Gay Community Research Articles

‘Families of Choice’ – A Review of Inclusivity of LGBT Community in Laws Governing Marriage Institution in India

‘Families of Choice’ – A Review of Inclusivity of LGBT Community in Laws Governing Marriage Institution in India

The Sexual Identity of Individual with Same-Sex Orientation: A Qualitative Study on Indonesian Gay

The homosexual phenomenon and those issues referring to LGBTQ community still confronting a debate amongst society especially in Indonesia. The pros and cons causing some people with homosexual orientation to hide their identity. The circumstances of someone’s lifetime experience are believed to be one of the factors why someone choose the same-sex orientation. This research uses a phenomenological approach with thematic analysis technique. The aim is to provide a self-concept overview of individual with same-sex orientation and also what are the factors reinforcing it. From the two respondents, we found six main themes that might influencing the formation of their sexual orientation, there are trauma, the parent-child relationship, school experience, peer influence, technology, and self-concept. Regarding their sexual identity, respondent 1 has now accepted himself as a homosexual person while respondent 2 accepts his sexual orientation right now but he believe that one day he has to change his orientation.

Strategies, Symbols, and Subjectivities: The Continuities between War Rape and Lesbo-Phobic Rape

AbstractResearch into war rape has shown that rape is not incidental to the general violence of war but is instead an integral part of war strategies. Such research makes it clear that in the context of war, rape serves to injure women on an individual level, but has the more strategic effect of fracturing communal bonds. Similarly, the growing body of research investigating the reasons for, and consequences of, the rape of lesbian women, indicates that these rapes have far-reaching consequences for lesbian communities and serves to reinforce patriarchal heteronormativity. While there is much research around both war and lesbo-phobic rape, the aim of this paper is to bring this research together in order examine lesbo-phobic rape through the lens of war rape theory. This paper aims to show how both “forms” of rape appear to hinge on the meanings assigned to women during peacetime and how both lead to the destruction of individual victims and their communities, while bolstering the subjectivities of the perpetrators and increasing the bonds of those complicit in such violence. The use of the theoretical understandings of war rape thus enriches the understandings of lesbo-phobic rape and shows that there are many continuities between the two.

Rights of Homosexuals (LGBT Community) in India: An Analytical Study

Rights of Homosexuals (LGBT Community) in India: An Analytical Study

THE PERCEIVED PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF LGBTQ INDIVIDUALS IN MALAYSIA

This study explores the psychological well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBTQ) individuals in Malaysia, focusing on their experiences of identity formation, societal understanding, and the impact of prevailing attitudes on their mental health. Through qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews with nine participants from the LGBTQ community in Kuantan, Pahang, this research delves into the personal narratives of two lesbians, two gay individuals, two bisexuals, and three transgender persons, to understand the complexities of living as an LGBTQ individual in a society marked by religious and legal considerations. .The findings reveal that participants recognized their LGBTQ identity during adolescence, often, navigating societal expectations discreetly to avoid backlash. Despite challenges, participants demonstrated resilience and found support within familial and community networks. Notably, the study highlights a shift towards greater understanding of LGBTQ individuals in Malaysia, potentially reducing instances of psychological distress within the community. This research underscores the importance of supportive environments and the need for culturally competent mental health care for LGBTQ individuals. It also calls for further studies to include broader societal perspectives and professional insights to enrich the discourse on LGBTQ mental well-being. This study contributes valuable insights into the evolving landscape of LGBTQ perceptions and the factors influencing the psychological health of LGBTQ individuals in Malaysia.

CARE-LESS DATA POP CULTURES: AN INVESTIGATION OF THE DATA IMAGINARIES AND DATA CULTURES OF THE PANDEMIC

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have critiqued the care-less legal and technical aspects of governments’ data disclosure of COVID-19 patients’ information. Yet, while there were many reported cases of public shaming of COVID-19 patients, not many studies have examined citizens’ usage and engagement with publicized data. In our study, we direct attention to citizens’ care-less engagement with COVID-19 patients’ data through the case study of the “Itaewon outbreak.” In May 2020, the gay community in South Korea became the target of public surveillance after it was revealed that a person who tested positive had visited a gay club in Seoul’s multicultural district Itaewon. Using the anonymized demographic and location data disclosed by the government, the news media sensationally reported on the data by highlighting the visitors’ presumed gay sexuality. In response, citizens widely circulated the data across social media by drawing on social media's popular culture of surveillance and call-outs. We describe these processes of interpreting and shaping pandemic data through social media’s participatory culture as data pop culture. To analyze data pop culture, we first examine the dominant data imaginaries cultivated through news media and government reports on pandemic data disclosure and how they inform the public’s understanding of data. Then, we examine how these dominant data imaginaries create power relations between people on social media as data owners and data objects. Lastly, we illustrate how these data imaginaries and relations become reproduced through social media popular culture and their implications.

