Дисертації з теми "GLBT"

Relationships are about the people in them. Choosing a partner that provides the right balance can alter the value of any relationship. After briefly surveying the history of marriage in the United States, this thesis will examine five long-term same-sex couples illustrating how same-sex unions are quite similar to opposite sex unions. Each couple faces challenges in the home, in the work place, and in their personal lives; each weathers the same struggles that opposite sex couples encounter. The differences between heterosexual and homosexual unions are negligible, and mandate a redefinition of marriage in society.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) urban districts are a unique aspect of many cities in the United States. Geographically, these spaces are dynamic, although largely ignored by geographers. Within the limited literature concerning this topic in the field of geography and other social science disciplines, a clear gap emerges concerning the definition of the key characteristics of LGBT districts and the application of those characteristics to any given city in the United States. Four characteristics emerge from existing literature as the most commonly studied regarding such districts, including a historical connection, a business concentration, a residential component, and a visual LGBT landscape.

The following thesis examines these four common characteristics and how they come together to define an LGBT district. This study analyzes these characteristics within the spatial context of St. Louis, Missouri, to examine if the city has a LGBT district. Each characteristic was examined using various methodological approaches including: interviews, surveys, field observation, and archival research. After data analysis for each characteristic, findings indicate the four characteristics are not wholly present in any one single area of the City of St. Louis. Lack of business diversity, minimal visual cues, insufficient historical connection, and no evidence of any residential concentration come together to provide data supporting the conclusion that St. Louis, Missouri is only home to an LGBT entertainment district, rather than a fully comprehensive LGBT district.

The purpose of this project was to write a grant proposal for funds to develop a substance abuse program for GLBT adolescents at the Gay and Lesbian Center of Greater Long Beach, CA. (GLCGLB).

Consultations with the GLCGLB staff and findings from the literature review highlighted the need for a substance abuse program for GLBT adolescents due to their risk and the little attention received in regards to treatment. The proposed program offers culturally relevant psychoeducation, prevention and treatment groups for GLBT adolescents. The goal of the proposed program is to decrease substance use among GLBT adolescents in Long Beach and dispel the stigma around addiction and treatment as well as help GLBT adolescents to recover from substance use-related illnesses. The identified funding source is the Christopher D. Smithers Foundation Inc. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

The purpose of this grant proposal is to obtain funding for the creation of an after school program for at-risk youth of underserved populations. The literature review increased knowledge about the problem behaviors exhibited by at-risk youth that may interfere with positive behaviors, academic achievement, and overall well-being. The problem behaviors are, but not limited to, risky sexual behaviors at a premature age, drug use, aggressiveness, defiance, detachment from school, lack of supervision, and behaviors that may be linked to mental health issues. An extensive search for a potential funder resulted in the Annenberg Foundation. The Annenberg Foundation has funded many projects that involve the education and development of youth. A grant proposal was written to support the population served by Olive Crest, a non-profit organization dedicated to the well-being of abused or neglected children.

The purpose of this project was to design a program, identify a potential funding source, and write a grant proposal to fund a summer camp and mentorship program for lesbian, bisexual, gay, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ} foster youth. A review of literature provided knowledge regarding what services would provide support for the LGBTQ foster youth population. The objectives of the program was to create an opportunity for participating youth to build a long-lasting relationship with an adult mentor, to network and form encouraging relationships with other LGBTQ foster youth, to build upon their ability to cope with issues facing LGBTQ foster youth and to improve attitudes about their future. A grant was written to financially support a summer camp and mentorship program for LGBTQ foster youth. Actual submission of this grant was not required for successful completion of this thesis.

Social workers are responsible for providing the majority of mental health and substance abuse services in the United States in the role of direct service. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LBG) individuals utilize these services at rates that are believed to be higher than other populations. The field of social work embraces social justice as one of its core principles. This cross-sectional survey of 220 BSW and/or MSW social workers investigates two questions: what is the relationship among key aspects of social worker critical consciousness, i.e., attitudes about social justice, change agency, and awareness of heterosexism; and in what ways does critical consciousness influence practice (promising practices) with LGB clients in behavioral health programs. Findings suggest that social workers who have greater critical consciousness have greater self-reported skills and knowledge scores and engage in more LGB promising practices. Specifically, respondents with more consciousness as evidenced by awareness of heterosexism, positive attitudes towards LGB persons, and greater engagement in social justice activity in their personal and professional lives, including their encouragement of client engagement in social justice activity, have higher skills and knowledge scores and utilize more LGB promising practices. Implications for social work practice and education are discussed and areas for future research are presented.

The purpose of this project was to write a grant proposal to fund adequate training for mentors of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender (LGBT) adolescents at The Center of Long Beach, California, create educational training for LGBT adolescents, and identify funding sources. A comprehensive review of the literature found that LGBT experience higher rates of suicide, discrimination, isolation, physical violence, and verbal harassment. This writer also found an effective intervention strategy such as mentoring as an attempt to shield the negative experiences of LGBT youth. Relationship building and communication skills are enhanced, creating a safe space for adolescents to share their feelings, experiences, and identities without fear of judgment or rejection. The proposed training workshop aimed at elevating competence, improving the quality of life of LGBT adolescents. The David Bohnett Foundation was selected as a potential funding source. Actual submission and/or funding of the grant were not requirements for completion of this project.

