Search Results (119)

There has been a growing trend of young people coming out as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) in recent years. Research on the relationship between LGBTQ grandchildren and their grandparents is limited and primarily focuses on the grandchildren’s perspective. This pilot study seeks to understand the relationship between grandparents and their LGBT grandchildren, from the grandparents’ perspective. Six Israeli grandparents were interviewed using a qualitative methodology, guided by a semi-structured interview protocol. Analysis of the interviews revealed three main themes: grandparents’ exposure to the grandchildren’s sexual orientation and their gender identity; the shattering of the grandparents’ dream and concern for the grandchild; and the relations between the grandparents and their LGBT grandchildren. The research findings in this pilot study indicate that the relations remained close and did not change following disclosure of the sexual orientation. However, some grandparents needed time to resume their regular relationship. The insights learned from the research findings regarding the process undergone by the grandparents upon discovering their grandchildren’s sexual orientation can help professionals treat and counsel family members, when necessary, how to bridge the gaps, and rebuild the relations between the grandparent and the grandchild, as these relations are important for the well-being of both. Full article

Background/Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has evolved from a fatal disease to a manageable chronic condition. However, stigma persists, affecting the lives and sexuality of HIV-positive people, particularly in the gay population. Research on their sexuality is limited, highlighting the need for studies that address their experiences and needs. The aim of the study is to explore the individuals’ experiences of sexuality in serodiscordant gay couples. Methods: A descriptive study was conducted using thematic content analysis. Data collection was carried out through in-depth interviews. Six gay men who have been and/or are in a serodiscordant relationship for at least one year participated in the research. Results: Five sub-themes were identified grouped into two main themes as follows: sexuality: a complex concept accentuated by HIV and the impact of serodiscordance on partners. Conclusions: It is essential to promote accurate information and health services tailored to the needs of people living with HIV while fostering gender equity and combating stigma related to HIV and the gay community. Experiencing sexuality in this context is not only possible but can be full and satisfying when adequate resources are available. Full article

Mental health disparities among those who self-identify as gay men in Peru remain a pressing public health concern, yet predictive models for early identification remain limited. This research aims to (1) develop machine learning and deep learning models to predict mental health issues in those who self-identify as gay men, and (2) evaluate the influence of demographic, economic, health-related, behavioral and social factors using interpretability techniques to enhance understanding of the factors shaping mental health outcomes. A dataset of 2186 gay men from the First Virtual Survey for LGBTIQ+ People in Peru (2017) was analyzed, considering demographic, economic, health-related, behavioral, and social factors. Several classification models were developed and compared, including Logistic Regression, Artificial Neural Networks, Random Forest, Gradient Boosting Machines, eXtreme Gradient Boosting, and a One-dimensional Convolutional Neural Network (1D-CNN). Additionally, the Shapley values and Layer-wise Relevance Propagation (LRP) heatmaps methods were used to evaluate the influence of the studied variables on the prediction of mental health issues. The results revealed that the 1D-CNN model demonstrated the strongest performance, achieving the highest classification accuracy and discrimination capability. Explainability analyses underlined prior infectious diseases diagnosis, access to medical assistance, experiences of discrimination, age, and sexual identity expression as key predictors of mental health outcomes. These findings suggest that advanced predictive techniques can provide valuable insights for identifying at-risk individuals, informing targeted interventions, and improving access to mental health care. Future research should refine these models to enhance predictive accuracy, broaden applicability, and support the integration of artificial intelligence into public health strategies aimed at addressing the mental health needs of this population. Full article

The literature details the healthcare needs of migrant people living with chronic illnesses and the consequent economic, social, and healthcare needs of their caregivers. Similarly, some studies have underscored the social and healthcare needs of 2SLGBTQIA+ (two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex individuals, including diverse sexual and gender identities under the “+” symbol) adults living with chronic illnesses and their caregivers. This narrative review presents the context of migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ unpaid caregivers and how their intersecting identities influence their caregiving roles for family members with chronic illnesses. In this article, caregivers are defined as family members or chosen families who provide unpaid support that may last for three months or longer for people living with chronic illnesses. Most studies and policies overlook 2SLGBTQIA+ migrants who are also unpaid caregivers of individuals living with chronic illnesses, leaving them unsupported through discrimination at the intersection of racism, homophobia, transphobia, ageism, and ableism, forcing them to remain vulnerable to increased emotional and physical strain. There is a presence of pervasive systemic barriers, including a lack of training and education among social and healthcare providers, about the needs of migrant 2SLGBTQIA+ unpaid caregivers. Additional challenges stem from inadequate policies and insufficient targeted resources, particularly for caregivers from marginalized racial and ethnic backgrounds. The findings of this study highlight the necessity for a call to action to address these gaps and improve support systems for these highly marginalized communities. Full article

