Journal of Homosexuality最新文献

This study investigates the marginalization of the main character, Arthur Less, due to his homosexuality in Andrew Sean Greer's novel, Less. This analysis applies Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak's foundational paper "Can the Subaltern Speak?" as a theoretical framework. A qualitative research approach-that is, textual analysis-has been applied to the selected excerpts of the novel Less. The goal is to deconstruct and explore various dimensions of Less, the protagonist and his marginalization, including professional exclusion, personal insecurity, societal prejudice, and internalized homonegativity. The analysis concludes that a significant part of Less's marginalization is related to his oppression in a society that has established negative views on homosexuality. In turn, these views, grounded in the concept of internalized homonegativity, underline the level of his subalternity. Decentering Less based on Spivak implies applying this marginality to the position of the gay author. The findings of the analysis reflect the situation in which Less's contribution as a writer is systematically devalued by the dominating literary discourse. Besides, the extracted thematic is meant to demonstrate the intersectionality of Less's marginality, as other aspects of his identity-namely, age, professional status, and personal weakness-endorse his subaltern status.

The LGBT community is a hidden population that has only recently started to integrate into mainstream society in India. Though the community has been studied extensively, the clothing of its members has not received the same attention as other fields. Present study was planned with the objective to ascertain the community's struggles with clothing in India. Both primary and secondary data were utilized for this purpose. A systematic Review of Literature was carried out to explore the previous studies in this field. This was followed by primary data collection. Eleven participants- six gay men, three transgender women, one pansexual woman and one bisexual man were recruited through snowball sampling and participated in telephonic interviews. Based on the content analyses, three themes were established; (1) Creation and expression of gender/sexual identity through clothing (2) Identification and procurement of clothing and (3) Need for acceptance and integration through Fashion and Media. Specific issues related to clothing along with certain clothing practices of the LGBT community were successfully observed in the present study.

Research has highlighted gay men as a population who experience disproportionate eating and body-related issues comparatively to straight men. Exploring experiences of eating and body-related issues by gay men in relation to self-compassion and self-criticism provided novel insight. Internet-mediated research (IMR) was used to explore attitudes to and experiences of eating, body image and dieting among gay men. Data were analyzed using Reflexive Thematic analysis, utilizing the reflexivity and subjectivity of the researcher to produce the overall themes. Three overall themes were conceptualized, the first theme "Perfection or rejection" reflected pressures to attain a "fit" body type by the queer community, and how this translated to a lack of body acceptance. The second theme "Hate your current body, but not yourself" explored how participants perceived self-criticism as "positive" in relation to weight loss. The third theme "Better to be hungry than overeat," demonstrated participants engagement in problematic dieting behaviors and how participants suggested these practices to others, despite discussing the impact on their overall wellbeing. Findings help to provide insight into gay men's attitudes toward their bodies, and weight loss practices through the lens of self-compassion and self-criticism.

In the Netherlands, lesbian couples have a relatively high level of agency in shaping conception, as they can choose between different donor constructions (sperm bank donor versus contact donor), high- and low-tech medical interventions, and clinical and non-clinical inseminations. This results in pluriform conceptive practices, which this paper examines through the lens of kinning, i.e. the active establishment of kinship ties. This paper aims to increase our understanding of how lesbian couples shape conception and how this is related to existing kinship discourses, particularly discourses on motherhood and the role of the donor. 48 semi-structured interviews with both partners in 24 lesbian couples expecting their first child were conducted and thematically analyzed. Analysis show that kinning intentions play an important role when lesbian couples make decisions for conception. Reaffirming the lesbian relationship and managing the relationship with the sperm donor were central concerns. I conclude that conception is a symbolically laden event in which different strategies could be employed to set the stage for desired future family relations. As such, conceptive practices provide a window into how expectant lesbian couples understand and mold existing kinship discourses to fit their families.

Heterosexist discrimination is a known predictor of poorer mental health among sexual minority men (SMM), but it may not be the only social stressor influencing mental health. This study examined if intragroup marginalization within the gay community contributes to SMM's mental health after accounting for experiences of heterosexist discrimination. Study participants were 283 Australian SMM (M_age = 32.12, SD = 10.81) who completed an online survey of heterosexist discrimination and intragroup marginalization, as well as levels of depression, social anxiety, self-esteem, and outness. Intragroup marginalization was measured using a new scale assessing marginalization due to social (e.g., status), individual (e.g., physical appearance), and identity (e.g., race/ethnicity) attributes. Depression, social anxiety, and self-esteem were regressed on all other measures in three hierarchical models. Individual intragroup marginalization predicted greater depression, social anxiety, and lower self-esteem; identity intragroup marginalization predicted greater depression and social anxiety; and, unexpectedly, social intragroup marginalization predicted lower social anxiety and greater self-esteem. These associations persisted after considering heterosexist discrimination, which predicted poorer mental health outcomes, while outness was not a significant predictor. The results reveal varied associations between intragroup marginalization, heterosexist discrimination, and mental health, suggesting complex relationships between multilateral stressors and SMM's mental health.

