Gay Men Research Articles

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.

Have a Woman’s Heart but a Man’s Face: Perceptions of Gay Relationships in Greek Gay Men

AbstractIn this qualitative study, we build upon the findings of previous research by investigating the perceptions and attitudes of 10 self-identified gay men in Greece, toward gay relationships, the influence of Greek society upon them, masculinity, partner preferences, and self-disclosure. A critical thematic analysis of the semi-structured interviews revealed that most participants held negative views regarding same-sex relationships among gay men possibly due to internalizing the homonegativity of Greek society which was consistently acknowledged. They further expressed preference for masculine partners and tended to avoid feminine gay men, preferring to befriend them rather than pursue a romantic relationship with them. Although many participants described masculine gay men as reserved, distant, and emotionally restricted, they still preferred them as partners. Furthermore, most participants expressed negative opinions about self-disclosure, possibly due to the identity confusion caused by the rejection for their sexual orientation Greek social environment. Similarly, when it came to LGBTIQ + rights activism, participants were opposed, contending that it caused more confusion and discord within the younger generation of gays rather than fostered positive change. This research makes a unique contribution by presenting a realistic account of gay men’s contradicting views of their selfhood, a disbelief in gay relationships, an outright preference for masculinity in partnerships, a disdain for gay rights activism, and fear of self-disclosure. These perceptions and attitudes appear to be due to the long history of societal marginalization and rejection and may be subject to change as Greece moves toward a more accepting environment for LGBTIQ + rights.

Sexual (Double) Standards Revisited: Similarities and Differences in the Societal Evaluation of Male and Female Sexuality

Past research has been inconclusive regarding the continued existence of the sexual double standard (SDS)—that is, differential expectations and evaluations of sexual activity for men (rewarded for sexual activity) and women (punished for sexual activity). Here, we present the similarities and differences (S&D) model of sexual standards, which significantly qualifies the traditional SDS by highlighting both similarities and differences between standards applied to women and men. Across two samples (student/community sample, crowdsourcing sample; Ntotal = 342) and seven sexual outcomes, high sexual activity was rated more favorably in men than in women (replicating previous research), and the opposite was true for low sexual activity (extending previous research). Importantly, moderate (not extremely low or high) sexual activity was rated most favorably in both genders, suggesting similar and curvilinear intragender trajectories. These findings illustrate a distinctly different perspective on male and female sexuality and open avenues for new research.

Gay Dads to Be: Reflections on Gender, Sexuality, Family, and Race in Adoption and Surrogacy

Prospective gay fathers must carefully prepare, plan, and think about parenting—often for years—before they become parents. This article explores how different paths to parenthood provide opportunities for Canadian gay men to reflect upon their preferences for surrogacy or adoption, the meaning of fatherhood in the absence of a woman as a primary caregiver, and the opportunities and potential shortcomings of gay fatherhood. Based on analysis of 23 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with Canadian prospective gay fathers, I show that adoption and surrogacy foster different degrees of reflection along the journey to fatherhood. I argue that gay men who pursue surrogacy express masculine competence and draw upon scripts of conventional fatherhood, while gay men who pursue adoption experience a disruption in their masculine competence and must reflect on their potential inadequacies as male parents. Further, I include a brief discussion of some counterevidence: these pressures on the journey to gay fatherhood can be resisted through a queer, anti-racist, and feminist consciousness.

Reach of GetCheckedOnline among gay, bisexual, transgender and queer men and Two-Spirit people and correlates of use 5 years after program launch in British Columbia, Canada

ObjectivesUnderstanding who uses internet-based sexually transmitted and blood-borne infection (STBBI) services can inform programme implementation, particularly among those most impacted by STBBIs, including gender and sexual minority (GSM) men. GetCheckedOnline,...

