Journal of Homosexuality最新文献

Sexual minority (SM) adults are at increased risk for adverse health outcomes and face unique barriers to engagement and retention in healthcare, including stigma and discrimination. Given known barriers to care, SM adults may prefer online platforms due to limited access to in-person clinical care and fear of discrimination. To date, there is limited knowledge of these behaviors among subgroups of SM adults. This study was a cross-sectional, secondary data analysis of the United States National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) Adult Sample Data Set, 2018. Utilizing descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions, we found that bisexual females had significantly greater odds (AOR = 1.58, CI: 1.04-2.39) of seeking health information online compared to straight females. Similarly, when compared to their straight male counterparts, gay males had significantly higher odds of seeking health information online in the past 12 months (AOR = 2.96, 95% CI: 2.00-4.37). These findings indicate the need for targeting messaging and interventions to address the health concerns of these populations. It also suggests that virtual platforms are viable and perhaps preferred for these subgroups of SM adults. Through continued efforts and research, the field can target relevant health information to populations who need it most by leveraging where they seek it.

The Homosexual Law Reform Society was established in 1958, when it became clear that the relatively progressive proposals contained in the "Wolfenden Report" into male homosexuality would not be actioned by the Conservative government. The choice of surgeon and sexologist Kenneth Walker to chair the society reflected his standing in medical and intellectual circles as someone working toward a "stable and liberal society." In the preceding 30 years, Walker had counseled and "treated" many homosexual men seeking help and written and broadcasted on the matter for his profession and the laity. The content of this work reflected evolving scientific views as to the etiology and, therefore, potential treatment of homosexuality, which became less important as the permanence of a section of society that would seek same sex relationships became accepted, and attention instead shifted toward their assimilation. Walker was consistent in condemning the illegality of male homosexual acts and, whilst he died a year before the law was amended, was conscious that, as a result of his efforts and those of others, change was imminent.

This study investigates the perceptions and experiences of homophobia among Brazilian gay men of different age groups, focusing on the aging process. Using a descriptive and exploratory methodology, a content analysis was conducted based on semi-structured interviews with 135 participants, organized into three age groups: young (18-30 years), adults (31-49 years), and elderly (over 50 years). The Hierarchical Descending Classification (HDC) was used, which presented five classes constructed from the participants' reports. The results showed that young people face anxiety and restrictions in public spaces, adults highlight labor challenges and family rejection, and elderly people suffer from social isolation and invisibility. The intersectionality between factors such as income and education aggravated the consequences of homophobia, especially in the field of mental health.

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.

There is a gap in the field of gender-based violence concerning lateral violence within 2SLGBTQ+ communities. This paper helps fill that gap by offering participants' narratives from The Queer Sexual Joy Project, which engaged 100 2SLGBTQ+ youth from Canada and the US, ages 18-35, in focus groups, participatory visual arts-based research, one-on-one interviews, and surveys. The study provides insight into how lateral violence is fueled and expressed through overlapping and intersecting systems of oppression, including fatphobia, transphobia, sexism and misogyny, racism, and ableism. Participants' experiences also highlighted that while lateral violence reduces the potentialities of queer sexual joy, this violence is catalyzed and reproduced through troubling depictions of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in popular media and sexuality education. The paper calls for further research on lateral violence and for increased and diverse representation of 2SLGBTQ+ communities in media and education to help address the disproportionately high rates of gender-based violence in these communities.

Latinx sexual and gender minority youth (LSGMY) experience specific stressors due to intersectional systemic oppression that negatively impact their mental health. Additionally, many LSGMY report engaging in substance use to cope with daily stressors. Furthermore, research shows that parental and teacher support can serve as a buffer against substance use and negative mental health outcomes among these communities. However, there is little research specifically focused on LSGMY and the role that parental and teacher support play in substance use and mental health outcomes. In a sample of 1,338 LSGMY (ages 13-17), we assessed: (a) associations between substance use and mental health outcomes, (b) associations between parental and teacher support and mental health outcomes, and (c) whether parental and teacher support moderated the relationship between substance use and mental health outcomes. Trans and gender diverse (TGD) and plurisexual Latinx youth reported lower self-esteem, higher stress, and higher depressive symptoms compared to their cisgender and/or monosexual counterparts. Parental and teacher support were associated with higher self-esteem, lower stress, and lower depressive symptoms. Alcohol and cigarette use was associated with worse mental health outcomes. Marijuana use was associated with higher depressive symptoms. Finally, teacher support significantly moderated the association between cigarette use and self-esteem at low levels of cigarette use. We discuss clincal implications for working with LSGMY, their parental figures, and their teachers and schools.

In the gay community, chemsex intersects with multiple stigmas that exacerbate marginalization and create layered disadvantages, particularly in China. Despite this, there is limited understanding among researchers and care practitioners about how individuals counter-narrate and manage stigmatizing stress in contexts involving multiple stigmas. This study addresses this gap by using online semi-structured interviews, drawing on a process-oriented understanding of addiction stigma to explore how Chinese gay men construct empirical counter-narratives. These narratives aim to reposition themselves within the intersecting hierarchies of heterosexuality and drug prohibition. The counter-narratives constructed by gay men go beyond personal justifications for sexual drug use, viewing stigma as a power structural product that marginalizes homosexuality and drug use while seeking equal recognition. Participants advocated for the sexual liberation aspect of chemsex as a valid and individualized expression, a way to challenge the heterosexual order's understanding of gay subculture, and a critique of the normalization processes embedded in political prohibitions and health classifications. These narratives highlight the efforts of gay men to legitimize their sexual practices and assert "respect for me" within dominant power structures. Thus, we conceptualize this practice as "Chemsexism," rooted in a participants-centered perspective and the principle of life affirmation and then call for further regional exploration using this framework.

To support research and interventions using a positive, strength-based framework of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) identities in China, this study translates the Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Positive Identity Measure (LGB-PIM) into Standard Chinese and evaluating its reliability and validity among Chinese sexual minorities. Following Brislin's standardized translation procedures (translation, back-translation, cultural adaptation, and pretesting), the scale retained 25 items across 5 dimensions. A convenience sample of 392 participants underwent assessments of internal consistency (α = 0.92), retest reliability (α = 0.80), structural validity (68.54% variance explained), and construct validity. The five-dimensional structure showed robust convergent validity (AVE > 0.50, CR > 0.70), and construct validity was supported through convergent positive associations with positive well-being indicators and discriminant nonsignificant links to distress indicators. The scale demonstrated strong reliability, and all model fit measures met acceptable standards. The study concludes that the C-LGB-PIM is a reliable tool for assessing LGB positive identity in China, aiding researchers in creating culturally sensitive interventions and laying the groundwork for future research to enhance the psychological well-being of LGB individuals in China and globally.