The purpose of this proposal was to seek funding to help The American Civil Liberties Union LGBTQ Student Rights Project provide a sensitivity training to the Los Angeles County School District school professionals who work with LGBTQ youth who are being bullied or at risk of bullying. School bullying has been a new issue identified to society. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Questioning (LGBTQ) youth are specific targets to bullying. Bullying in those who identify as LGBTQ may face life-threatening consequences such as depression and suicide. The grant writer selected The Kenneth T. and Eileen L. Norris Foundation as a funding source for the proposed project. Actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not required for successful completion of this thesis project.

The number of older adults has been steadily increasing into the millions, and˙ among this population are many older adults who identify as LGBTQ. The sub group of LGBTQ among the older adult population is underserved in the spectrum of physical and mental health. LGBTQ older adults live in the shadows of society due to stigma and discrimination of their sexual orientation or gender identity, inhibiting appropriate mental health care. The following chapters provide statistical mental health information, specifically depression among LGBTQ older adults. The literature review depicts the risk factors of depression in older adults and specific risk factors ofLGBTQ older adults. The grant proposal will allow LGBTQ older adults to seek mental health services for major depressive disorder, in a gay friendly environment. The program entitled, The Other Side of the Rainbow, will be facilitated at The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.

The purpose of this project was to create a psycho-educational peer support group for LGBTIQ Youth, identify potential funding sources, and write a grant to fund the proposed program. The proposed support is named PRIDE for its connection to the LGBTIQ community and the empowering language, and it targets self-identified LGBTIQ youth in Orange County, California. A thorough literature review included risk factors, barriers to service, and interventions. Potential funding sources were examined and Liberty Hill was chosen as the most appropriate funding source. The proposed program was detailed with implementation guidelines, staffing information, and a budget narrative. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

The purpose ˙or this proposal was to write a grant to develop a stipend program for master's level social work (MSW) intern students to address the unique needs of Spanishspeaking Latino lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) population with special attention to older individuals. This one year stipend program was also designed to address the stigma and discrimination of delivery service to Latino LGBT community. The grant will provide real world practice, educate, train, and enhance the social work interns' clinical skills to become culturally competent professionals. The five MSW students will be placed at the host agency, BIENEST AR, located in Los Angeles, California. The Hispanics in Philanthropy was identified after conducting extensive research as a funding source of this stipend program for LGBT population. The actual submission and/or funding of this grant were not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

Many pair-bond relationships begin as a result of romantic attraction and sexual desire. Romantic attraction comprises feelings of love, affection, intimacy, and a desire to spend time with another person; sexual desire involves sexual attraction, arousal, and behavior (Diamond, 2003). This dissertation explored how individuals reconcile their experience of predominant sexual desire toward members of one gender (e.g. women) and predominant romantic attraction toward members of another gender (e.g. men).

To study this experience, a small, qualitative study was performed. Participants were recruited via flyers to answer interview questions regarding their romantic and sexual attractions and the impact of those feelings on their relationships with others and their own mental health. The experiences of four participants were then analyzed via phenomenological analysis. Two of the participants identified as male, and two as female. All participants were graduate students. Three of the participants described complicated attractions, reporting that they were romantically and sexually attracted to members of one gender, while also being romantically or sexually attracted to members of another gender.

Participants discussed several aspects of this experience, including: being unsure how to identify their sexual orientations (two participants noted that they do not identify as bisexual because they feel the term implies a sense of equality between romantic and sexual attraction); the extent to which they have discussed attractions with other people (three participants reported that they do not discuss their attractions with their families); the impact their attractions have had on relationships (two participants reported they feel their attractions have impacted their dating lives); and the struggles and benefits participants report related to their variant attractions.

While each of the participants' sexual and romantic preferences was different from the others', all report that acceptance by friends and family improved psychological well-being. Counter to this sense of well-being, however, are limitations in modern language regarding personal identities. All of the participants noted that they chose a label that is closest to what they perceive their collective attractions to be, and that they experience personal confusion about how to label themselves, which translates to confusion when discussing their identities with others.

This meta-analysis explores many contributing risk factors and adversities in older gay men, as well as contributing factors such as coping and survival strategies to reach positive mental health well-being. The meta-analysis reviews 35 studies within the last 10 years, and analyzes these studies for content. Results in this meta-analysis indicate that discrimination, stigmatization, bullying, living away from the city, and lack of education and understanding about the LGBT population were factors that affected the lives of many older gay men throughout their lives. Older gay men faced many adversities and ways of discrimination that led to mental health disorders in their lives. Findings indicate that some older gay men were able to cope with the adversities; some were not, leading to substance abuse and risky behaviors isolating them from reality. Research shows that many older gay men have isolated themselves from society in general due to discrimination factors and even from the LGBT community due to discrimination within the LGBT population (i.e., negative dynamics and negative statements between younger and older gay men). Implications for social work and multicultural social work practice, future research, and social policy on the LGBT were also discussed.