Queering Rainbow Social Marketing: Ensuring Equitable Outcomes for Rainbow Communities

Unfortunately, though we are seeing more acceptance/tolerance in society, Rainbow communities/LGBTQIA+ community continue to be marginalised and discriminated against. Many of these negative pressures and barriers create negative outcomes. Rainbow communities represent an umbrella term for sexually and gender diverse people including but not limited to transgender, non-binary, gay, lesbian and bisexual individuals. Social marketing offers a medium for pro-social change. However, interventions focused on Rainbow communities are comparatively scant, and little critiques have been put forward to ensure inclusion and facilitate appropriate representation and engagement. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to critique and evaluate existing Rainbow social marketing literature. To complete this evaluation, queering was used to highlight gaps, inaccuracies or limitations in the literature. Given reflection on the literature, three main problem areas emerged (1) a heavily skewed focus on the sexual health of gay men and MSM (men who have sex with men), (2) issues surrounding the individual(s) leading the intervention and (3) misrepresentation of identities in analysis and reporting. In identifying these issues, areas for further development, scrutiny and investigation can be revealed. Synthesising this, the other major contribution of this article is a discussion regarding vital future research that highlights areas of focus for Rainbow research and social marketing. The queering approach used supposes an emancipatory disposition and aims to highlight practical changes for that normative environment. Therefore, complementing the overarching aim, an objective and contribution of this paper are practical recommendations to ensure that social marketers appropriately support and engage Rainbow communities.

The rural side of the rainbow: Mental health and the intersections of geography, sexuality, and partnership.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) persons tend to be geographically concentrated in larger metropolitan areas and research persistently observes LGB persons as a disadvantaged population for mental health outcomes when compared to their heterosexual counterparts. Conflicting evidence suggests that mental health risk exposures are greater for LGB people in rural spaces while other research posits that urban residency is more detrimental for LGB mental health. One positively contributing factor to the mental well-being of LGB persons is their partnership status. To date, no study estimates how partnership may ameliorate unfavourable mental health outcomes for LGB populations in urban and rural areas. Using 10 years of pooled data from the nationally representative Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS), this study examines mental health and the intersection of sexuality, geographic residency, and partnership. Logistic regression models estimate the intersections of sexuality, geography, and partnership status on mental health, stratified by respondents' gender. Findings show partnered gay men in rural areas experiencing better mental health than their partnered heterosexual counterparts in the largest urban cities. Although not significant, the same pattern is observed for partnered lesbian women who do not experience a significant mental health disadvantage at any geographic level. Regardless of partnership and geographic space, bisexual men, and especially bisexual women, exhibit worse mental health outcomes compared to their heterosexual counterparts.

Community stigma, victimization, and coping strategies among gay, bisexual, and other cis-gender men who have sex with men in slum communities in Ghana. BSGH-003

BackgroundGay, bisexual, and cis-gender men who have sex with men (GBMSM) face severe consequences, especially within stigmatized environments. However, very little is known about the experiences of GBMSM living in slums in SSA and Ghana. This study investigates the experiences of stigma, victimization, and coping strategies and proposes some interventional approaches for combating stigma facing GBMSM in slum communities.MethodsWe engaged GBMSM living in slums in two major Ghanaian cities. We used a time-location sampling and collected data through in-depth individual interviews. Two major themes emerged from the study: (1) insecurities and criminalization of GBMSM activity, and (2) GBMSM coping strategies.ResultsFindings show GBMSM experienced negative attitudes from the community due to their sexual behavior/orientation. GBMSM also developed coping strategies to avert negative experiences, such as hiding their identities/behavior, avoiding gender non-conforming men, and having relationships with persons outside their communities.ConclusionWe propose interventions such as HIV Education, Empathy, Empowerment, Acceptance, and Commitment Therapy as possible measures to improve the experiences of GBMSM living in Ghanaian slum communities.

Sexual orientation as a contextual frame for attractiveness judgments.

Despite strong consensus about the basic features that make someone look objectively attractive, contextual variation may modulate subjective assessments. Here, we investigate how social group membership provides such a context, comparing attractiveness judgments between lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) versus straight perceivers, and examining how these attractiveness judgments relate to beliefs about the target person's sexual orientation. We indeed find that perceivers rate targets as more attractive when they believe the target's sexual majority/minority status matches their own (Study 1). This association differs according to context, however: Although straight and LGB perceivers evaluate the components of facial attractiveness similarly (Study 2), straight men use attractiveness as a cue to sexual orientation (i.e., deeming unattractive women lesbians; Study 3) whereas LGB perceivers use sexual orientation as a cue to attractiveness (e.g., gay men rate men they believe are gay as more attractive than men they believe are straight; Studies 4 and 5). Thus, LGB identity seems to create a context in which sexual minority perceivers learn to attend to information about sexual diversity that straight perceivers may ignore. These findings highlight how group membership provides a lens for social perception, specifically pointing to how the contextual mindset of partner selection may transmute otherwise objective judgments, such as facial attractiveness. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Between anti-gambling and masculinity: mahjong playing among Japanese gay men

