Gay Community Research Articles

“Genderation,” Identity, and Authenticity in the LGBTQ Marketplace

This study explores how LGBTQ identities and expressions evolve across generations, emphasizing the impact of sociocultural dynamics. It introduces the concept of “Genderation” to capture the fluidity and plurality of LGBTQ identities among younger cohorts, challenging traditional binary frameworks. The paper delves into the complexities marketers face in authentically representing this demographic, urging for inclusive and sensitive communication strategies. It highlights the pivotal role of digital platforms in identity formation and advocates for marketing practices that recognize and celebrate the diversity within the LGBTQ community. The research calls for a broader, global understanding of these generational shifts and a deeper investigation into the intersections of gender and sexuality, offering insightful directions for future inquiry and practice.

Queer representation in children’s books beyond two moms or two dads

PurposeThis article aims to help educators provide a holistic view of the LGBTQ community by highlighting children’s books that include non-parental LGBTQ characters.Design/methodology/approachThe author selected over 80 children’s books honored by the American Library Association’s Rainbow Book List. Twenty-two books were analyzed that contain examples of LGBTQ adults existing beyond the homonormative nuclear family, e.g. two same-sex parents raising children.FindingsThe author discusses various ways of living represented in these books, such as chosen families, extended families, romantic partnerships and singlehood.Originality/valueWith the increased number of high-quality LGBTQ-inclusive children’s books published in the past decade, this study provides the foundation for educators to select various texts that reveal diverse representations of LGBTQ individuals.

Celebrating Fifty Years of Jewish Pride: An Autoethnographic View on Queerness, Diaspora and Homeland in an American Gay Synagogue

Anthropologists of religion are preoccupied with questions of identity, community, performance and representation. One way they cope with these concerns is through a reflexive examination of their ethnographic positionality in the field. This provides an opportunity to engage not only with “the other”, but also to explore their own identities and background. This article presents an autoethnographic analysis of Pride Shabbat, a special service held in June to celebrate the intersection of Judaism and queerness. The service took place at Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) as part of their 50th-anniversary celebration. Since the 1970s, CBST has been known as the largest gay synagogue in the world and provided diverse religious and spiritual services to the Jewish LGBTQ+ community. Based on my participation in this specific event in June 2023, I draw distinct differences between the Israeli Jewish LGBTQ community and the American Jewish LGBTQ community, such as issues related to ageism and multigenerational perceptions within the gay community, the internal dynamic for gender dominance, as well as diverse trajectories of queerness, religiosity and nationality. Symbolically, contrary to the common perception that the diaspora looks to the state of Israel for symbolic and actual existence, this inquiry sheds light on the opposite perspective; the homeland (represented by the ethnographer) absorbs and learns from the queer Jewish practices and experiences taking place within the diaspora (the American Jewish LGBTQ community). This is an opposite movement which reveals the cracks in the perception of the gay community as a transnational community, as well as the tense power relations between Israel and American Jewry.

Queering the Midwest: Forging LGBTQ Community

Queering the Midwest: Forging LGBTQ Community

Factors Influencing Shared Decision-Making Between Healthcare Providers and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer People of Color About Intimate Partner Violence.

Within the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community, people of color (POC) disproportionately experience intimate partner violence (IPV). While shared decision-making (SDM)-a model of patient-provider communication-about IPV could benefit LGBTQ POC, its unique challenges merit consideration. This study identifies key factors affecting SDM between LGBTQ POC and healthcare providers surrounding IPV. LGBTQ POC participants (n = 217) in Chicago and San Francisco completed surveys about demographic information, healthcare utilization, and IPV history. Individual interviews and focus groups were then conducted with a Chicago-based subset of participants (n = 46) who identified as LGBTQ IPV survivors of color. Descriptive analyses were conducted of survey responses while focus group and interview transcripts were analyzed and thematically coded. Although 71% of survey participants experienced IPV, only 35% were asked about IPV in healthcare interactions within the previous year. Focus group and interview participants endorsed encounter-, patient-, and provider-centered factors affecting SDM around IPV. When IPV was discussed, patient-provider trust was essential while concordance of identities could either encourage or discourage IPV disclosure. Patients were hesitant to disclose IPV if they had never discussed their LGBTQ identity with their provider or thought providers would ignore their preferences for addressing IPV. Deterrents to SDM included providers denying the prevalence of IPV among LGBTQ individuals or lacking resources to support LGBTQ IPV survivors of color. This study highlights the identity-driven barriers that LGBTQ POC face in discussing IPV with providers. Utilizing SDM to discuss IPV with LGBTQ POC can better address the diverse health needs of this community. However, its success requires that providers acknowledge the diversity of experiences among this population, promote LGBTQ-inclusive practices, and identify resources welcome to LGBTQ POC.