The purpose of this project was to partner with a host agency, LA Gay & Lesbian Center, locate a potential funding source, California Community Foundation, and write a grant proposal to obtain funding for an independent living skills group that can address the special needs of the LGBT homeless youth population. A literature review was conducted to examine best practice in working with the population and to examine current policies and programs that work to address the needs of this population. The independent living skills group will better prepare the target population for living on their own. It will increase their level of support and encourage higher and longer rates of employment, better wages, higher educational attainment, less returns to the streets and better psychosocial outcomes. The actual submission or funding of this grant was not a requirement for the successful completion of the project.

The stigma associated with being a sexual minority poses a psychological challenge for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual/transgendered, and queer (LGBTQ). This population has been found to experience more mental health concerns, higher reports of prejudice and discrimination, as well as physical and sexual violence, among other difficulties. The current study examined if the psychological distress that results as a consequence of stigma-related stress will be moderated by the individual's coping style. Data from 635 volunteer participants were examined. Variables that were assessed included voluntary engagement and disengagement coping strategies, psychological distress (specifically, depression, anxiety, and stress), internalized homonegativity/binegativity, perceived stigma, general stress, as well as demographic variables. Multiple regression models were analyzed to determine the extent to which perceived stigma predicted psychological distress, and the extent to which different coping styles moderated that relationship. The prediction that psychological distress would be positively associated with perceived stigma, internalized homonegativity/binegativity, and general stress was supported. The prediction that an overall positive relationship between perceived stigma and psychological distress would be stronger among those who relied heavily on voluntary disengagement coping and less strong among those who relied heavily on voluntary engagement coping was not supported by the data, although engagement coping was related lower levels of depression and disengagement coping was related to higher levels of distress in general. Finally, the prediction that a positive association between perceived stigma and psychological distress would hold even when controlling for general stressors was also supported. Further supplemental analyses were examined and limitations and future directions were discussed.

The purpose of this research is to examine sexual identity and sexual fluidity from a multicultural social work perspective. Examination includes having an understanding of the components of sexual identity development, the stability of sexual identity overtime and the challenges of sexual fluidity and identity. This provides a more substantial evaluation of themes within sexuality.

This content analysis of existing literature on sexual identity and sexual fluidity reveals findings and gaps in the research. In addition, it identifies areas in which further research is needed. This allows for more competent social work practices to effectively address issues of sexual identity. Findings suggest that it is difficult to capture the basic process that each individual experiences because circumstances can be unique for everyone. Patterns based on categorization within sexuality suggest that sexuality should be understood on a continuum.

The purpose of this investigation was to examine romantic lesbian dating scripts, understand the meanings shared among them, and compare them to heterosexual dating scripts. Twelve in-depth interviews constructed around three research questions were conducted with lesbian women between the ages of 18 and 43. Results indicated that lesbian women used both hypothetical and interpersonal dating scripts, which were affected by butch and femme identities, as well as high levels of privacy and self-awareness that characterize lesbian women. Specific actions such as initiation between potential partners, preparation for dates, and payment methods were frequently discussed. Results also indicated that social media has revolutionized lesbian dating, allowing for more preferred dating scripts to be used. With the lack of gender to dictate roles, communication is key for lesbians to both negotiate and assign acceptable dating behavior.

Queer Creatures, Queer Times makes a critical intervention in queer theory and queer poetics through a combination of critical and creative approaches to explore how posthumanist thought and animal studies might correct a blindspot in current critical work on queer experience and texts. Queer theory tends to neglect non/human subjects, yet an ecological and posthumanist critique helps to trouble its humanist bias as well as its overly neat ties to constructivist and performative notions of selfhood. I argue that modern lyric poetry, in emergence during the cultural transmission of Darwinian precepts and the social invention of the homosexual, is uniquely situated to challenge the exclusivist principles that underlie specieisim, Social Darwinism, and heterosexism. While queer theory tends to overlook evolution in the construction of subjectivity and sexuality, I posit that such tendencies diminish opportunities for thinking through non-coherent selfhood and the radical contingency of beings upon other life forms. Accompanying my critical essays on three modernist queer poets, Djuna Barnes, Elizabeth Bishop, and Marianne Moore, are my poetics essay entitled "Towards a Poetics of the Animal" and my poetry manuscript Queer Fish. Both poetic texts explore non-dominant forms of queer relation between animals and humans.

This study examines how LGBT activists and LGBT youth make meaning of a strategic advocacy campaign. By examining activist and advocacy efforts aimed at youth, this research brings to light how LGBT organizations use campaigns to articulate identity and, conversely, how LGBT youth articulate notions of identity. Through the lens of the It Gets Better Project, a nonprofit activist organization, this dissertation uses in-depth interviews with organizational members and chat-based interviews with LGBT youth to study the meanings participants brought to the campaign.

Strategic communication has been instrumental in construction of LGBT as a cohesive collective identity and has played a vital role in the early stages of the gay rights movement. This research demonstrates how contemporary LGBT advocacy, through strategic communication, works to shape understandings of LGBT youth.

Instead of focusing on the Internet as a democratic space that equalizes power differentials between an organization and its publics, this study shows that the construction of identity is the result of a dynamic process between producers and consumers in which power is localized and does not simply belong to an organization or its public.

This research challenges the Internet as a democratic space and demonstrates that identity is a discursive struggle over meaning that is bound up in the intimate dance between producers and consumers of a campaign. In contrast to functionalist understandings of public relations that privileges the organization, this dissertation contends that a cultural-economic approach focuses on the processes of communication. A cultural-economic approach gives voice to the diverse audiences of a communication campaign and addresses the role communication plays as a discursive force that influences the construction of identities.

