Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender And Queer Research Articles

Integrating skin of color and sexual and gender minority content into dermatology residency curricula: A prospective program initiative

Integrating skin of color and sexual and gender minority content into dermatology residency curricula: A prospective program initiative

Bisexual Men Living with HIV: Wellbeing, Connectedness and the Impact of Stigma.

Social research with people living with HIV (PLHIV) rarely distinguishes between gay men and bisexual men. However, bisexual men may have unique experiences of HIV-related stigma and distinct support needs. In this paper, findings are presented from a cross-sectional survey of Australian PLHIV, which included the Berger (HIV) stigma scale. A total of 872 PLHIV completed the survey, of which 48 (6.0%) were bisexual men. Bisexual men reported higher levels of internalised HIV-related stigma, greater negative self-image and poorer emotional wellbeing than gay men. Bisexual men also reported less social support, less connection with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) communities, and less connection with other PLHIV. Analysis of data from an open-text question revealed feelings of social isolation and fear of rejection was associated with participant’s HIV diagnosis. Study findings suggest that existing social supports for PLHIV may not adequately address the unique support needs of bisexual men.

Preventing cardiovascular disease among sexual and gender minority persons

With growing awareness of the unique health risks and disparate outcomes among sexual and gender minority (SGM), for example, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) populations, the US National...

Differences in suicidal behavior in sexual and gender minority populations

Suicide is a critical public-health issue that remains the leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 24. In lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) populations the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions is significantly higher. The effect of natal sex vs. gender identity has not been studied enough as yet. In this study the PubMed-database was searched systematically for articles on the association between gender/sex differences and suicidality. Included were: meta-analyses, systematic and narrative reviews, first-hand observational studies and qualitative studies, published prior to 1 January 2021. Twenty-nine publications were found relevant, the majority on self-harm and suicide attempts and only few on death by suicide. Sexual (29.68%-lifetime) and gender (46.65%) minorities seem more likely to die by suicide than heterosexual/cisgender (14.57%) people. At greatest risk are transgender (56.65%) and bisexual (41.47%) individuals. Most studies reported natal males to be more affected than natal females. The “gender paradox in suicide” does not exist among sex and gender minorities (SGMs), but differences in suicidal behavior exist between the various SGM groups. More research on suicidal behavior among these groups, especially longitudinal research, is necessary.

When home is not a safe haven

Quarantine situations have deleterious effects on the mental health of the general population, but it is expected that LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) individuals are even more affected. We aimed to investigate the extent to which the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic are associated with changes in the mental health of LGBTQ adolescents and young adults (N = 403). The findings indicated that (i) not having or entered into a university degree, (ii) the daily negative impact of the pandemic, and (iii) a negative family climate were associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety. Furthermore, family climate partially mediated the association between the pandemic's individual impact and both depression and anxiety. Organizations promoting the rights of LGBTQ individuals, health and educational services, and other support networks, should remain available to meet the needs of this population.

Pharmacosex: Reimagining sex, drugs and enhancement

BackgroundThe use of drugs in sexual contexts is receiving closer attention in the media, public health bodies and communities than ever before. However, research to date is most often concerned with the sex-related drug use of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) populations, and particularly men who have sex with men (MSM) engaging in ‘chemsex’. Against a backdrop dominated by public health and medical science perspectives, this article seeks to move beyond prevailing sex on drug discourses characterised by risk and harm, or pleasure. Drawing on an expansive notion of enhancement, we explore intersections between drug consumption and sex via the concept of ‘pharmacosex’: the ways in which wider populations experiment with a range of illicit drugs that modify and enhance their sex lives in the context of broader processes of the pharmaceuticalisation of sexuality. MethodsDrawing on two empirical studies comprising a virtual ethnography and 45 interviews with participants across a range of gender and sexual identities who regularly combine sex and drugs, this article contributes to the growing body of research that attends to the materiality of drug consumption practices in relation to the historical and social contexts from which they emerge. ResultsOur participants reported variegated and complex modes of enhancement in relation to a wide range of psychoactive substances. Participants described enhanced emotional connectedness, bodily sensations, disinhibition and desire, but they also discussed how sex enhances drug experiences. As important but currently neglected in research literature were the therapeutic dimensions of drug-taking reported, which cannot be neatly distinguished from purely hedonic motivations. While enhancement was also experienced by participants in more challenging ways in relation to shame, regret, risk and/or harm, these experiences simultaneously afforded space for the emergence of innovative practices of risk-management, safety and care. ConclusionThis study exposes the diversity of practices and meanings sex-related drug use hold for participants, but also demonstrates the paucity of biomedical conceptions of sexual enhancement limited to stamina, function and libido, and the need for a more expansive approach. The study also raises questions about the extent to which contemporary discourses of self-improvement have come to ‘inhabit’ sexuality in the twenty-first century, and the role drugs might play in this context. By shifting the gaze from pathology to enhancement and exploring the plurality of practice, we can better understand the motivations for engaging in sex-related drug use, thereby circumventing knee-jerk counterproductive enforcement and policy responses.