The nexus between porn and psychosocial/psychosexual well-being among gay and bisexual men

ABSTRACT The digital age has amplified exposure to pornography, particularly among gay and bisexual men, intensifying the ongoing research debate surrounding its impact on well-being. We recruited 632 Australian gay and bisexual men to participate in an online survey to examine the relationship between porn use and their psychosocial/psychosexual well-being. Data on demographics, psychosocial well-being, understandings of sexuality, sexual self-esteem, connectedness to the LGBT community, and porn use, including porn use statements developed for this study, were collected. Most participants reported viewing porn a few times per week or once a day. Associations were identified between frequency, length of porn use, and other concepts. Older participants used porn less frequently, while those with higher psychological distress tended to be at opposite ends/poles of porn use frequency. Higher connectedness to the LGBT community was associated with less frequent porn use. Certain beliefs about porn were correlated with the frequency and length of porn use; for example, participants engaging with ‘kinkier’ porn and considering themselves ‘kinkier’ had longer viewing sessions. The findings offer insights into the interplay between individual characteristics, well-being, and patterns of porn usage in this population, contributing to a deeper understanding of the relationships between these concepts.

Exploring LGBTQ+ equality in India: A comprehensive examination from anthropological and legal perspectives

AbstractThis research paper meticulously traces the historical trajectory and contemporary landscape of LGBT rights in India, comprehensively examining legislative advancements, pivotal judicial rulings, and societal paradigms. It underscores the paramount importance of prioritizing human rights over entrenched societal norms, particularly in the context of including transgender individuals as equal and integral members of society. The imposition of stringent moral standards has historically curtailed freedom of choice and expression, disproportionately impacting the marginalized queer community. This study endeavors to explore the multifaceted evolution of LGBT rights within historical contexts and assesses the practical accessibility of these rights as guaranteed by Constitutional Law, case law, and other pertinent legislations. Through a nuanced analysis, this research scrutinizes the extent to which societal perceptions, cultural shifts, and policy changes have influenced the inclusion and acceptance of the LGBT community. Additionally, it aims to illuminate persisting issues that continue to be disregarded or inadequately addressed, including healthcare disparities, socio‐economic inequalities, and cultural stigma.

Toward a Queer and (Trans)Formative Methodology for Rhetoric of Health and Medicine: Institutional Critique

This article argues that the field of rhetoric of health and medicine (RHM) needs queer and (trans)formative methodologies to support a disempowered, ignored, and devalued queer community. Building directly from Mohan J. Dutta’s (2022) work, the article 1) addresses that RHM scholarly practices attend to whiteness and neglect to amplify queer and transgender interventional and rhetorical approaches; 2) develops a methodology–institutional critique–for RHM practitioners that crosses disciplinary boundaries to showcase cistematic oppression at infrastructural, structural, institutional, and interpersonal levels; and 3) provides a personal medical story that showcases how institutions fail transgender and queer patients. Through this work, this article argues for the need for rhetorical methodological intervention in RHM research and to mobilize transgender rhetorical agency through coalitional building.  

LGBTQIA+ Cultural Competence in Physical Therapist Education and Practice: A Qualitative Study from the Patients' Perspective.

The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of cultural competence and humility among patients of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) community in physical therapy. Researchers sought to understand the perspectives of adults over 18years old who have received physical therapy and identify as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. A phenomenological qualitative approach was utilized for this study. Patients were recruited through social media and LGBTQIA+ advocacy organizations across the United States. Twenty-five patients agreed to participate in the study. Focus groups and individual interviews were conducted using a semi-structured interview guide informed by Campinha-Bacote's domains of cultural competence (cultural awareness, skill, knowledge, encounter, and desire) to collect individual experiences, discussions, thoughts, perceptions, and opinions. Three central themes and subthemes emerged from the data and were categorized according to cultural acceptance (societal impact, implicit and explicit bias), power dynamics between the in-group and out-group (out-group hyperawareness of their otherness), and participant solutions (policy, training, education). An LGBTQIA+ patient's experience is influenced by the provider cultural acceptance, and the resulting power dynamics that impact LGBTQIA+ patients' comfort, trust, and perceptions of care. Enhanced patient experiences were found more prevalent with providers that possessed elevated levels of education or experience with this community, supporting Campinha-Bacote's assumption that there is a direct relationship between level of competence in care and effective and culturally responsive service. Awareness of the underlying issues presented in these themes will assist in the development of effective solutions to improve LGBTQIA+ cultural competence among physical therapists and physical therapist assistants on a systemic level.