LGBTQ access to generalized youth development programs

As the largest youth development organization in the United States, 4-H may be uniquely positioned to meet the needs of rural LGBTQ youth. 4-H has undergone a significant shift towards increasing access, equity, and belonging for youth over the last ten years. However, there is a specific need for research that considers the unique experiences of LGBTQ youth in accessing 4-H in their home communities, and a need for theory to guide research and policy-making decisions in 4-H among other generalized youth development organizations. This qualitative research study proposes a theoretical model of the affordances and constraints rural LGBTQ youth encounter in accessing 4-H. Interviews were conducted with former 4-H members and analysis was informed by grounded theory. Findings suggest that rural LGBTQ youth are influenced by cultures of place, family, community, and rurality. These cultures give rise to certain agricultural traditions and values, youths’ personal interests, a gendered and sexualized coding of interests, low tolerance for difference, and a lack of queer community. The resulting tensions between affordances and constraints shape youth involvement patterns, and give rise to unique cultures around queerness in 4-H. The theoretical model developed from this research provides a novel way of considering how rural LGBTQ youth access generalized youth development programs, and the factors that inform decisions to be involved in out-of-school programs such as 4-H.

Queer and Disabled: Exploring the Experiences of People Who Identify as LGBT and Live with Disabilities

As a minority within a minority, individuals who have a disability and identify as LGBT are at the intersection of multiple stigmatised identities. This brings with it unique challenges, including the possibility of oppression and rejection by both the LGBT and disability communities, which can impact on identity and wider life experiences. While previous reviews have explored issues relating to intersectionality, multiple oppression, identity, acceptance, and sexuality, an overview of the impact on wider life experiences is missing. This narrative review presents empirical findings published since 2000 about the wider everyday experiences relating to attitudes and discrimination, education, employment, finances, health and well-being, support, and intimate relationships among people who identify as LGBT and have a disability.

The Inherent Violence of Anti-Black Racism and its Effects on HIV Care for Black Sexually Minoritized Men.

The goal of this study was to examine the effects of racial discrimination, depression, and Black LGBTQ community support on HIV care outcomes among a sample of Black sexually minoritized men living with HIV. We conducted a cross-sectional survey with 107 Black sexually minoritized men living with HIV in Chicago. A path model was used to test associations between racial discrimination, Black LGBTQ community support, depressive symptoms, and missed antiretroviral medication doses and HIV care appointments. Results of the path model showed that men who had experienced more racism had more depressive symptoms and subsequently, missed more doses of HIV antiretroviral medication and had missed more HIV care appointments. Greater Black LGBTQ community support was associated with fewer missed HIV care appointments in the past year. This research shows that anti-Black racism may be a pervasive and harmful determinant of HIV inequities and a critical driver of racial disparities in ART adherence and HIV care engagement experienced by Black SMM. Black LGBTQ community support may buffer against the effects of racial discrimination on HIV care outcomes by providing safe, inclusive, supportive spaces for Black SMM.

Out in Suburbia: Associations between residential location, mental health, and community connectedness among LGBTQ Australians

ABSTRACT This article critically examines the contemporary applicability of homonormativity in understanding LGBTQ experiences in outer suburban Australia. Representing a departure from urban-rural dichotomies in queer geographical research, this study enriches our understanding of LGBTQ life in suburban areas. Drawing on a comprehensive national survey encompassing 6835 LGBTQ adults in Australia, the research provides novel quantitative insights into the geographic distribution of LGBTQ mental health and wellbeing outcomes. Contrary to assumptions of suburban privilege, the article challenges the notion of homonormativity in the suburbs, shedding light on the unique challenges faced by LGBTQ people in these areas. Findings reveal that LGBTQ people in outer suburban Australia experience higher psychological distress and suicidal ideation compared to their inner suburban and rural counterparts. Additionally, they report lower levels of connection with LGBTQ communities, indicating a dearth of supportive resources in these areas. These insights have crucial policy implications, advocating for changes that foster diversity and inclusion in outer suburban areas. By emphasizing the distinct experiences of LGBTQ individuals in these settings, the research underscores the necessity for targeted interventions and support. This work extends beyond conventional urban-centric studies, offering valuable insights to inform policies, advocacy efforts, and community support initiatives for LGBTQ people in suburban environments.

