for addressing power and spatial challenges.
Findings
Identified key barriers to cross-group communication in virtual spaces.
Proposed inclusive design opportunities for the Metaverse.
Outlined principles for addressing power dynamics in digital environments.
Abstract
Digital platforms frequently reproduce heteronormative norms and structural biases, limiting inclusive communication between LGBTQ+ and cisgender individuals. The Metaverse, with its affordances for identity fluidity, presence, and community governance, offers a promising site for reimagining such interactions. To investigate this potential, we conducted participatory design workshops involving LGBTQ+ and cisgender participants, situating them in speculative Metaverse contexts to surface barriers and co-create alternative futures. The workshops followed a three-phase process-identifying challenges, speculative problem-solving, and visualizing futures-yielding socio-spatial-technical solutions across four layers: activity, interaction, scene, and space. These findings highlight the importance of spatial cues and power dynamics in shaping digital encounters. We contribute by (1)…
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Taxonomy
TopicsInnovative Human-Technology Interaction · Digital Games and Media · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
