Same-sex Couples Research Articles

Evolutionary Role of the Female Orgasm: Insights into Mate Choice and Beyond.

The female orgasm remains a subject of extensive debate within evolutionary sciences, primarily due to the absence of a consensus regarding its adaptive function. Some hypotheses propose that it could function as a mechanism for mate selection, possibly linked to reproductive strategies. Studies have observed that lesbian women tend to experience orgasms more frequently than straight women, suggesting a potential link to advantageous partner characteristics. We explored the connection between the female orgasm and mate selection, aiming to ascertain its role as an adaptive tool for mate choice. A total of 939 sexually active Brazilian women (Mage = 28.3years) engaged in committed relationships participated by completing the Marital Empathy Questionnaire, the Female Sexual Function Index, and evaluations of their partners' attributes. Analysis using structural equation models revealed that higher orgasm scores were positively associated with perceptions of partner kindness, intelligence, good health, physical attractiveness, and empathy. However, the small effect sizes of these associations warrant caution in their interpretation, and no significant association was found for relationship duration, financial prospects, dominance, and masculinity/femininity. Additionally, no differences were found between women in same-sex and other-sex relationships regarding orgasm frequency and its association with partner traits. The findings partially support the mate-choice theory, encompassing both sire-choice and pair-bond hypotheses, suggesting that female orgasm is positively associated with some partner attributes related to genetic quality and the capability for emotional connection and resource investment. Therefore, female orgasm may offer information about the partner that might not be primarily accessed and contribute to relationship maintenance.

A Woman’s Touch: Queeriod Drama and the Scene of Writing

A Woman’s Touch: Queeriod Drama and the Scene of Writing. This paper addresses the representation of women of the long eighteenth century as writers on the contemporary screen. It focuses on the experimentation with time in such representations, the seeking out of closeness and distance in the past through relationships with ‘lost’ texts or scenarios. This in two respects: first, the sense of a lost relationship to manuscript and manuscript ‘hands’ in letters and diaries in the new mediations visual and verbal of the screen; second, the sense of what has been helpfully termed by Elizabeth Freeman ‘temporal drag’ in the representation of same-sex relationships of the past in our media present. I focus in particular on a recent ‘queeriod’ drama about the life of Anne Lister, landowner and lesbian: the series Gentleman Jack developed and directed from her screenplay by Sally Wainwright (BBC /HBO TV series 1, 2019 and series 2, 2022). I look closely at a scene designed to illustrate intense affect formed in and through writing: a moment when we are invited to feel with, or to be touched by, the feeling of the protagonist. A turning away is also a turning toward, a perception of affect. What is transmitted is feeling itself. Writing itself ‘makes’ affect rather than representing it. Keywords: screen, adaptation, eighteenth century, Anne Lister, queer, mediation, affect

PREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS B VIRUS INFECTION AMONG HIV PATIENTS INBENUE SOUTH SENATORIAL DISTRICT, NIGERIA

Hepatitis B infection seriously threatens global public health, especially in developing nations. Despite severalefforts on ascertaining the true prevalence of HBV, it tenaciously varies across different locations and subpopulations, particularly among those at risk of infection such as the HIV-infected population. This study aimed atdetermining the sero-prevalence of HIV-HBV co-infection in Benue South Senatorial District, Nigeria. This crosssectional study was conducted in four anti-retroviral therapy (ART) specialized clinics between May 1, andSeptember 2023 using pretested questionnaires, after obtained ethical approval and informed consent.Bloodsamples of participants were screened using HBsAg testing kitsand the results were interpreted according to themanufacturer’s instructions. The screening for HIV-HBV co-infection showed a sero-prevalence of 25/457 (5.47%).The distribution based on clinic location was 12(48%) GH Otukpo, 8(32%) GH Oju, 2(8%) GH Ugbokpo and3(12%) SMH Okpoga. The distribution also revealed that most cases were in the age group 40-49 and the femalegender.The prevalence showed that only 3/25 (12.0%) reported a history of sexually transmitted diseases other thanHIV while 2/25 (8.0%) had a history of multiple sex partners. Most co-infected cases 23/25(92.0%) had no historyof same-sex relationships and 23/25(92.0%) had recent history of unprotected sex. In Nigeria, hepatitis B infectionremains a significant public health problem. Notable preventive strategies include abstinence from sex, avoidanceof multiple sex partners, strict adherence to safe sex, and avoiding contact with infected body fluids. Otherstrategies such as averting mother-to-infant hepatitis B transmission, scale-up of screening programs and extensivevaccination programs are eminently recommended in the course of HBV control.