Exploring lesbian adolescence: an analysis of Abha Dawesar’s Babyji

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the advancement of cultural transformation over time demands certain alterations in human perceptions. It also aims to examine the 21st century’s many radical changes in India, the constant legal battles to decriminalize homosexuality, and challenges to the rigid dichotomy between heterosexuality and homosexuality. Besides, it influences popular culture among the masses, which has turned out to create a more visible space for the lesbian community. In India, lesbian literature begins synchronously under the shades of women’s writing and feminism that wires new hopes for their identity. Design/methodology/approach This paper examines a primary text as Indian writer Abha Dawesar’s Babyji (2005). There comes the iconic work of Abha Dawesar’s Babyji (2005), which creates a turning point by introducing the life, inner conflict and turbulence of a teenage girl. In addition, a textual analysis of this novel brings forth an analysis of attributes such as sexuality, gender and the interplay of caste and class that meld lesbian childhood and adolescence. This paper also examines how a lesbian girl adapts to and negotiates her maturation amidst vivid social scenarios and cultural conditioning. Findings A few studies (Hidalgo, et al., 2013; Bem, 1989; Pyne, 2016) show many children have reached or crossed their teenage life without accurate or affirmative knowledge of sexuality and gender. Parents, teachers and even other intellectuals of the adult world fail to transfer their knowledge effectively to children. Definitely, the relevance of sex education is paramount, but more important is what implementation tactics should be used for the same cause. The point is that sex education should not be condensed into a certain gender or perpetuate parochial discrimination. It needs to adapt an age-appropriate curriculum for the cognitive and emotional development of the individuals. Considering these factors, understanding comprehensive sex education is what is most likely to find sustainable remedies for this matter. Gerald writes about a socialization process and gays and lesbians hiding their identity from family and society; a fear of rejection; there is a social gap in peer and family spheres. These fears prevent lesbian or gay young persons from fully developing their identities (1999). Rao and Mason tested a model derived from minority stress theory in which the perceived impact of Section 377 increases depressive symptoms of sexual minorities by increasing concealment stress, leading to a diminished sense of belonging. Because of their minority status, they are more vulnerable to and have a higher prevalence of mental illness than heterosexual individuals (2018). Originality/value Babyji has created a discourse to perpetuate normativity and gives importance to the mental health of the excluded lesbian group. It opens a door to studying teenage groups’ issues and their challenges to understanding social and mental issues regarding their identity. A study on this untouched area is required to highlight their issues and mental health problems. This research is an initiative step to create and provide a platform to raise awareness in society.

AGING AND THE LIVED EXPERIENCES OF TRANSGENDER AND GENDER NONCONFORMING OLDER ADULTS

Abstract Adults identifying as transgender and gender non-conforming (T/GNC) in the United States may experience adversity, victimization, and discrimination across the life span (McDowell, et al., 2019). T/GNC older adults have higher rates of poverty, homelessness, social isolation, depression, and violence compared to older adults in the general population and compared with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) older adults (Sloan & Benson, 2022). This descriptive phenomenological study utilized a purposive and snowball sampling strategy and sought to increase understanding of this diverse group. Twenty participants aged 50 and older were interviewed. Themes included fear and/or actual loss of relationships after “coming out” as transgender; concerns and complexity of healthcare and anticipated changes in healthcare if faced with needing long-term care; navigating gendered space; living as their authentic self; “passing” as cisgender; finding acceptance within the LGB community; desire but struggles to have intimate relationships; conflict between internal and external sense of self; and histories of depression, and suicidality. Protective factors included having an internal source of strength; support within the T/GNC community; being in committed relationships; and receiving support from others. Age at time of transitioning, sex assigned at birth, and identifying as GNB but not transgender influenced lived experiences. McDowell, M.J., Hughto, J.M.W., & Resiner, S.L. (2019). Risk and protective factors for mental health morbidity in a community sample of female-to- male trans-masculine adults. BMC Psychiatry, 19(16), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-2008-0 Sloan, S., & Benson, J. J. (2022). Toward a conceptual model for successful transgender aging. Qualitative Social Work, 21(2), 455-471. https://doi.org/10.1177/1473325021994666