ABSTRACT The purpose of this paper is to explore the construction of gender norms in gambling through qualitative research and, specifically in relation to the behavior, spatial arrangements, and relationships with objects among gay men. Based on data collected in the Kinki region of Japan from 2021 to 2023, this paper examines gambling from the perspective of gay individuals who hold an anti-gambling stance. The paper considers gambling as a performative act that constructs masculinity and uses actor-network theory to investigate how actors in the context of mahjong parlors construct masculinity. Through this approach, the paper examines this as a dynamic and constructive process in gambling. It meticulously describes the diverse ways in which research participants perceive the relationship between gambling and masculinity, shedding light on the private spaces that are often marginalized from the public norms of gambling. Unlike existing psychological and psychopathological studies on gambling, this paper focuses on the actual practice of gambling through long-term participant observation from an anthropological perspective, fostering a more dynamic and constructive discussion.

Ostracism Experiences of Sexual Minorities: Investigating Targets' Experiences and Perceptions by Others.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people face frequent discrimination, maltreatment, and violence for transgressing gender roles upheld in heteronormative societies. Ostracism (i.e., being excluded and ignored) is likely another, understudied form of discrimination against sexual minorities. In a multi-method approach using a nationally representative panel (N = 4104) and experience sampling data (N = 467, 14 days, k = 926 ostracism experiences), we find that LGB individuals report more ostracism experiences than straight individuals. In line with the idea that ostracism toward sexual minorities occurs as a function of gender role nonconformity, lesbians and gay men are rated by an independent rater sample as more likely to be ostracized (k = 10,760 ratings) when they are also rated as more lesbian/gay and less gender role conforming. Our findings speak in favor of ostracism as a discriminatory experience of LGB individuals that is driven by transgressions of heteronormativity.

Z-Drug Use and Benzodiazepine Use and Misuse Among LGB Populations: The Role of Psychological Distress.

Z-drugs (hypnotics such as zolpidem, zopiclone, and zaleplon) and benzodiazepines (BZDs) are sedative medications with misuse liability. The goals of this study are to report the (1) prevalence of past-year any Z-drug use, any BZD use, and any BZD misuse by sexual identity category and psychological distress; (2) associations among these 3 categories between sexual identity and past-year psychological distress; (3) associations among these 3 categories with sexual identity by past-year psychological distress status. Data were collected from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (years 2015-2019 [n = 210,392]), a yearly representative national household survey of the American population. We report prevalences of any Z-drug use, any BZD use, and any BZD misuse by sexual identity and past-year psychological distress status. We ran logistic regressions with complex survey design with the 3 dichotomous variables described above as the dependent variables, stratified and not-stratified by psychological distress. Prevalence of any Z-drug an BZD use and any BZD misuse were higher among LGB (lesbian/gay/bisexual) populations, especially gay men and bisexual women. Psychological distress was positively associated with any Z-drug and BZD use and any BZD misuse. Women were at higher risk of Z-drug (odds ratio [OR], 1.27; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18-1.37) and BZD use (OR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.55-1.73), but lower risk of BZD misuse (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.76-0.88). When stratifying by psychological distress, differences between LGB and heterosexuals were more pronounced among those without past-year psychological distress, especially gay men and bisexual women. The presence of psychological distress attenuates the disparities between LGB and heterosexual individuals in Z-drug use and BZD use and misuse.