Sexual minority students are targets of bullying and experience negative mental health and academic outcomes. Although teachers report positive attitudes towards the needs of sexual minority students, they do not feel prepared to effectively support such students. This study investigated the current ways in which teacher education programs integrate the topic of GLBT needs into the educational experience of pre-service teachers and factors that may affect the integration of the topic. Twenty directors of teacher education programs participated in phone interviews. Some information was also collected from institution and federal websites.

The results indicate that approximately half of teacher preparation programs expect pre-service teachers to develop GLBT related competencies prior to graduating, although very few assess these competencies. Pre-service teachers are most likely to learn about GLBT issues as they relate to family structures, bullying, and literature in a variety of education related courses. Hands-on experiences are limited, with few programs reporting a presence of GLBT faculty or students, few experiences with GLBT issues in the field, and few opportunities to engage in research on GLBT related topics. The results indicate no significant difference in the interview answers by institution type or program accrediting body. The institution's Carnegie Classification, student population, percent of the institution's students enrolled in the education program, and percent of ethnic minority students and faculty in the program were found to have relationships with factors extracted from the questionnaire. The results and implications for teacher education practices are discussed.

My dissertation, Performing Politics: Visibility, Identity, and Meaning-Making in Docudrama, challenges scholars' privileging of documentary theatre, which relies solely on primary source material such as trial transcripts, over docudrama, which allows a blending of primary sources with fiction. I focus on contemporary docudrama theatre practitioners in the United States, and specifically on productions that address issues of gender and sexuality. My work argues for the feminist potential of docudrama to disrupt hierarchies of knowledge and destabilize the primacy of the primary source. I demonstrate in Chapter One that in a docudrama like Paula Kamen's Jane: Abortion and the Underground, "reality" operates alongside the imaginative potential of fiction, thus providing practitioners and audiences a unique realm in which to tackle difficult and politically charged issues. My second chapter argues that the interdisciplinarity of documentary theatre can be a feminist ethnographic model for scholar-artists to employ ethical research methods for artistic engagement. Through a critical examination of E. Patrick Johnson's Sweet Tea, I argue that reflexivity and the post-show talkback are promising tools for foregrounding the practitioner's positionality and raising public consciousness. Finally, I challenge implications that documentary theatre is inherently pedagogical. Through an analysis of Dustin Lance Black's 8, I question the ways in which parroting primary source material reifies dominant ideologies, further entrenching cultural hierarchies. I conclude by considering other promising feminist attributes of docudrama, specifically the symbiotic potential of dialoging documentary scholarship with scholarship on queer temporalities.

This thesis seeks to expand understandings of resistance, particularly in the context of everyday actions and social institutions. It achieves this by tracing the development of a gay community that became increasingly visible in Lafayette, Louisiana, from the late 1960s through the late 1980s. By crafting their own social mores and spaces, religious institutions, Mardi Gras associations, AIDS service organization, and political association, gay men resisted and contested efforts to marginalize or denigrate their identities and desires. Relying on oral histories and periodicals distributed within gay bars, this work highlights the importance of primarily non-political institutions in affirming gay identity, same-sex desire, and gender nonconformity. It finds agency within a group that has a largely undocumented history in Louisiana, outside of New Orleans. Previous scholarship on gay communities has focused too broadly on entire states or too exclusively on major metropolitan areas. This thesis, then, also brings to light the experiences of gay men in a small southern city, tracking the development of various means of resistance within that community.

Three dances, On This Day, Panties and Pathologies , and Naked Spotlight Silver were choreographed and performed in fulfillment of the requirements to complete an M.F.A. degree in dance. The performances took place at the Martha B. Knoebel Dance Theater located on the campus of California State University, Long Beach. On This Day premiered October 2012, Panties and Pathologies premiered March 2013, and Naked Spotlight Silver premiered October 2013.

This thesis examines how each project investigates choreographic approaches used in concert dance to communicate issues of gender and sexuality as well as participate in a discourse on identity politics. The three dance pieces attempted to confront themes of marriage equality, representation and the marketing of femininity, and queer identity representations in performance. Each piece was unique in its methodologies and served as an explorative approach to political communication and artistic development.

Transpersonal genealogy is the experience of feeling pulled toward and guided by deceased ancestors in researching their history, and how such genealogy enriches the psychospiritual development of the researcher. In this autoethnographic study, I explored such experience and enrichment by composing a narrative of my own ancestor's life as an early Mormon in the 19th century juxtaposed against my lived experience as a lesbian in the late 20th and early 21st century. Based on primary sources, historical documents, family lore, and my own felt-sense, I constructed a narrative that explored the lived experience of my fourth great grandmother, Elizabeth "Betsey" Arnold née Bliss. Contemporary sources and my own personal narrative were woven together with Betsey's story. Significant events in both of our lives were compared to demonstrate how my pull to learn more about her life has brought exceptional insight into the events of my own life. Creative expression further deepened my understanding and focus on significant events in both Betsey's and my life. I wrote the first 3 chapters (Introduction, Literature Review, and Research Method), conferred with 2 of Betsey's other descendants: 1 of my cousins who was a bishop in the Mormon Church to corroborate his understanding of the church's history and doctrine, and a second of my Mormon cousins on her transpersonal experiences conducting genealogy. Then through Michael Harner's approach to shamanic journeying, I contacted our shared ancestor regarding the details of her story and how they intertwined with mine. I wove the results of the interviews including the recurring themes of societal and personal neglect, persecution, perseverance, and resilience throughout the narrative comprising the fourth chapter. In the final chapter, I provided a reflection on my experience of the dissertation process including potential applications and transpersonal implications of the results, how I was transformed by the research, and ideas for future study.