NOBODY CAN DRAG ME DOWN: AGING AS A DRAG PERFORMER

Abstract This presentation will detail the findings of an exploratory, qualitative research study examining the intersection of aging and drag performance. Even though drag queens have achieved significant levels of visibility in mainstream entertainment and have become increasingly present topics of discussion in news outlets, modern media, and even political landscapes, they are an understudied and underrepresented population (Knutson et al., 2020; O’Brien, 2018). Older drag queens have yet to be studied in the social science literature (Henneberry et al., 2022). “Drag Queens possess unique characteristics as a subpopulation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community that warrant exploration” (Knutson, Koch, Sneed, & Lee, 2018). This research aims to understand and represent the relatively understudied population of drag queens in academic literature while drawing attention to the specific sub-population of older adults in the profession. A semi-structured interview protocol and thematic analysis was utilized to understand the unique perspectives of self identified drag performers over the age of 50 (n=15; ages 54-94). Examining drag artistry and expression through the lens of aging has revealed themes of drag as a form of armor, ageism within the community, and shifts in social perceptions of drag performers. This presentation will introduce the term “dragism” in an attempt to explain the discrimination against drag queens within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the interplay of both dragism and ageism for the participants of this study (Donorfio et al., 2022).

Why Not Us? Awareness, Inclusivity, and Improved Care for the LGBT Community

Why Not Us? Awareness, Inclusivity, and Improved Care for the LGBT Community

MAPPING MENTAL HEALTH PATHWAYS AMONG BISEXUAL WOMEN, MEN, AND NONBINARY INDIVIDUALS IN MID AND LATER LIFE

Abstract The health-related pathways of bisexual individuals are most often compared to those of lesbians and gay men or examine participants of different genders separately. However, little is known regarding how the health-related pathways of bisexual individuals of diverse genders compare to one another, particularly in mid- to later life. This analysis examines identity-related and social factors which impact the mental health outcomes of midlife and older bisexual women, men and non-binary individuals and compares health-related pathways across genders. Analyses examined data from the National Health, Aging, and Sexuality/Gender Study (NHAS), including bisexual women (96), men (102), and non-binary individuals (16) ages 50+. The study utilized structural equation modeling to investigate direct and indirect associations between gender and mental health via sexual identity-related (victimization, negative identity perception, and outness) and social factors (LGBTQ community engagement). For both men and women, negative identity perception was associated with being less out, particularly among women. Bisexual men who reported more victimization also reported more negative identity perception. However, negative identity perception was associated with worse mental health only among women. Across genders, victimization negatively impacted mental health and identity outness increased community engagement. Community engagement mediated the relationship between identity outness and mental health among men. Findings indicate distinct mental health pathways across genders. Thus, mental health interventions might also differ. While LGBTQ community engagement might be particularly beneficial to bisexual men, bisexual women might struggle more with identity perception. Future research will benefit from larger subsamples, particularly among non-binary individuals.

Two Samples of Queer Ecology in Romanian Contemporary Literature. From Silenced Witness to Redeemer

This paper will analyse the intersection between two components (queer and ecological) by reviewing two texts, both describing themselves as “ecological queer,” therefore, settling a new paradigm in Romanian literature, aiming beyond the aesthetic sphere. The examples are Copiii ecosistemului (The Children of the Ecosystem) by Ilinca Mănescu and the anthology Luminișuri (Glades), published under Cenaclul X. The main stake of the thesis is to identify and detail the similarities between the two ideologies, as a new phenomenon in Romanian literature and anthropology (as these critical lenses have been used before in world literature). A central convergence comes as a result of capitalism and colonialism, expanding the violence in human and non-human forms. To simplify, the queer community and nature are victims of the same system, which explains the constellation between the two. The interdisciplinary conjunction “ecoqueer” stands against heteronormativity and embraces the diversity of nature, and this article will focus on its development in the Romanian literary space, through the two examples, concerning both poetry and prose. Furthermore, this literary form has been exported from the West to the East-Central European periphery, highlighting Romanian literature’s status as a semi-peripheral literature, but on the other hand benefiting from this import and broadening the progressive ideology in the cultural space.