Experiences of professional mental health help-seeking and engagement with services among emerging adult men identifying as gay

ABSTRACT Objective Gay men have higher rates of psychological distress and greater dissatisfaction with mental health services than heterosexual men. Emerging adulthood is a vulnerable period representing a crucial period of sexual identity formation. Understanding of experiences during engagement with professional mental health services by gay men remains limited, especially in emerging adulthood. This study explored emerging adult gay men’s experiences during their engagement with professional mental health help-seeking. Method In-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven gay-identifying cisgender men. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results An overarching theme of perseverance was identified, with two themes of navigating anticipatory heterosexism and renegotiating pathology. Navigating anticipatory heterosexism included subthemes of selective disclosure and seeking “safe” practitioners. In renegotiating pathology, interviewees described delineating distress, thereby separating sexual identity from their mental health presentation, as well as normalising distress resulting from experiences of prejudice and minority stress. These themes encapsulate how participants reported navigating sexual identity-based challenges during the help-seeking process, thereby persevering and continuing with help-seeking. Conclusions Results highlight how mental healthcare can be navigated and underscore the need to: 1) enhance signalling safety to sexually diverse client groups, and 2) increase practitioner cultural competency to reduce stigma or heterosexism in experiences of healthcare.

191 Ethnoracial Disparities in Subjective Cognitive Decline Among Sexual Minority Men in the U.S.

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Sexual minority men (SMM) of color are at greater dementia risk than their White and non-SMM counterparts. The purpose of this study is to examine the relative effects of ethnoracial minority status, sexual minority status, and the intersection of both on dementia risk for men in the U.S. using subjective cognitive decline (SCD) as a proxy for dementia. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: Data will be weighed to represent population estimates from 35 states’ 2019-2022 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey to describe SCD among 4 study groups consisting of SMM and non-SMM who are from minoritized ethnoracial groups (i.e., minoritized ethnoracial gay and bisexual men, minoritized ethnoracial heterosexual men), and White SMM and White non-SMM (i.e., White gay and bisexual men, White heterosexual men) aged ≥45 years. Logistic regressions and adjusted odds ratios will determine SCD prevalences and test for differences between prevalence and demographic characteristics (i.e., education, employment, income, marital status, health coverage, and depression). RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: Due to excess chronic stress from belonging to multiple intersecting marginalized identities, we expect that SMM from minoritized ethnoracial groups will have a greater prevalence and higher odds of SCD after accounting for demographic factors when compared to groups that benefit from both “White Privilege” and heterosexism (White non-SMM, White SMM, and minoritized ethnoracial non-SMM). We also expect the odds of SCD to be higher in minoritized ethnoracial SMM when compared to White non-SMM and minoritized ethnoracial non-SMM. The odds of SCD are expected to be higher in White SMM compared to White non-SMM. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE: This is the first population-based study to apply an intersectional lens to examine dementia risk across the axes of race, sexual orientation, and gender identity. Findings from this study can inform targeted interventions to address the needs and experiences of LGBTQ+ subgroups at risk or living with dementia.

Self-Identity Among Chinese Gay Men on social media: Real Challenges in A Virtual World

This literature review synthesizes research on the experiences of Chinese gay men in online spaces. Social media provides opportunities for marginalized sexuality exploration and selective disclosure, allowing connection with hidden peers despite conservative cultural norms. However, substantial identity tensions persist between liberatory potential online and enduring offline constraints like family pressures, stigma, and censorship. Key themes examined include online identity construction under cultural influences, sequencing from anonymous to identifiable disclosure, struggles for empowering representation, and risks around involuntary outing that temper mental health benefits of online support. While virtual platforms expand Expression, full integration with real-world contexts remains challenging. Enduring harassment and victimization, amplified by state suppression of LGBTQ+ content, exacerbate psychological distress. Studies emphasize the need for aligned technological, cultural, and legal advances to translate online safe havens into greater wellbeing for this vulnerable population. Overall, this review highlights the complex interplay of opportunities and threats as Chinese gay men navigate old and new media to develop holistic identities between familial duties and sexual desires, social constraints and hopes for greater openness. Progress requires addressing biases and stigma pervading both online and offline spheres.