Sex and Women in the Archive and New Imaginaries of Female Same-Sex Relations in the Late Nineteenth Century

The article aims to contribute to queer histories of marginalised people and those who have left behind limited traces. It analyses medical sources informing about female same-sex relations among poor and marginalised women in Copenhagen, Denmark, during the late nineteenth century. The medical sources repeatedly mention how women in prostitution engaged in sexual and romantic relations with one other. The article provides examples of how female same-sex relations were described as passionate and dramatic, as well as violent, and proposes an expanded notion of female same-sex relations to accommodate “grim” stories of intimate partner violence and death. Furthermore, the medical reports associated women’s relations with carnal sex, . Finally, the article suggests that it might not have been the gender of a woman’s same-sex partner but rather the woman’s sexual activity, that caused condemnation. As the medical sources are confined to inform about women’s encounters with power authorities, such as doctors and police, I employ “imaginary scenarios” (Hartman 2021) to be able to represent the same-sex relations in a more profound way.

Israeli men's attitudes toward posthumous reproduction and prior consent amid ongoing armed conflict.

From October 7, 2023, until August 28, 2024, 187 posthumous sperm retrieval (PSR) procedures have been conducted on deceased men, 171 of whom are soldiers. PSR was predominantly initiated by parents to cope with their profound loss. However, the attitudes of Israeli men toward this procedure are unknown. This study aims to investigate the attitudes of Israeli men toward prior consent to PSR and posthumous-assisted reproduction (PAR) initiated by partner or parents. A cross-sectional study of 600 Israeli men aged 18-49 years who were questioned in February-April 2024 amid the ongoing armed conflict. The questionnaire included demographic details, role in the conflict, and attitudes toward PSR/PAR. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess agreement for PSR/PAR after adjustment for possible confounders. The average age of participants was 32 years, with 52% married or in a committed relationship and 6.5% self-identified as having same-sex relationships. The majority were secular (63%), 21% were traditional (21%), and 16% were religious. In terms of involvement in the ongoing conflict, 35% served in combat, 21% in non-combat roles, and 44% did not participate. Most men (71%) prefer pre-documenting their PSR preferences, with 70% advocating for consent during recruitment for regular military service and 78% before reserve service. Regarding PAR, 37% opposed it at their partner's request, while 47% opposed it at their parents' request. In a multivariable model, the odds of approval of PAR following parental request were four- and three-fold higher among traditional and secular versus religious men (odds ratio, OR=4.1, 95% CI: 2.0-8.1 and OR=3.3, 95% CI: 1.8-6.2, respectively) and following the request of a partner, twice higher among traditional and secular versus religious (OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-4.2 and OR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.6, respectively). While it is understandable that grieving parents seek solace through PSR, consent should be obtained from the men themselves, as a considerable proportion do not support the process as it is currently performed.

K problematice stejnopohlavních vztahů: Manželství a partnerství

The article is based on the differentiation between marriage as the institutional dimension and partnership as the relational dimension of an intimate relation of two people. While marriage is a historically changing and multiform social institution, an intimate partnership is a phenomenon permanently present in the history. Based on the modern deeper understanding of human nature including homosexuality as an “other normal”, the article shows that the category of partnership can and should be opened to same-sex relations as well. These – as any other intimate relationships – cannot be reduced to sexual dimension only. And precisely therefore, it is not possible to apply any biblical mentions of same-sex intercourse to this debate, because the biblical testimonies do not know homosexuality in the contemporary meaning and speak only about same-sex intercourse without any relational framing. From the perspective of today’s responsible theological stance, there is thus no argument that would hinder to support the same-sex relations and their formal institutional framing also by the churches.

Universality versus Cultural relativism in International Human Rights: A Case Study of the Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda 2023

This research examines the frequent conflict that has emerged between the universal human rights standard and the indigenous cultural practices with special attention paid to the Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda of 2023. The Act criminalized same-sex relationships, an act that is in violation of universal human rights principles and showed a probable conflict between international norms and local cultural values. This review unravels how the Anti-Homosexuality Act of Uganda fits with or goes against international human rights commitments and further to determine more general implications of balancing universal principles against cultural relativism. The doctrinal approach adopted in this study includes a review of relevant international treaties, Uganda’s legislation and academic literature. The findings reveal that the Act, to an extent, undermines universal principles of human rights through the violation of rights to privacy, dignity, and equality. Such tug of war will require a lot of inclusive dialogue with the local communities and advocacy for protection of human rights which respects the cultural context. In addition, international organizations should support capacity building and facilitate debates that improve tolerance and respect for human rights. The work will engender a debate in reconciling universal human rights and cultural diversity, as well as emerging lessons for more effective and sensitive strategies in international human rights advocacy. Keywords: Universality, Cultural relativism, Human Rights and Homosexuality

Same-Sex Sexual Behavior, Age-Class, and Coalitions in Male Rhesus Macaques (Macaca mulatta).