Exploring gender diverse young adults’ gender identity development in online LGBTQIA + communities

Background Online spaces are widely used by gender diverse communities and may reduce the risk of negative psychological outcomes faced by these communities. However, little is known about the role online environments play in the development of gender identity, which may explain the growing number of gender diverse youth ‘coming out’ earlier than seen previously. In this article, gender diverse refers to anyone whose internal sense of gender is incongruent with their assigned sex at birth such as: transgender, non-binary, and agender persons. Aim This article examines the role of online lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) communities on gender identity development and examines how the structure of these spaces may positively facilitate this development. Methods A sample of 9 gender diverse young adults 19–25 years old participated in online semi-structured interviews which were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Two main themes were developed: safe spaces in virtual places and the value of online spaces as educational resources. Discussion The findings indicate that online LGBTQIA + communities facilitate gender identity development for gender diverse young adults through providing a vital resource of gender diverse specific education and exposure to less visible gender identities. Implications for future research, recommendations for practice with gender diverse youth, and limitations are discussed.

QUEERING DIGITAL LITERATURE AND DIGITAL WELL-BEING IN JEFF GARVIN’S SYMPTOMS OF BEING HUMAN

The development of digital technology and communication has brought about rapid transformation in the field of literature. Books, articles, blog posts, tweets, and conferences, that constitute the digital humanities have grown exponentially in the 21st century. The emergence of the digital space has received a quick response from various literary genres, and in no exception, queer literature, which ranges from online book publications to documenting queer experiences through blogs and more generic social networking sites like Facebook and Instagram, has not only become a popular and affordable space for the queer community but more than a socializing space across the globe. Queer literature on digital space can now be seen as the fastest-growing genre of literature that evolved. Jeff Garvin’s Symptoms of Being Human, which is written in the form of blog posts, explores the way in which this digital space has provided an opportunity for queer literature and the community to thrive by curating their identities online, reaching out to like-minded people across the globe, documenting their experiences, and educating the public about their unacknowledged identity and sexuality. The paper examines how this new mode of communication paved the way for digital well-being by maintaining a balance between the digital and the real world, accommodating and acculturating social space, acting morally and responsibly, and effectively managing digital and real-life interactions, as demonstrated in Jeff Garvin’s Symptoms of Being Human.

Improving gay, bisexual and transgender inclusion in blood and plasma donation policies and programmes in Canada: A qualitative study.

An increasing number of blood operators around the world, including those in Canada, have removed time-based deferral periods for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men and replaced them with sexual behaviour-based questions for all donors. While this marks a significant shift in screening approach, what remains unclear is how members of two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (2S/LGBTQ+) communities view blood operators' initiatives to be more inclusive. As such, this study was conducted to assess the awareness of donor screening changes and other initiatives among members of 2S/LGBTQ+ communities and to explore their recommendations for blood operators' work with these communities. Semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 15) were conducted with 2S/LGBTQ+ people across Canada. Data were analysed using open inductive coding methods. Reported here are the key results on recommendations for blood operators. Three themes were identified from the data: (1) the need for increased communications with 2S/LGBTQ+ communities surrounding changes to donor policies and guidelines; (2) the need for trans-inclusive policy and procedures; and (3) the need for culturally responsive and equity-informed staff training at donor centres. Results suggest that blood operators should consider 2S/LGTBQ+ communities when developing blood and plasma donation policies, screening procedures and staff training. Increased consultation with these communities is desired, and further research specific to the experiences of transgender blood donors is needed.