Sexual Minority Adolescents (SMAs) are more likely to experience mental health problems than heterosexual adolescents. This has been observed across geographical and socio-political contexts. Within the UK, minimal work has explored SMA's experience of navigating their sexuality and experiences of adversity and resilience. A constructivist grounded theory approach was adopted. Data were gathered in 2021, from 17 semi-structured interviews with a gender diverse sample aged 16-25. The Dynamic Identity Formation Sexual Minority (DIFS) theory was generated via analysis of participant narrative and informed by existing sociopsychological models (e.g. ecological systems theory). DIFS is a sociopsychological theory, with three tiers (cultures, enactment and experience). The cultures of heteronormativity and gender binarism, and the culture of queerness sit atop. Each culture is enacted by behaviors, i.e. othering and suppression. The final tier is individual experience, which can include internalized homonegativity and/or developing a commitment to supporting others. DIFS helps understand the discrete and interacting influence of sociological structures, interpersonal relationships and psychological experiences over developmental time. Thus, a more holistic and targeted intervention approach can be utilized by psychotherapists with this group. Extra inclusivity efforts towards non-heterosexual relationships are likely to be effective in variant settings, e.g. the education system.

This article explores the childhood experiences of 16 individuals who self-identify as homosexual men living in Santiago (Chile), including both foreign and Chilean nationals, aged 18 to 54, who self-identify as homosexual men. The study highlights the pervasive structural homophobic violence they face from childhood to adulthood. Through in-depth interviews and reflexive thematic analysis, the research emphasizes how heterocisnormative norms and ideals of masculinity severely restrict gender expression and corporality from early ages, significantly impacting their development and identity. The study underscores the critical need to create inclusive and safe spaces that mitigate the impact of violence and promote holistic well-being throughout all stages of life. The research findings reveal a complex interaction between body, identity, and violence, suggesting that inclusion and respect for diversity from childhood are fundamental to the development of more equitable and understanding societies. This work aims to lay the groundwork for future research and policies focused on protecting and promoting the rights of LGBTQ  +  individuals from childhood, highlighting the importance of addressing these issues from a comprehensive perspective.

Kaathal- The Core is a Malayalam courtroom drama directed by Jeo Baby, which was released in November 2023. The film discusses how forced heterosexual relationships negatively impact not only homosexual individuals but also their heterosexual spouses, especially in a conservative community. The film revolves around Mathew, a retired bank manager and a leftist candidate in a Gram Panchayat by-election, whose candidacy is jeopardized when his wife Omana files for divorce, citing his homosexuality and failure to fulfill marital duties. As Mathew struggles to conceal his sexuality, he faces both ridicule and support from various factions. The plot gradually reveals how Devassy, his father, forced him to marry a woman despite knowing that his son was gay. The film takes a significant narrative shift when Devassy overcomes his dogmatic beliefs, supports Mathew's coming out, and facilitates Omana's pursuit of legal separation. The film challenges embedded heteronormative social norms while leaning into sentimental storytelling, making it both a bold statement and an emotional drama. It criticizes the stark enforcement of heterosexuality, marital oppression, and societal hypocrisy. The director strategically casts Mammootty and Jyothika, two highly acclaimed South Indian actors with immense stardom and widespread appeal, to broaden the film's reach and impact.

Trans women in India, especially those engaged in sex work, face significant mental health challenges. As a part of a larger study on trans health needs, we aimed to assess the prevalence of alcohol abuse among trans women attending the Mitr Clinic in Hyderabad, India, and determine if there is an association between sex work and poor mental health. A cross-sectional study surveyed 300 trans women at the Mitr Clinic. Mental health was assessed using the GHQ-12, and substance use was evaluated using the ASSIST. Data on demographics, occupation, education, and HIV status were collected. Relevant ethical approvals were obtained. Among participants, 21% were identified as sex workers. GHQ-12 scores were significantly higher among sex workers compared to non-sex workers, indicating poorer mental health (p = 0.004). High-risk alcohol use was reported by 4% of participants, with a marginal association between sex work and alcohol use (p = 0.05). Trans women engaged in sex work in India have significantly poorer mental health compared to their non-sex working peers. We advocate for culturally sensitive and targeted interventions to support the unique needs of this vulnerable population.