In the present study, relations between same-sex sexual behavior (SSB), age-class, and coalitional behavior in male rhesus macaques were examined in a re-analysis of data first analyzed and reported by Clive et al. (2023). Age-class as a focal variable was indicated in an extensive literature review, which showed that male non-adult (juvenile, adolescent) participation in SSB is extensive in this and related primate species and associated with various benefits. Clive et al. (2023) excluded juveniles from their analysis. In the re-analysis (n = 995 mounting events), it was found that non-adult involvement was substantial (51%). Most dyads contained at least one non-adult (76%). Young and prime adult mounters most often selected non-adults to mount. Mounters were often sexually motivated: most for adolescents (72%); equally for juveniles (57%) and adults (56%). Finally, the highest rate of SSB with coalitional context appeared in adolescent-adult dyads involved in multiple repeated mounts. SSB, age-class, special friendships, bonding, and coalitions were linked, as reported in some other primate species and human societies cross-culturally. Employing age-class in male SSB analysis improved description and explanation.

A Sudden Epiphany

This creative work, featuring a poem and two photographs integrated into the text, details a queerrelationship in Vienna, Austria, against the backdrop of global and historical violence. In the poem, a queer couple walks in downtown Vienna, noticing how stoplights in the capital city seem to depict same-sex relationships, thereby demonstrating an acceptance that was only just legalized in 2019. Initially overjoyed, given the country’s historical legacy of intolerance (Austria was the birthplace of Adolf Hitler, early 20th century fascism, and is still well-known for its traditional and conservative values), the couple realizes that their happiness is overshadowed by the epiphany that Austria is one of the few countries to have voted against a ceasefire in Gaza. Stunned by this realization, the couple looks on at the stoplights, aghast, considering the complexities of violence in today’s social context.

Denied dreams: The struggle for Same-Sex couples adoption rights in India

In the landscape of India's evolving legal framework concerning LGBTQ+ rights, recent years have seen significant progress towards equality and acceptance. However, the journey towards full integration of LGBTQ+ individuals into society remains fraught with challenges, particularly in the realm of adoption rights for same-sex couples. This article navigates through the legislative landscape of India, discussing the present standing of same-sex relationships, breaking barriers in adoption laws, and examining global advances in adoption rights. Despite recent setbacks, such as the Supreme Court's refusal to legalize same-sex marriages, the resilience of the LGBTQ+ community persists. This article emphasizes the urgent need for legislative clarity and comprehensive anti-discrimination measures to ensure the protection and recognition of LGBTQ+ rights in India. As the fight for equality continues, the unwavering determination of activists reflects a hopeful future where love knows no bounds, and all relationships are celebrated and protected.

Jeremy Bentham on adult-child sex and infanticide

ABSTRACT Jeremy Bentham is becoming increasingly well-known for his defence of consensual male same-sex relationships on the grounds of an ‘all-comprehensive' sexual liberty. The question arises whether his defence of pæderasty, or ‘the love of boys', and hence of adult-child sexual relationships, on the same principle makes his defence of male same-sex relationships problematic. This paper investigates the extent to which, under Bentham's principle, adults would not be legally punished for having consensual sexual relationships with children, or rather with adolescents. It concludes that Bentham’s position in relation to sexual relationships between adult males and under-age females followed the provisions of the English law of his time, while his position in relation to sexual relationships between adult males and under-age males is little different from the provisions of the law of our own time. Bentham was, moreover, concerned about the reputational damage suffered by unmarried mothers, and hence recommended the decriminalizing of infanticide. In the post-Malthusian age, Bentham, like many of his contemporaries, had become concerned about the potential suffering caused by over-population. His aims in this respect would be met by the forms of contraception and abortion available today.

Should Mother Baby Units be renamed Parent Baby Units? A critical reflection on gendered language in perinatal psychiatry.

Mother Baby Units provide mental health care to parents experiencing severe perinatal mental illness. The majority of admitted parents identify as mothers and are the birthing parent and primary caregiver for their infants. However, there is increasing recognition of transgender and gender diverse people who birth and parent infants, as well as awareness of the mental health needs of fathers, people in same-sex relationships, and other non-birthing parents. As such there are moves to use ungendered language for health services including renaming these units as Parent Baby Units. This paper explores this debate, critically reflecting on emergent tensions. Movements towards, and resistance against, changing language in perinatal mental health care are attempts to ensure the visibility of groups within mainstream services. Whether to adopt new terminology is a complex question. But ensuring MBUs meet the needs of people who require them should remain paramount.