People living with HIV (PLHIV) in under-resourced rural regions face intersecting social and structural barriers that intensify their vulnerability. This pilot study explored how overlapping marginalized identities and socioeconomic hardship shape experiences of discrimination among PLHIV in Southern Illinois. Twenty-two participants completed a community-informed survey that captured racial, sexual, and gender identities alongside indicators of stigma across healthcare, housing, employment, and community settings. The findings reveal that most participants experienced at least one form of discrimination, with the highest burden concentrated among those identifying as Black, Nonbinary, Gay/Lesbian, or low-income. Discrimination was particularly prevalent in healthcare and housing environments. Importantly, poverty and housing instability were not just common but appeared to amplify the experience of stigma, compounding the effects of identity-based marginalization. These results highlight the urgent need for integrated, affirming, and structurally responsive interventions tailored to the realities of multiply marginalized PLHIV in rural areas. Future research and services must consider the interplay of identity and economic precarity in order to promote equitable care and support. Full article

Background: Loneliness is both a social and a health-related problem, and among LGBT people, feelings of loneliness are often exacerbated. According to the minority stress theory, stress and loneliness can be directly related to the discrimination and stigma that are experienced over time in a heteronormative society. Exposure to social stigma causes mental health problems, stress, and loneliness, coupled with increased social and economic vulnerability. Method: The aim of this study was to conduct an exploratory analysis of homosexual men’s feelings of loneliness and their relationship with experiences of discrimination throughout their life. A qualitative methodology involving focus groups and individual interviews was utilized. Results: The results show the double or overlapping discriminations that gay men experience as a result of their age and sexual orientation and, in some cases, their HIV status, and the relationship between said discrimination and the feeling of unwanted loneliness. Exposure to such intolerance is more common among those with a reduced social network, which limits their social participation and has a negative impact on their well-being. Conclusion. The aging process of LGBT people implies a new context of intervention and research that must be addressed to prevent episodes of unwanted loneliness that negatively affect the quality of life among this demographic. Full article

In recent decades, various communities and organizations have been working to promote LGBTQ+ inclusion and justify their equal rights. This task becomes more complex within religious communities that are based on traditional values that reject homosexuality. This historical-anthropological study presents “K’Afikim BaNegev”—a special manual that includes more than 347 pages and incorporates 73 diverse sources distributed in early 1994 in American Conservative Jewish congregations aimed at combating homophobia. I clarify how the documents reveal progressive qualitative methodologies for identifying and understanding barriers and mechanisms of community change. Textual analysis of personal letters, educational programs, workshops, and rabbinical sermons revealed two methods for creating this egalitarian change and constructing the Jewish community as a safe space for gay men and lesbian women and their family members: (1) using and promoting personal narrative (storytelling) as a channel to voice LGBTQ+ people’s stories and (2) adapting a text-centered approach that considers biblical sources as authoritative in recognizing LGBTQ+ identity. Thus, the acceptance of homosexuality was not conceptualized in terms of liberal human rights rhetoric but rather as a religious commandment. Thus, I define this novel initiative as an act of ‘queer Jewish activism,’ offering a new typology for community development and practice that advocates for LGBTQ+ individuals within contemporary religious communities. Full article

Coming out has been found to be associated with favorable long-term social and psychological outcomes among lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people. It is therefore important to understand the system of social and psychological factors that predict degree of outness in this population. The integrative theoretical model proposed in this article postulates that social factors (e.g., exposure to minority stressors, access to social support) trigger changes in sexual identity, which in turn determine one’s degree of outness. The model is tested in two cross-sectional survey studies (Study 1 [N = 295]) and Study 2 [N = 156]) of LGB people in the United Kingdom. Discrimination and general social support were directly and positively associated with outness and indirectly through the mediation of sexual identity processes. LGB social support was indirectly associated with outness through sexual identity processes. Interventions should focus on facilitating access to varied social support and on preventing or alleviating sexual identity threat in the face of minority stressors. Full article

The coronavirus pandemic shaped challenges for marginalized groups. Specifically, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+) people experienced community-building constraints, notably in predominantly rural regions. People are also navigating digital geographies, or online social environments, in novel ways to develop virtual communities in the face of prejudice, discrimination, and potential trauma. Through a minority coping approach, the present study explored LGBTQ+ people’s experiences navigating the dynamics of digital geographies during the pandemic while residing in socially conservative, highly rural physical spaces where they may be exposed to vicarious trauma. Using qualitative semi-structured interviews, data were gathered from 43 LGBTQ+ identifying individuals between 19 and 59 years old (M/SD = 27.7/9.2) between October 2020 and January 2021. Nearly 14% identified as transgender, nonbinary, or queer individuals, 35% as bisexual individuals, and 21% as people of color including Hispanic/Latina/o. Thematic analysis of the narratives described participants’ exposures to online discrimination and stigmatization of minority groups (racial and/or sexual/gender minority groups) during the COVID-19 pandemic, institutional constraints to identity expression, utilizing social technologies to manage their identities, and negotiating digital strategies to promote social ties. Findings emphasize improving marginalized people’s experiences with digital geographies through identity affirmation and community relationship-building to offset potentially traumatic experiences. Furthermore, service providers can utilize the findings to tailor effective virtual LGBTQ+ community programming to support underserved, marginalized populations. Full article