Ascendancy of Mass Media in Achieving Gender Equality

For centuries, marginalisation has affected the niches and nooks of the world on a different level. Identities like caste, creed, religion, language, race and gender have been practiced with a hierarchy and hegemony. Women are one of the largest marginalized communities along with LGBTQIA+. OTT platform plays a crucial role in displaying voices from the margins in order to showcase socio-cultural inequality and inhumanity. The present paper deals with the Indian patriarchal mindset that refuses to accept women as a major contributor and creator of society. Accepting all weak gender identities as a part of the main stream is almost like mission impossible. Desmond Tutu’s ‘rainbow colour society’ is a far reaching-goal in India. Thanks to social media of the 21st century for transmitting these minority voices to the public’s attention and awareness. The media of the 21st century has aided a lot in conditioning society’s mindset into accepting an egalitarian society. The present paper deals with marginalized married Indian women’s voices from a film called The Great Indian Kitchen on OTT and a television series based on Manju Kapoor’s novel Married Woman and Jhumpa Lahiri’s novel, Namesake. The house wives have been portrayed as searching for identities and are rebellious against the stereotypical roles. The issues of identities of the women protagonists have been powerfully depicted through these channels. The research is based upon qualitative and quantitative data analysis with statistical evidence wherever necessary. The paper is divided into four parts, namely the role of media in the 21st century, issues of identities as a theoretical background, application of the identity issues of Ashima , protagonist of book , Namesake Nimisha, the protagonist, in the film The Great Indian Kitchen and in the tele-series The Married Woman and last but not the least conclusions. This is a study and critique to highlight how the media aids in re-conceptualization of societal norms and traditions for the queer and female community to gain their self-esteem and dignity with special reference to GEM (Gender Empowerment Measure).   

The Impact of Social Stigma on the Mental Health of LGBTQ Community

LGBTQ+ community people experience and worries of sexual stigma that affects their mental health. This study investigates the relationship between social stigma and mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ individuals in India. Utilizing data from a diverse sample of 400 participants, comprising males, females, and non-binary/genderqueer individuals, gathered through an online questionnaire, the research examines the impact of social stigma variables including Rejection, Inferiority, Support Loved Ones and Social Perception Isolation and Loneliness Emotional Resilience parameters such as Unhappiness, Nervousness, and Suicidal Thoughts. Statistical analyses, conducted using SPSS, reveal moderate to moderately strong correlations between experiences of social stigma and adverse mental health outcomes, highlighting the urgent essential for targeted interventions toward reduce stigma then enhance rational healthiness support within LGBTQ+ communities in India and beyond. These findings underscore the importance of fostering inclusive environments and tailored interventions to promote the well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals. Keywords: LGBTQ+, Social Stigma, Mental Health, Queer

Engendering ethics: recognition and inclusion of intersectional identities in queer communities when conducting population survey research

ABSTRACT This paper delves into the critical importance of ethical considerations in research, with a primary focus on gender, sex, and sexual orientation. Recognizing the vulnerabilities and complexities inherent in these communities, we emphasize here the necessity of ethical awareness throughout all research phases. Ethical obligations may extend to ensuring cultural sensitivity, safety, and equitable resource distribution. The core ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice are promoted here to serve as a viable framework for ethical research. These principles require meticulous attention to informed consent, minimizing harm, maximizing benefits, and promoting fairness throughout the research process. The paper delves into the intricacies of queer identities, highlighting the fluidity and intersections among gender, sex, and sexual orientation. Recommendations are proposed to integrate ethical principles seamlessly into research. This paper underscores that ethical considerations are not just a regulatory requirement but a moral obligation, essential for upholding the rights and well-being of all individuals. By embedding ethical principles into research, we can contribute to a more inclusive, equitable, and just society, amplifying the voices and experiences of marginalized communities while minimizing harm and promoting social change.

In Solidarity: Undocuqueer Identities and Politics in U.S. Spanish-Language Ethnic Media

ABSTRACT This study presents a critical discourse analysis of the coverage of undocumented LGBTQ people and the Undocuqueer Movement by Spanish-language news media to examine how notions of solidarity and advocacy inform ethnic news narratives. The analysis reveals that Spanish-language news outlets construct undocumented LGBTQ identities around the notions of precarity and activism, affording the community some agency while still highlighting the interlocking oppressions that make undocuqueer life particularly hazardous in the U.S. Additionally, the coverage in Spanish-language media deploys solidarity as a news value, rendering newsworthy the perspectives of the undocumented LGBTQ community, the systemic issues that impact it, and the initiatives that undocuqueer people and their allies have taken to improve their situation. This study suggests that Spanish-language news media, as part of the legacies of ethnic media, are a particularly fertile ground for the development of solidarity reporting, which allows journalists to leverage their belonging to minoritized communities to produce more accurate, fair, impactful, and action-oriented news narratives.

News media coverage of LGBT identities over 10 years in a 400-million-word corpus.