The Representation of Black Queer Masculinities on YouTube in the Film Out of This World

This article is an explorative study of the documentary film Out of This World (2017), which captures the narratives and experiences of queer individuals in Johannesburg, South Africa, through a series of snapshots. Guided by activist and host Mykki Blanco, the film explores queer creative cultures in post-apartheid South Africa using YouTube as a platform. It exposes the lived realities of queer voices often silenced and marginalised, bringing visibility to stories of urban CBD and township queer experiences. The film navigates the experiences of the “born-free” generation within the queer community, as they grapple with continued marginalisation. Utilising social media, the film exemplifies self-fashioned queer visualities in post-apartheid South Africa, enabling visibility and belonging for some queer individuals. The film employs YouTube as a visual media to understand how black queer people forge spaces of visibility, countering historical oppression and erasure. The article serves to explore and discuss how black queer masculinities are represented on YouTube in the film Out of This World. The article will employ Grant Andrews’s concept of “mirror” and “mirroring,” utilising visual media to foster recognition and identity in the post-apartheid context. The project uses qualitative visual content analysis to unpack the complex social and cultural dynamics represented in these texts, and the analysis demonstrates how these visual texts are themselves sites of resistance and of imagining and claiming “liveable lives” that the transgressive vulnerabilities allow for.

"Romanian Ngos’ Efforts to Advocate on Behalf of Marginalized Groups and Prevent Social Turbulence"

While Romania has undergone huge progress during the last 30 years, the situation of marginalized groups hasn’t progressed as well as the country’s rapid economic development. The plight of vulnerable groups such as unhoused people, persons with disabilities, and the LGBTQ community continues to be a source of social turbulence, as they are consistently facing exclusion. Authorities do not prioritize their integration within society and there is a lack of policies to deal with these issues, leading to the appearance of extremely polarizing movements such as the 2018 referendum initiative to ban same-sex unions. This paper aims to analyze three case studies where advocacy organizations championed the cause of the above-mentioned groups, in order to increase visibility, representation, and integration, and pinpoint best practices for organizations advocating on behalf of disadvantaged groups. The three main best practices we have learned regarding advocacy projects targeting public policy for marginalized groups are: a. always put a local group at the center of the project, b. bring outside partners or mentors who can bring advocacy skills to the project, c. look for other, supplemental, positive outcomes, that usually tend to come up in the work with marginalized groups.

How education research perceives queer Asian American youths: a literature review

Academia has long neglected lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, asexual, and nonbinary (LGBTQIA+, queer) Asian American youth. Indeed, most available literature that examines queer Asian American issues falls victim to the matrix of domination. Succumbing to this matrix effectively amplifies the voices that are the least stratified within a broader social group (i.e. cisgender, gay, white men within the queer community). This literature review examines works between 1998-2023 to deliberately expand the existing lexicon for queer Asian American youth and hopes to catalyze future scholarly efforts in this area.

Ideological Ambivalence: A Social Semiotic Multimodal Analysis of LGBT Activism in @WhatIsUpIndonesia

Many people have attempted to criminalize the LGBT community. This study aims to examine how @WhatIsUpIndonesia negotiates the supported ideology with the dominant ideology in their Instagram posts about criminalizing LGBT people through two different cases; the proposed revision of Indonesia's Criminal Code (RKUHP) and Bogor’s Regional Regulation on the Prevention and Countermeasures Against Sexually Deviant Behavior. A corpus of two posts about the two cases is analyzed using social semiotic multimodal analysis in two steps: textual analysis and visual analysis. This study finds that WIUI negotiates its relatively liberal values with the dominant conservative ideology in Indonesia by choosing ambivalence through the shifting focus and overgeneralizing the issue using recontextualization and memes. In conclusion, two opposing ideologies in social media activism can be negotiated using ambivalence instead of leaning towards only one. However, the limitations of this research prevented a thorough examination of how WIUI interacts with its audience.