This thesis explores Julia Ward Howe's unfinished manuscript, The Hermaphrodite (2004). In order to establish a foundation, this thesis begins by approaching The Hermaphrodite through lenses that connect to Howe's life and times. The biographical, feminist, and gothic approaches analyze the effects of personal conflicts, gender concerns, and setting nuances on the manuscript. The analysis of previous treatment of hermaphrodites provides background on ambiguous protagonists. Ultimately, this thesis expands upon and diverges from preceding scholarship, and it establishes a new perspective through which to view the hermaphroditic protagonist, Laurence. This thesis argues that Howe's Laurence can be read as are-visioned Christ figure. His/her physical description is strikingly reminiscent of the accounts of Jesus's appearance. Both Jesus and Laurence are entwined with pious symbols. Laurence is intrinsically connected to the purity of the cross. Most importantly, Laurence and Jesus both gallantly endure burdens and selflessly sacrifice themselves for others while transiently inhabiting earth before returning to heaven. Laurence is an unexpected and reinvented savior.

The initial impression a client formulates about the therapist is critical to establishing a deep and meaningful working alliance. The traditional intake interview protocol is fraught with heterocentric biases and heteronormative assumptions, thereby failing to provide an affirming experience for non-heterosexual clients or potentially overlooks issues relevant to competently serve the psychological needs of LGB clients. This dissertation endeavors to respond to the growing need for the clinical application of LGB affirmative approaches. An overview of the following bodies of literature is offered: (a) consequences of heterosexism on the lives of LGB individuals, (b) heterosexism and the field of psychology, (c) perceived competence of therapists treating LGB clients, (d) current practices in working clinically with LGB clients, and (e) intersection of multiple cultural considerations. Based on a synthesis of the literature, feedback from experts in the field, and a critical review of existing intake protocols, preliminary suggestions for engaging in an LGB affirming initial therapeutic experience is offered. 4 major areas of clinical considerations for engaging in an affirmative intake process are discussed: (a) creating an affirming environment, (b) the initial intake process, (c) important considerations specific to members of the LGB community; and (d) therapist competencies. Finally, intake questions for consideration in intake forms or during the course of an intake interview are presented.

What can the experiences of queer medical students tell us about the existence of homophobia and heteronormativity in medical environments? This thesis focuses on the experiences of queer medical students and physicians as they are enculturated into biomedical theory and practice. I begin by laying out the historical and theoretical trends in the study of sex/gender and sexuality, with a particular focus on how these trends have affected the anthropological study of sex/gender and sexuality. Next, I review the literature on queer health and medical education in order to situate the results of the research within the broader medical education and queer health disparities literatures. After detailing the methods used to gather and analyze the data that makes up this thesis, I explore my informants' experiences with their medical education and training with particular focus on medical case studies as an example of the ways that heteronormativity becomes internalized by informants in medical environments. Next, I examine the interaction between my informants' ideas about (in)visibility in medical environments, and I introduce the concept of the irrelevance narrative as a means of making sense of how informants view the role of their queerness in their practice of medicine. I conclude with a discussion of the limitations of this research and provide a list of best practices for medical education, training, and practice on queer health issues informed by the literature and my discussions with informants.

The effects of homonegativity for same-sex attracted individuals in the United States can lead to serious physical and/or mental health problems, affecting more than 9 million lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) individuals. While research into LGBT issues has been undertaken in earnest since the 1970s, there has been little examination on the role of homonegativity for gay men, nor the types of support that would be helpful to combat the effects of homonegativity. This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of homonegativity among gay White men in the San Francisco Bay Area. Participants were recruited through the use of convenience sampling, snowball sampling, and strategically placed posters in locations frequented by gay men. The 12 participants were between the ages of 29 and 81 and identified as gay men who had experienced at least one significant gay relationship. The research questions explored these men's perceptions and experiences of homonegativity and its impact upon various aspects of their lives. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis utilized to identify relevant themes and interpretations. Participants acquired new knowledge and meaning through the exposure and discussion of in-depth concepts of homonegativity. They also identified experiences that included internalized, interpersonal, institutional, and cultural homonegativity. Ten prominent themes emerged from this study. Among them were: prescriptive gender role compliance; a general unease with being gay; experiences of bullying, verbal and physical attacks; workplace discrimination; religious exclusion and discrimination; the effect of negative media portrayals of homosexuality; and experiences of governmental discrimination. Seven themes emerged from an exploration of homonegativity, prominent ones were: lack of family support, safety concerns, experiences of homonegativity from their partners, and an acknowledgement that homonegativity impacts their relationships. Participants reported that the process of being exposed to new and expanded concepts of homonegativity created insight into how homonegativity operates in their lives and relationships. Implications for clinical practice and future research are discussed.