This study is the first to analyze LGBT portrayals in a news media dataset over a decade (2010-2020). We selected Singapore as a country of interest, emblematic of a nation grappling with state-encouraged heteronormativity and a remnant colonial law against homosexuality (377A), fraught with calls for its repeal that was only enacted in 2022. Our study is interested in this period bookended by challenge and change, particularly in newspaper portrayals of LGBT narratives. Newspapers are an important source of current information and have the power to shape societal perceptions. We lay the groundwork and provide a framework to analyze news media narratives of other Commonwealth nations with colonial pasts and inherited laws criminalizing LGBT communities. This study analyzes LGBT portrayals in a 400-million-word news media dataset over a decade (2010-2020). First, we aimed to track the volume of LGBT media coverage over time and elucidate differences in coverage of different identity markers. Second, we aimed to track sentiments on LGBT portrayals. Third, we aimed to track salient narratives circulated about LGBT stories. The study leveraged a 400-million-word corpus from news media in Singapore, identifying the following target keywords: LGBT, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Pink Dot (a local Pride event), 377A. First, coverage volume was tracked using annual changes in keyword mentions per million, elucidating differences in coverage of different sub-groups. Second, sentiment analysis on a valence scale was conducted on LGBT collocates. Third, we distilled salient narratives about LGBT identities using thematic labelling of top-frequency collocates. First, overall coverage of LGBT steadily increased over the decade, though Gay identities evidenced asymmetrical coverage-outstripping 'Bisexual' keywords by seven times, 'Lesbian' by four, 'Transgender' by two. Second, sentiment scores for Pink Dot (a local pride event) were most positive; Lesbian, Gay, LGBT, Transgender were neutral; Bisexual and 377A dipped slightly negative. Third, topics differed across the four identities: uniquely, 'Lesbian' collocates related to sensationalized cinema; 'Gay' about hate crimes; 'Bisexual' about population surveys; 'Transgender' about challenges (transitioning, alienation, suicide). Practically, we presented a decade-long barometer of LGBT sentiments and themes on a national level, providing a framework to analyze media for more effective communication strategies-applicable to Commonwealth countries with similar inherited colonial laws. Salient repetition through media association may unwittingly frame certain issues negatively; caution is prudent in representing each sub-group adequately, rather than portraying the LGBT identity as monolithic.

Reflexive interventions: from damage-centered to desire-based bisexuality research

Research about bisexual communities is scarce, demonstrating a need for continued scholarship focusing on their experiences. Much of the qualitative research about LGBTQ communities, and bisexual communities more specifically, center narratives of invisibility, marginalization, and exclusion. It is critical to examine the ideologies that undergird this type of knowledge. In this essay, I draw from Indigenous scholars to reflect on the ways I privileged damage-centered narratives in my own work about bisexual college students. To do so, I engage in an unsettling reflexivity as both an intervention to hegemonic ways of producing knowledge about bisexual communities, and an invitation to other qualitative researchers to embark on this reflexive journey to consider the ways we can turn our gaze back to power, and tell stories that aim to capture more holistic, expansive, and desire-based stories of our communities.

‘An abundance of cakes’: Assigned female at birth queer joy and queer ethics across generations

This paper charts how, in interviewing across generations of assigned female at birth (AFAB) queers in ‘Australia’ about their experiences of lateral violence in LGBTQ+ communities, we found dominant narratives of joy, solidarity and empathy across differences, generations and intersections that demonstrate the ongoing world-making inherent to queer communities. We chart the future-oriented, more utopian themes that came out, in particular around queer (as opposed to LGB) communities and the positive ethics and politics that emerge from and are forged in them.

Queerious communities: building writing centres in Indian universities

Abstract This paper examines the new phenomenon of writing centres being made a part of universities, particularly the liberal arts private universities, in India, as growing in a way that lends it to consciously choosing queer pedagogy and to building it as a politically queer space. While some aspects of the queering of writing centres mirror the invisibilizing and the burden of proving the worth of their existence in the way queer communities are, other aspects build on what queer theory enables in terms of understanding what it takes to build communities where what is normative will continually shift what it excludes. Queer theory reminds us of the fluid and constantly reconstituting nature of identity formation whether it is based on non-binary gender identity or identities caught in the debilitating intersections of class, caste, religion, ability and sexuality. This has led to a recognition that communities formed around the learning of reading, writing and thinking, as writing centres are, are predisposed to shift focus from product to process as a move in the practice of teaching writing because it considers the individual reading-and-writing-selves present in the classroom as subjects-in-formation. This paper argues that writing pedagogy is creating queer communities because it invites and supports unsettled subjective selves to the process of knowledge production.