Translanguaging for Doing Gender in English-Medium Classrooms in Hong Kong: Towards Critical CLIL in Plurilingual Settings

ABSTRACT Critical content and language-integrated learning (CLIL) has been advocated to attest raciolingusitic ideologies in plurilingual educational settings. However, little is known about how to help students in contesting inequalities about other structures of domination in bilingual education programs. This study aims to address this gap by examining the construction of gender identities in Secondary 4 (Grade 11) English-medium Liberal Studies lessons, which aimed to enhance awareness of gender equality and subject-specific English skills about the topic. The study shows that gender was constructed and reconstructed by conflicting multilingual and multimodal gendered discourses, including the formal curriculum, school lesson materials, and classroom interaction. The paper reveals that teachers and students jointly constructed masculinities of “real men,” “good men” and “gay men” in CLIL classrooms imbedded in curriculum contexts infused with gender dualism and alternative gender values began to emerge after the CLIL lessons. The results suggest that CLIL teachers can facilitate development of critical literacies about gender by enabling encounters of different voices in translanguaging and trans-registering spaces created by students’ familiar L1 everyday discourses and multimodal practices. Pedagogical implications were also discussed.

The Politics and Aesthetics of Male Homosexuality in Malayalam Cinema: Contextualizing the Film Ka Bodyscapes (2016)

ABSTRACT Focusing on the Malayalam film Ka Bodyscapes (2016), this article attempts to historically trace and critically engage with the representations of gay sexuality in Malayalam cinema from the South Indian state of Kerala. It interrogates how Ka Bodyscapes brought to the forefront hitherto unexplored visual dynamics of the gay male body and homoeroticism on screen while troubling the heterosexual dynamics of the Malayalam film industry. By situating this film within the history of representation of male homosexuality in Malayalam cinema and the changing regimes of queer politics and feminist interventions in Kerala in the last decade, the article argues how the film’s radical visual representation of gay sexuality at the intersection of caste and religion problematizes the heterosexual family/state, thereby challenging the patriarchal masculinity that marginalizes women and sexual minorities in Kerala.

Military service and health-related quality of life among gay and bisexual prostate cancer survivors: Results from the Restore-2 study

IntroductionThere are notable disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) between gay and bisexual men (GBM) and heterosexual patients with prostate cancer (PCa); however, the role of past military service...

Development and validation of the Japanese version of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Development of Clinical Skills Scale (LGBT-DOCSS) is a validated self-assessment tool for health and mental health professionals who provide healthcare for sexual and gender minority patients. This study aimed to develop and validate a Japanese version of LGBT-DOCSS (LGBT-DOCSS-JP) and examine its psychometric properties. LGBT-DOCSS was translated into Japanese and cross-culturally validated using cognitive debriefing. We then evaluated the structural validity, convergent and discriminant validity, internal consistency, and test-retest reliability of LGBT-DOCSS-JP using an online survey. Data were analyzed for 381 health and mental health professionals aged 20 years or older from three suburban medical institutions. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the original three-factor model did not fit well with LGBT-DOCSS-JP. Exploratory factor analysis revealed four new factors: Attitudinal Awareness, Basic Knowledge, Clinical Preparedness, and Clinical Training. Convergent and discriminant validity were supported using four established scales that measured attitudes toward lesbians and gay men, genderism and transphobia, authoritarianism and conventionalism, and social desirability. The internal consistency of LGBT-DOCSS-JP was supported by the Cronbach's alpha values for the overall scale (0.84), and for each of its subscales (Attitudinal Awareness and Basic Knowledge both 0.87, Clinical Preparedness 0.78, and Clinical Training 0.97). The test-retest reliability for the overall LGBT-DOCSS-JP was supported by an intraclass correlation coefficient score of 0.86. LGBT-DOCSS-JP has the potential to serve as a valuable tool in the development and assessment of effective curricula for LGBT healthcare education, as well as a means to promote self-reflection among trainees and professionals.

Determining The Attitudes of Nurses Towards Lesbians and Gays and The Factors Driving Their Attitudes

This study was conducted to determine the attitudes of clinical nurses towards lesbian and gay individuals and the factors affecting these attitudes. The universe of the research consisted of 254 clinical nurses. The data collection tools used were “The Personal Information Form” and “Attitude towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale (ATLG)”. In addition, the mean scores of the nurses who encountered lesbian/gay individuals, wanted to meet lesbian/gay individuals, and knew lesbian/gay individuals from the Attitudes towards Lesbian and Gays Scale were found to be statistically significant and high (p