Experiences of and responses to disempowerment, violence, and injustice within the relational lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people

This article introduces a special edition of the Journal of Sociology that aims to interrogate the ongoing entrenchment of hetero- and cis-normative borders, and the consequential manifestations of power, violence and in/justice experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in their relationships and family lives. The articles in this issue all explore different forms of violence, injustice, and persecution that continue to exist despite the success of many social justice campaigns in recent years for LGBTQ people. This article provides a synopsis of the research in this collection – research which demonstrates and expands our understandings of the complexities of LGBTQ lives around the globe negotiating empowerment, safety, and justice. We highlight the ongoing importance of this work as LGBTQ people around the world are experiencing the disproportionate impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Have Christian Colleges and Universities Become More Inclusive of LGBTQ Students Since Obergefell v. Hodges?

Due to rapid changes in societal attitudes toward LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) people, as well as the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2015 decision Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide, Christian colleges and universities are experiencing more pressure to become inclusive of LGBTQ students. This article draws on U.S. Department of Education data on all four-year, not-for-profit Christian colleges and universities, as well as an original longitudinal dataset of LGBTQ student groups across Christian colleges and universities, to describe the landscape of LGBTQ student inclusion on Christian campuses before and after Obergefell v. Hodges. In 2013, two years before the U.S. Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriage, just under half (45%) of Christian colleges and universities had LGBTQ student groups. However, the U.S. Supreme Court’s Obergefell decision has evidently had little effect on holdouts: in 2019, the percentage of Christian colleges and universities that were home to LGBTQ student groups was only slightly higher (47%). Logistic regression analyses reveal that Christian colleges and universities that have recently become home to LGBTQ student groups were already predisposed to having LGBTQ groups in the first place, given that they are associated with social justice-minded denominations, have large student bodies, and have higher percentages of women students. The article’s findings hold implications for ongoing research on the status of LGBTQ people within Christian institutions.

The Power of Equality? Polarization and Collective Mis-representation on Gay Rights in Congress, 1989–2019

The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent application of employment protections to gays and lesbians in Bostock v. Clayton County highlights the striking absence of policy produced by the U.S. Congress despite two decades of increased public support for gay rights. With the notable exceptions of allowing gays and lesbians to serve in the military, and passing hate crimes legislation, every other federal policy advancing gay rights over the last three decades has been the product of a Supreme Court ruling or Executive Order. To better understand the reasons for this inaction, we examine the changing preferences of members of Congress on LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) issues. Examining scores from the Human Rights Campaign from 1989 to 2019, we find a striking polarization by the parties on LGBTQ issues, as Democrats have become much more supportive and Republicans even more opposed to gay rights. This change has been driven not by gerrymandering, mass opinion polarization, or elite backlash, but among Republicans by a mix of both conversion and replacement, and among Democrats primarily of replacement of more moderate members. The result is a striking lack of collective representation that leaves members of the LGBTQ community at risk to the whims of presidents and jurists.

LGBTQ cultural competence for pharmacists

LGBTQ cultural competence for pharmacists

Family and Community Approaches to Intimate Partner Violence: Restorative Programs in the United States.

Now is the time to rethink reliance on legal intervention to end intimate partner violence (IPV). Arrest, incarceration, and family separation have fallen disproportionately on people who are Black or Brown, impoverished, or immigrant, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ). Restorative approaches bring together the persons harmed, persons causing harm, their family or community networks, or combinations of these stakeholders. Based on a U.S. national study, this article examines: What influences programs to adopt a restorative approach to ending IPV? How do programs safeguard their original vision for social change? What principles guide the programs in carrying out their work in safe and productive ways?