The purpose of this project was to write a grant to fund spirituality-focused support groups for Latino adults who are HIV positive and their family members or significant others. The groups will provide a safe place for participants to receive additional education and support to enhance their coping skills and promote healthy ways to manage stress. An extensive literature review was conducted regarding traditional Latino cultures, including their emphasis on spirituality and communal support.

The Elton John AIDS Foundation was chosen as an appropriate funder. The groups will be provided in both English and Spanish through The LGBT Center OC. The Center is located in Orange County, California, where there are large numbers of HIV positive Latinos and few resources specifically designed to meet their needs. The actual submission of the grant application was not a requirement of the thesis project.

The U.S. military has struggled with the implementation of diversity efforts throughout history and a key factor supporting this failure is the lack of information collected from its minority groups. An extensive examination of women and gays in the military illustrated a continued disadvantageous environment for both minority groups, which was created by the military's sexual based discrimination. More specifically, the history of sexual orientation discrimination of gays in the military coupled with the lack of research available indicated a need for additional exploration in this field of study. Seminal research efforts provide little insight to the gay service members' perspective within the military. Additionally, current research is excessively narrow, focusing on military readiness, cohesion, and overall military effectiveness. In an effort to close the gap in literature, this qualitative study explored the perspectives of 11 gay men and their experiences as gay service members, before and after the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT). The results of this phenomenological research indicated, as per social identity theory, participants struggled with being gay in the U.S. military. Based on the in-depth interviews, participants felt DADT was an unfair policy which silenced them as a minority group. The DADT policy created family issues and a hostile work environment where participants were subject to sexual orientation discrimination, leading to a sense of alienation, a reduction in job participation, and a decrease in overall job satisfaction. After the repeal, participants reported a slow and sometimes forced attempt at cultural change which resulted in continuing discrimination and ongoing family issues. Out of fear of military retaliation, only some of the participants chose to reveal their sexual orientation following the repeal. Some of the participants who chose to come out of the closet reported continued harassment from their peers and leadership. These gay servicemen suffered from minority stress related to their experiences and expressed concerns regarding their future treatment in the U.S. military.

One major conflict some lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals face is how to maintain their religious affiliations while developing their sexual identity. Some of these individuals choose to reject theist ideology altogether. Very little is known about the atheist and theist differences among the LBG populations. This study aimed to explore relationship challenges that LGB individuals face when having differing religious ideologies from their parents. In addition, the study addressed the need to examine additive links of multiple potential oppressive forces when identifying as a LGB atheist.

The study found that all participants perceived having relationship strain when having a theist parent. However, participants who identified as atheists had more relationship strain than participants who shared the same theistic belief as their parents. Most participants were not “out of the closet” and reported the greatest relationship strain in almost all subscales.

The implications for social work practice is to emphasize the importance of theist belief, or lack there of, in family dynamics. In addition, social workers must advocate in religious institutions for civil treatment not only for LGB but for atheists as well.

Given the intolerance of homosexuality in many religions and religious communities, particularly Muslim American communities, many LGBTQ-identified individuals who grow up in Muslim families and societies struggle with the two oft perceived incompatible identities. Numerous researchers have examined this phenomenon among Christian and Jewish gay men in the United States, but minimal research has addressed men who identify as gay and Muslim. These individuals face an even greater risk of psychological and physical harm due to the cultural and religious proscriptions that gay Muslims face and the lack of social and psychological resources available to them. By further examining how gay Muslim men cope with their sexual and religious identities, and how personal traits, experiences, and situations mitigate or enhance the conflict that many experience, my intent with this study was to contribute to the nascent psychological framework that mental health providers, especially therapists, could access when working with clients who identify as gay and Muslim. Using a social constructionist paradigm and thematic analysis, the lived experiences, attitudes, and beliefs of nine men all of whom are between the ages of 24 and 35, were raised in Muslim families, and are attracted to other men were examined in this qualitative study. The analysis of the interviews focused on religion, sexuality, identity negotiation, relationships, and mental health. Particular efforts were invested in looking at how the participants negotiate their religious and sexual identity development and, if present, how they resolve their identity conflict. The majority of the participants rejected their Muslim identities with a few participants maintaining their Muslim and gay identities. Implications for clinical practice are discussed.

Safe Zone (or Safe Space) programs are common on college campuses to encourage support of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, (LGBTQ) and other people who identify as sexual and gender minorities. However, research describing the efficacy of Safe Zone programs is infrequent and often methodologically problematic. A program evaluation was performed of the Safe Zone Network program at the University at Buffalo, SUNY (UB). Measures were chosen to assess homonegativity, LGBTQ knowledge, attitudes, self-reported behavior, and identification as an LGBTQ ally, as well as a demographic survey. These measures were administered via paper survey before and after participation in the Safe Zone Network workshop. The same measures were administered before and after a health education program for use as control measurements. The data were analyzed with correlations and repeated-measures ANOVA. At pretest more pro-LGBTQ knowledge, attitudes, self-reported behavior, and ally self-identification was associated with identifying as a sexual and/or gender minority, attending the workshop voluntarily, being younger, and having more LGBTQ social contact prior to the workshop. Participation in the Safe Zone workshop was associated with significant changes in decreased homonegativity and hate, as well as increased LGBTQ knowledge and self-identifying as an LGBTQ ally, when compared to the control group. Despite differences in pretest scores based on the reason for participating in the workshop, reason for participation did not significantly relate to the amount variables changed over the workshop time, indicating that the workshop may be beneficial for both mandated and voluntary participants. More pro-LGBTQ pretest scores may have indicated more likelihood to change during the program. Overall, these results suggested that the UB Safe Zone Network program is related to prosocial changes in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors (such as the proxy could estimate), and ally self-identification, particularly for participants who are primed to be more sensitive to these issues. Results were discussed in context of current research. Limitations and future directions for research were discussed.