How Do Intimate Partner Violence, Outness, and Community Connection Relate to Minority Stressors for Men Who Have Sex with Men?

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a pervasive issue among men who have sex with men (MSM). However, IPV has long been conceptualized as abuse between a male perpetrator and a female victim, leaving gaps in the literature on the unique impacts IPV victimization has for both male victims and victims in same-sex relationships. This study examines relationships between IPV and negative minority stress experiences specific to LGBTQ individuals: overt experiences of homophobia, sexual orientation microaggressions, and internalized homophobia. Participants (N = 168) were recruited through three popular MSM networking applications (i.e., Grindr, Jack'd, and Scruff. Most were recruited from one state in the southeastern United States. Ordinary Least Squares regressions were used to examine IPV as a predictive factor in three separate models, all of which controlled for age, race, outness, and gay community connection (GCC). IPV victimization is associated with increased levels of experiences of overt homophobia, homophobic microaggressions, and internalized homophobia for MSM. Outness, or being open with the people in one's life about one's MSM identity, is associated with lower levels of both sexual orientation microaggressions and internalized homophobia. GCC is also associated with lower levels of internalized homophobia. Results from this study show that IPV victimization is related to minority stressors for MSM. These findings support the existence of unique elements of IPV for LGBTQ victims, specifically MSM. Implications for IPV researchers and service providers are discussed, including the importance of the protective role of outness and GCC against some minority stressors.

Same-sex sexual behavior in brown-headed spider monkeys (Atelesfuscicepsfusciceps) during grappling between two subadult males.

Sexual behavior in animals fulfills reproductive and social functions, extending beyond the traditional focus on reproduction. Same-sex sexual behavior, defined as genital contact or manipulation between individuals of the same sex, occurs in various primate species. In spider monkeys, grappling, a behavior involving prolonged mutual embraces, face greeting, tail intertwining, and genital manipulation, occurs primarily between males. Here, we report a novel incidence of same-sex sexual behavior and grappling between two subadult male brown-headed spider monkeys (Atelesfuscicepsfusciceps). Our observation contributes to the understanding of the social functions of sexual behavior and to the broader appreciation of primate sexuality.

“Jack and Johnny went up the hill”: Emergent homonationalism and the construction of a palatable queer subject in post-Section 377 Bollywood cinema

ABSTRACT This article interrogates an archetype it terms the “palatable queer subject” in post-Section 377 Bollywood cinema. It advances that the production of this subject reflects and reifies India’s emergent homonationalism in the wake of the 2018 decriminalization of homosexual relations. The palatable queer upholds nationalism while enabling India to present itself on the global stage as a progressive nation state. In the Indian context, decriminalization granted this particular subject access to a newly sedimented norm of queerness predicated on the exclusion of more marginalized queer communities. This article strives to excavate this archetype in Hitesh Kewalya’s Shubh Mangal Zyada Saavdhan (Be particularly careful of marriage). It extends Jasbir Puar’s framework of homonationalism in new geographic and conceptual directions, arguing that the palatable queer subject in Bollywood cinema reveals that certain queer people – namely, cisgender upper-caste, upper-class men – have been folded into the nation state, at the expense of more vulnerable queer people.

Protection of the LGBT community’s rights during the war in Ukraine

The article puts an emphasis on the need to protect the rights of LGBT communities. Although the issue of protecting LGBTI rights was considered in the writings of domestic scientists, the Russian- Ukrainian war has become a new challenge for LGBT representatives and caused new problems for them. In the conditions of the war in Ukraine, this is an urgent issue today, because nowadays, persons in same-sex relationships experience restrictions on their rights. The author emphasizes that in connection with the desire of our country to become a full member of the EU, a significant task for it is to prevent discrimination based on such grounds as sexual orientation and gender equality. Despite the public’s negative attitude towards representatives of the so-called “sexual minorities”, the latter stood up to protect their Motherland. Therefore, the state’s performance of its obligations towards such persons is an important issue today. The problem is that there is no normative consolidation of the legal status of LGBT communities in Ukraine and this leads to a limited amount of constitutional, civil, and family rights compared to other citizens. However, in the conditions of the war, representatives of the LGBT community feel even more restricted in their rights than before the war. In particular, they cannot legalize their relations and because of this certain difficulties arise. The author draws attention to the fact that the presence of gaps in the current legislation leads to the fact that LGBT military personnel do not have the same rights as other citizens of Ukraine, although they fight for the independence and territorial integrity of our state. The article highlights that changes to the Constitution of Ukraine cannot be made during the war. Therefore, injustice towards LGBT military personnel should be eliminated by adopting the Law of Ukraine “On the Institute of Registered Partnerships”. The article draws attention to the fact that national courts, if to analyze their practice, are «not ready» to protect LGBTI rights due to the negative perception of these persons in the state. The author emphasizes that the courts must effectively protect the rights of LGBTI people and restore their violated rights. They should also take into account the fact that the practice of the ECtHR is aimed at protecting the rights of the LGBT community. However, a completely different situation is observed in Ukraine, which leads to the adoption of decisions against our state and this generates negative consequences for it.

Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex relationships: a call for research-to-action partnerships in higher education settings

Intimate partner violence in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex relationships: a call for research-to-action partnerships in higher education settings

Care and Support for same-sex Couples during Pregnancy and Childbirth

Since 2015, same-sex couples in Austria have been able to fulfil their desire to have children with the help of reproductive medicine services. The aim of this study was to determine the needs of women and the special features of care for women in couple relationships during pregnancy and childbirth. Eight interviews were conducted with Austrian women in same-sex relationships using a semi-structured guideline. The women were recruited by means of a convenience sample via an association and word of mouth. The content of the collected data was analysed using the recommended Mayring method. In the obstetric accompaniment of same-sex female couples, it became obvious that the usual use of language was inappropriate and alternatives to the term father, such as the term co-mother, were insufficiently established. Openness, acceptance and understanding as well as being seen as a holistic family were considered important prerequisites for improving the quality of care. In addition, the inclusion of the non-pregnant mother was considered essential. Despite their non-traditional couple relationship, female couples wanted care without special status and prejudice. A comprehensive socio-political discourse is still needed to promote the normality of family models beyond heteronormativity. Unbiased, supportive obstetric care can offer rainbow families a framework in which children can develop healthily from the outset.

Intimate Partner Violence Risk Factors: A Vulnerability-Adaptation Stress Model Approach.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) disproportionally affects women. Using the vulnerability-adaptation stress model, we examined adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), self-esteem, and hope as vulnerability indicators and relationship status and length, positive and negative affect, and socioeconomic status (SES) as stressors to ascertain the risk for IPV. Women (N = 491, M = 37.15, standard deviation = 12.51) completed an online survey comprised of the Positive and Negative Affect Scale, Rosenberg's Self-esteem Scale, Snyder's Hope Scale, ACE questionnaire, Composite Abuse Scale Revised-Short Form, and demographic questions. Factor analysis identified four ACE factors of sexual abuse, physical or psychological abuse, witnessing domestic violence, and household dysfunction. A five-step hierarchical multiple regression identified that greater exposure to physical or psychological child abuse was associated with an increased risk of IPV (Step 2), B = 0.73 [0.16, 1.34]. Lower self-esteem, B = -0.30 [-0.47, -0.14] predicted IPV (Step 3). Age B = 0.07 [0.01, 0.13], negative affect, B = 0.39 [0.19, 0.59], and relationship length, B = -1.24 [-2.16, 0.41] were associated with a higher risk of IPV (Step 4). In Step 5, previous variables attenuated to non-significance while age, B = 0.07 [0.01, 0.13], negative affect, B = 0.39 [0.19, 0.59], and relationship length B = -1.25 [-2.16, 0.41] remained significant. While the key findings of this study were inconsistent with some commonly reported findings (e.g., ACEs, self-esteem, hope, relationship status, SES, age), these inconsistencies are important to highlight given the factorial approach to examining ACEs, the comprehensive analyses conducted, and our examination of these variables' direct relationship to IPV. The study was limited by its cross-sectional nature, higher prevalence of IPV victims, and not examining IPV sub-types. Similar studies need to be conducted for other relationship types and victimized individuals (e.g., same-sex relationships and male victims) to provide a complete picture of risk factors for IPV.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Paternal Parenting Experience: A Scoping Review.

The objective of this scoping review was to map the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the paternal parenting experience. Studies published between January 2020 and October 2021 reporting on paternal mental health, interparental relations, and child interactions were eligible. Forty studies from 17 different countries were included. Most studies included data from both mothers and fathers (83%); five studies reported data from fathers only, and three examined same-sex partners. Most commonly reported outcomes included division of childcare activities (n = 14), delegation of household tasks (n = 10), depression (n = 12), and stress (n = 9). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on fathers varied globally with no clear trends except for the division of childcare and household tasks, in which fathers increased their contribution to childcare and household tasks yet mothers continued to experience a higher domestic burden. Further research is recommended to advance our understanding of how fathers coped during the COVID-19 pandemic and document the long-term impact of the pandemic on families.