Power differences within activist communities can lead to uneven participation and an uneven distribution of benefits from the movements' activism. This is true for the LGBTQ community in Canada, where the benefits of social activism have disproportionately benefited those LGBTQ people who are cis-gender, male, white, middle-class and in long-term domestic partnerships.

Using a Community-Based Participatory Action Research design, this study seeks to generate awareness of the conditions under which power operates and is distributed in a queer spiritual community. In November 2015, undergraduate social work research students disseminated a survey to members of the Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto, Canada's largest organized LGBTQ religious community, to explore experiences belonging, representation in leadership, and activist priorities.

Respondents were asked to identify inclusion/exclusion based on race, culture, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, sexual identity, age, socioeconomic status and ability. Based on 145 responses, this survey found that members who were most likely to feel excluded identified as transgender, gender queer or non-binary, intersex, pansexual and questioning. Surprisingly, members who did not always feel included identified predominantly as white. The top social justice priorities identified included LGBTQ refugee issues, transgender rights and anti-poverty activism. Greater diversity, involvement, inclusiveness, outreach and transparency in organizational leadership emerged as key things members would like to see changed. Follow-up interviews will be held to explore responses in more detail.