The health and well-being of LGBTQ people in mainland China: The role of social work

Knowledge about the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people in mainland China is limited, but what is known raises concerns about their welfare. Social work, as an emerging profession in the country, is poised to play a critical role in supporting LGBTQ Chinese people.

Self-Reported Conversion Efforts and Suicidality Among US LGBTQ Youths and Young Adults, 2018.

Objectives. To explore associations between undergoing sexual orientation or gender identity conversion efforts (SOGICE) and suicidality among young LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning) individuals.Methods. Data were derived from a 2018 online cross-sectional study of young LGBTQ individuals (13-24 years of age) residing in the United States. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relative odds of suicidality among young LGBTQ individuals who experienced SOGICE (in comparison with those who did not) after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, geography, parents' use of religion to say negative things about being LGBTQ, sexual orientation, gender identity, discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity, and physical threats or harm because of sexual orientation or gender identity.Results. Relative to young people who had not experienced SOGICE, those who reported undergoing SOGICE were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and having multiple suicide attempts.Conclusions. The elevated odds of suicidality observed among young LGBTQ individuals exposed to SOGICE underscore the detrimental effects of this unethical practice in a population that already experiences significantly greater risks for suicidality.

Rights and Tolerance Support in U.S. Presidential Elections, 1992–2016

Do attitudes toward issues such as abortion, LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) rights, and tolerance of diversity matter to U.S. voters and elections? Scholarship on rights and tolerance support has failed to take into account the potentially confounding influence of racial resentment as a factor behind voter choice. This is a serious limitation that we seek to address with American National Election Studies data for presidential elections from 1992 through 2016. We bring together for the first time rights and tolerance support and racial resentment, alongside further consideration of anti-immigrant sentiments and white identity. Racial resentment and anti-immigrant sentiments shape the behavior of voters, but there is new evidence for the large influence of rights and tolerance attitudes, including with respect to the 2016 presidential election. The results suggest a growing dependence of Democratic candidates on high levels of rights and tolerance support. We discuss implications for theory and research on voter choice.

Use of fertility services in Australian lesbian, bisexual and queer women's pathways to parenthood.

It is estimated that up to one in three lesbian, bisexual or queer (LBQ) women in Australia have children. In the past decade, it has become common for LBQ women to pursue pregnancy using clinic-acquired donor sperm. The aims of this paper are to explore pathways to parenthood among Australian LBQ women in the context of increased access to fertility clinics and identify the type of clinical fertility services being used. This paper reports on female LBQ parents and expectant/prospective parents who participated in a 2016/2017 online survey of Australian lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) adults exploring reproductive choices, pathways to parenthood, conception method and use of clinical fertility services. More than half the children reported on by current parents (52%) had been conceived using clinical fertility services. When asked what factors influenced a parent respondent's decision to use fertility services: 80% indicated access to donor sperm, 41% indicated fertility problems. Of respondents who had accessed donor sperm, over half (57%) had used in vitro fertilisation (IVF) services. These findings indicate that use of fertility clinics to access donor sperm is common for LBQ women, including those with no known fertility problems, and that most women who access donor sperm conceive using IVF rather than intrauterine insemination. More needs to be known about the context and reasons for this, including factors that influence LBQ women's decision making on their pathway to parenthood.

“The Untold Side of COVID-19”: Struggle and Perspectives of the Sexual Minorities

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has threatened global public health. Travel has been restricted, economies slashed, borders sealed, and billions quarantined at their residences, in an attempt to contain the outbreak. Social distancing and lockdown measures have disrupted human lives in terms of social relationships and emotional bonds. Every individual is facing unique challenges to cope with these unprecedented times. However, certain sections of the population, like the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community, are particularly vulnerable to not only the infective risks of the virus, but also the psycho-social offshoots of the global lockdown and the pandemic aftermath. The various factors range from the immunocompromised state, increased comorbidities of sexually transmitted diseases, other chronic medical disorders and substance abuse, as well as reduced access to health care, to stigma and social discrimination, administrative apathy, economic constraints, and uncertainty of social rituals like the Pride Celebrations. These can lead to the underdetection of the viral load, increased physiological risks to COVID-19, decreased help-seeking, and inequality in health and legal care. Their emotional and psychosexual well-being also gets impaired, with increased risks for psychiatric disorders and suicidality.Keeping these factors in the background, this article glances at the disproportionate risk related to the COVID-19 pandemic in the sexual minorities, explores the psycho-social factors behind the same, and highlights specific ways to mitigate these risks for better care. Adopting a rights-based perspective for the LGBTQ community through public health measures during such crises can help reduce stigma and promote their social inclusion.