This quantitative study compared the following concepts between heterosexual men and gay men: (a) self-esteem, (b) body image, (c) social support, and (d) narcissism traits. The same survey was given to 50 males, 26 of the males identified themselves as heterosexual while 24 identified themselves as gay. The findings reveal that out of the four concepts, only body investment was significantly related to participant's sexual orientation. Gay males in this study invested more on their body when compared to their heterosexual counterparts, while there was no significant relationship between selfesteem, body image, and social support for either sexual orientation.

The purpose of this research was to gain an understanding of the lived experience of the participants in a workshop entitled: "The Father Hunger Workshop: The Union of the Son of Promise with the Father of Achievement." This psychoeducational workshop was designed by psychologist Donald Kilhefner to assist gay men in their late 20s through 30s, who feel that they are having difficulty maturing into adulthood. The research question for this study was "What is the lived experience of participating in the Father Hunger Workshop?" This question issues from a phenomenological orientation, which focuses on the lived experience of the participant. Interviews were conducted, and the 4 most descriptive of these were transcribed and then analyzed using Giorgi's (2009) descriptive phenomenology.

The following themes, among others, were identified and then expanded upon in relation to relevant literature: The participants enjoyed the opportunity to get to know gay men in a different context; they felt a sense of safety in the group that helped them to participate more fully; they found open communication in a group setting to be new and challenging; being held accountable by the group was experienced as both difficult and supportive; they gained insight through their reactions to other group members; they felt resistance, at times, to attending sessions; they appreciated the chance to work with a gay elder; they gained new meaning and purpose with regard to their gay identity; and they came to experience compassion and forgiveness for their fathers.

Findings from this in-depth exploration of the dynamics of a psychoeducational gay men's workshop may help other researchers and clinicians in conceptualizing and implementing the curative or helpful aspects of group work with gay men. This study offers information relevant to the specific needs of gay men at a developmental crossroads in their lives and offers members of both the gay community and mainstream society an understanding of the specific challenges faced by gay men who are struggling with the process of maturation.

Adolescence is a difficult time for most, and the challenges faced by the LGBT population regarding coming out to their parents can create hardships academically. Although studies have shown that parental support impacts educational outcomes for the general population, there is little knowledge about academic outcomes for LGBT students due to perceived parental support during the coming out process, and how academic institutions have power to influence these outcomes as well. This study uses qualitative interviews of LGBT young adults, parents of LGBT children, and school personnel in order to evaluate the impact of perceived parental support by LGBT students at the time of coming out and knowledge of LGBT specific programs within Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) by school personnel. The study found that for some individuals parental support did impact higher education degree attainment. The study also found that school personnel lack knowledge about LGBT programs in LAUSD.

Aspects of modernity in Western culture that act to limit conceptions of diversity, such as binary, hierarchical oppositions and the privileging of discursive, analytic knowledge over intuitive and receptive ways of knowing, have played a significant role in both the denigration and erasure of people who have transgender and gender nonconforming identities and experiences. As these elements of modernity are subjected to scrutiny by transgender and cisgender peoples, new knowledge is produced that allows for an increase in transgender visibility. This visibility then works back upon culture to further erode the constraining effects of modernity in the culture at large. Four myths from Ovid's Metamorphoses are discussed to illustrate gender diversity and this spiraling process.

Ovid's powerful and timely myths help to capture the present moment when the lives and voices of transgender and gender nonconforming peoples are destabilizing old stories and creating new gender myths, new lenses through which to view and understand gender. "Salmacis and Hermaphroditus" is a vehicle for reflecting on modernity, its limitations, and the gender transformation currently taking place in culture. "Iphis and Ianthe" offers an opportunity to consider issues of embodiment and the importance of family and community support for people who are gender diverse. "Caenis/Caenus" is the brave warrior without and within. He faces the challenging confrontations with the cultural status quo and the deep intrapsychic movement that gender diversity can initiate. Finally, "Tiresias" ushers in a meditation on ways of knowing, healing, and the privileged positions gender diverse peoples have held in cultures with more inclusive gender systems.

The production portion of this dissertation was a public dialogue event for transgender and gender diverse community members and allies in Los Angeles entitled TranSolidarity World Café. Through an organic process of emergence and with the help of public dialogue experts and many volunteers, a gathering for 160 people was hosted. A record of the event was captured in the drawings and graphic recordings of those who participated.