Twitter as Safe Space for Self-Disclosure among Malaysian LGBTQ Youths

Majority of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) youths in Malaysia are not able to express their sexual orientation in real life due to fear of threats and backlash from the society. Thus, they turn to social media like Twitter to share their true selves and sexualities. Twitter plays an important role in helping the LGBTQ youths to reveal their true selves and and finding a sense of belonging to a community that supports and encourages them and in a country like Malaysia, that is important to their mental well-being. Ten participants from the LGBTQ community gave their consents to be interviewed. This study focuses on the concept of self-disclosure between the participants and their Twitter followers. Results are organized around three primary themes. 1) Motivation which includes knowledge, private life, self-acceptance, and movement and clique. 2) Reciprocity in self-disclosure from both the giving and receiving end which can be positive or negative. Under the giving end, recognition is positive whereas exclusion is negative and under the receiving end, acceptance is positive while dismissal is negative. 3) Consequences of disclosure in the forms of income that is internal gain and outcome, the external gain. It is found that the participants’ actual intentions of self-disclosure are self-acceptance and self-actualization. They use Twitter as it is seen as a private space where they can be themselves and be safe, supporting the notion of Twitter as a safe space for LGBTQ youths. Keywords: LGBTQ, Twitter, self-disclosure, safe space, youth.

No Home and No Acceptance: Exploring the Intersectionality of Sexual/Gender Identities (LGBTQ) and Race in the Foster Care System

Black youth have been overrepresented in the U.S. foster care system for decades. This, coupled with disparities in treatment and outcomes, has forced all child welfare agencies to take note and influenced policy change, at the federal level. Recently, literature has begun to bring to light the existence of a substantial LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer) foster youth population which is overrepresented and underserved. This article offers a comprehensive look at the LGBTQ foster youth population, its vulnerabilities, and its distinct needs. It further contributes to the existing body of literature by exploring the intersectionality of foster youth who identify as Black and LGBTQ.

Microaggressions experienced by LGBTQ academics in Canada: “just not fitting in… it does take a toll”

Given contemporary attention to diversity and inclusion on Canadian university campuses, and given human rights protections for sexual orientation and gender identity, it is tempting to believe that marginalization is a thing of the past for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) academics. Our qualitative study (n = 8), focusing on everyday experiences rather than overt discrimination, documents numerous microaggressions, the often-unintended interactions that convey messages of marginality. With colleagues, students and administrators, participants reported isolation, tokenism, invisibility, hyper-visibility, dismissal, exoticization, and lack of institutional support. Maintaining constant vigilance and caution was taxing. The everyday microaggressions that lead to isolation and a sense of dis-ease in pervasively cisgender-normative and heteronormative institutions are very difficult to challenge, as they are not the kinds of experiences anti-discrimination policies and procedures are designed to address.

"You Get a PhD and We Get a Few Hundred Bucks": Mutual Benefits in Participatory Action Research?

Participatory action research (PAR), community-based participatory research, and other participatory approaches continue to gain popularity within the field of public health and allied disciplines in an effort to democratize the production of knowledge and contribute to sustainable community health improvements. Consequently, more students and early-career scholars will elect to incorporate participatory approaches in their dissertations and other early-career research studies in an effort to meaningfully influence community health equity in a variety of contexts. While there is a growing body of literature on the processes and challenges involved in PAR, community-based participatory research, and other participatory research, early-career scholars infrequently critically reflect on and detail learnings from their participatory research studies in the academic literature. I respond to this gap by sharing and reflecting on three critical learning points from my own youth-led PAR dissertation study examining how youth of color experience aging out of LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning)-supportive youth services. In particular, I interrogate how the processes in our academic-youth partner collaboration shaped the possibility of a mutually beneficial praxis and offer recommendations to other early-career scholars embarking on their own participatory research studies.