This dissertation examines the way gender is created and articulated in selected stories from Peyo's bandes dessinées [comics], Les Schtroumpfs [The Smurfs]. I pay special attention to his story, "La Schtroumpfette" ["The Smurfette"]. I use an interdisciplinary approach from theorists in the fields of gender and transgender studies: Judith Butler, Susan Stryker, Suzanne J. Kessler and Wendy McKenna, and Julia Serano; and comics studies: Scott McCloud, Thierry Groensteen, Will Eisner and Rodolphe Töpffer.

Judith Butler's theory of performativity informs my argument that certain panels from "La Schtroumpfette" function as performatives. They reiterate feminine types and give the illusion of a norm, which in turn hides the fact that their "truth" lies only on its reiteration through time and not on original gender types. Along with Butler's theory, I use Kessler and McKenna's study on gender attribution, Thierry Groensteen's theory that a comics' meaning can by analyzed through the structuration on its pages (arthrologie ), and Scott McCloud's idea that the more abstract a comics character, the more a wider range of readers will be said to identify with such a character.

Using these theories, along with those of Serano, Eisner, Töpffer and others, I read Peyo's Smurf characters as androgynous before the publication of his story, "La Schtroumpfette." Then, I read "La Schtroumpfette" as a metaphor for transgender and transsexual identities. The first half of Peyo's comics story deals with the first Schtroumpfette, Gargamel's creation, and her problems in the Smurf village. Her primary problem sees her misidentified as a Smurf with long hair and a dress and not a feminine Smurf. I read this as evidence of a transgender identity whereby she expresses herself in the feminine but looks like a Smurf. The second half of his story deals with the second Schtroumpfette, the version of le Grand Schtroumpf [Papa Smurf], and the problems due to her feminine beauty. This beauty is attained through esthetic surgery, a detail that leads me to interpret her as transsexual.

In the United States, workplace discrimination against African-Americans and women has been a primary focus of Industrial/Organizational psychology research (Ruggs, Law, Cox, Roehling, Wiener, Hebl, & Barron, 2013). I hope to broaden our understanding of discrimination by examining lesbians and gay men in the workplace. In this 2 (gender) by 2 (sexual orientation) design, lesbians and gay men received the same hiring ratings and salary appointments as heterosexual applicants for a male-oriented job. There were, however, significant differences in agency with lesbians receiving the highest ratings. Results showed that applicants may want to consider the perceptions of agency for a male-oriented job instead of focusing on sexual orientation or gender in the initial hiring process. Implications, limitations, and directions for future research are discussed.

This qualitative study is aimed at understanding the experiences of three pre-operative male-to-female transgender individuals' perceptions of their genitalia. The participants completed a semistructured interview utilizing projective drawings to elicit a narrative about their perceptions regarding their genitalia. Interview transcripts were analyzed via interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) and three master themes were identified: former identity, detachment, and depersonalization. Each one of the themes sheds a light on the challenges preoperative male-to-female transgender individuals face in living with genitalia that are not congruent with their desired gender. This understanding of the male-to-female transgender perceptions of their genitalia further supports the literature review, suggesting the importance of sex reassignment surgery in order to transition fully to the desired sex for those who wish to do so (Lev, 2004). The findings indicate that sex reassignment surgery is an important step in treatment of gender dysphoria for individuals who wish to obtain surgery.

Despite some indications that treatment experiences have been improving (Liddle, 1999), LGB clients still receive discriminatory treatment (Bieschke, Paul, & Blasko, 2007). Even clinicians who wish to offer affirmative therapy hold unconscious negative biases due to growing up within a heterosexist culture (Bieschke et al., 2007). Utilizing Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (Smith, Flowers & Larkin, 2009), this qualitative study explored the therapeutic experiences of seven LGB individuals in order to inform competent treatment with this population. Participants provided accounts through semi-structured interviews, which were validated using participant review. Specifically, the research focused on cross-orientation dyads, although experiences in therapy with shared-orientation dyads were also examined.

The results of this study are presented within five domains. Self-Categorization contextualizes participant accounts by discussing chosen identity terminology, variations of visibility, and the impact of categorical conceptions of identity. Identifying Others, Identifying Allies notes ways in which participants identified the cultural competence of practitioners. Navigating Heterosexism discusses the pervasive influence of heterosexism on individual's expectations of therapeutic experiences. Additionally, participants reviewed situations wherein clinicians expressed judgment or lack of knowledge, which highlight how therapists can more effectively respond to cultural ruptures. Preferring Therapist Identities explores participants' therapeutic preferences and discusses benefits and challenges embedded within shared-orientation and cross-orientation therapeutic dyads. Finally, Understanding Therapeutic Practices identifies practices that support affirmative therapeutic work regardless of the clinician's sexual orientation. Underlying principles of competent cross-cultural therapy with LGB clients were proposed, which emphasize the importance of clinician self-reflection in order to provide nonjudgmental acceptance, discuss sexuality with ease, value different ways of approaching relationship, and decrease therapist defensiveness.

While this study found that several participants preferred sexual minority therapists, the results also suggest that there are significant benefits to working with culturally competent heterosexual clinicians. Participants described benefiting from the experience of acceptance from a member of the dominant culture, which provided a corrective experience to internalized heterosexism. These accounts indicate that, with training and self-reflection, heterosexual clinicians can provide uniquely supportive therapeutic experiences to LGB individuals. Recommendations are provided concerning cultural competent practice and ways to approach cultural misunderstanding.