Background: Since 2020, there has been a significant increase in sexually transmitted infections (STIs), especially in young people, and these include syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and lymphogranuloma venereum, which are often asymptomatic but with the potential for transmission. In addition, certain risk behaviors, such as the use of dating apps, pornography, and substance use, reduce adherence to barrier methods, especially in men, thus facilitating the spread of these infections. Methods: This observational, cross-sectional study aimed to explore the relationship between the use of dating apps, drug and pornographic material consumption, and STI history in university students of the health sciences. Results: The sample consisted of 730 participants. The results indicated that individuals who identified as gay, lesbian, or bisexual reported significantly higher rates of dating app use, drug use, and pornography consumption compared to those who identified as heterosexual. Also, these groups showed lower adherence to contraceptive and protective methods. A statistical analysis revealed a relationship between the use of dating apps and increased sexual risk behaviors, suggesting that the accessibility of these platforms could influence the frequency and type of sexual contact. Conclusions: The increase in the prevalence of STIs in recent years has highlighted the urgency of strengthening prevention and sexual health promotion strategies, especially in young and high-risk populations. This study emphasizes the need for early and targeted interventions in high-risk groups to reduce the incidence of STIs and promote responsible sexual health practices. Full article

Attitudes toward sexual and gender minority people is a generative field of study leading to theoretical and practical advances. Adding to this body of literature, we sought to investigate relationships between attitudes toward different sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) minority groups. University student participants (N = 495) were asked to rate 11 targets using a 101-point feeling thermometer scale. The targets included trans, bisexual, asexual, and polyamorous men and women, along with lesbians, gay men, and gender non-conforming persons. Heterosexual men and women targets were included for comparison. Analyses addressed two main question areas: (1) Were the various SOGI minority targets rated similarly/differently? (2) Do ratings of the targets differ as a function of target and participant demographic characteristics? Generally, SOGI ratings were favourable (78–85%) except for polyamorous targets (66%). While there were some statistically significant rating differences between some SOGI targets (e.g., lesbians were rated more favourably than asexual women; 85% versus 83%, respectively), data reduction analyses (i.e., Principal Components Analysis) with the 11 SOGI target ratings supported the possibility of aggregating attitudes into a single SOGI target group variable. The second research goal involved exploring whether ratings differed as a function of participant characteristics, including sexual orientation, gender, and religiosity. The analysis revealed that attitudes significantly differed based on all three participant factors. In general, those who rated the targets most favourably were those who were queer, women, or not-at-all religious. However, the SOGI target gender did not result in differences in target ratings (e.g., asexual women and asexual men were equal). The findings further the literature on attitudes toward various SOGI minorities, providing support for the theory that there is a latent factor underlying perceiver attitudes toward SOGI minorities and indicating a need to consider demographic characteristics of social perceivers. Full article

Cognitive warfare is a matter of concern due to its impact on people’s minds and decision-making. The manifestation of wars and the deliberate attempts of nations to use AI technologies to their advantage in outsmarting people’s minds cannot be ignored from a homiletical perspective. This article argues that AI (Artificial Intelligence), GAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence), and ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) offer tremendous possibilities to enhance interplay with humans. Viewed through the lenses of philosophy and ethics, it becomes evident that people providing AI technologies with data engage with technology from an intrinsic worldview. The provision of information and decision-making through AI technologies prompts us to consider people’s reasoning and responsibility. The harmful consequences of killer robots and the use of facial recognition to reach human targets raise deep ethical questions. The author contends that listeners to sermons are exposed to the age of homo digitalis and are tasked with making sense of what is happening in the world. When homiletical praxeology remains silent on the injustices and undignified practices of cognitive warfare and drone use, without proclaiming the values of the gospel and the Kingdom, listeners become reliant on alternative sources of information. In the normative section of this article, the importance of demolishing arguments and pretensions that oppose the knowledge of God and taking every thought captive to make it obedient to God’s will is emphasised. The article concludes with a call for homiletics to engage with AI technologies rather than ignore them. By utilising technological advantages without undermining the paramount value of preaching within the unique contexts of faith communities, listeners may become more open to the gospel and experience transformation in their minds, particularly regarding warfare. Full article

Introduction: Several studies point to an association between minority stress, especially internalized homonegativity and the quality of the couple relationship. However, the dimensions of psychological functioning that might moderate this relationship seem to be scarcely explored. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the association between internalized homonegativity and relationship quality by examining the moderating role of adult attachment (dimensions of anxiety and avoidance) in lesbian and gay (LG) people. Materials and Methods: A total of 674 LG participants who had been in a couple relationship for at least 12 months were included in the study and completed self-report questionnaires. Results: The results show a direct negative effect of internalized homonegativity on relationship quality. Adult attachment seems to moderate this relationship: on the one hand, the negative relationship between internalized homonegativity and relationship quality is significant at high levels of anxious attachment, but not at low levels. On the other hand, the negative relationship between internalized homonegativity and relationship quality turns out to be significant at low levels of avoidant attachment, but not at high levels. Discussion: The results suggest that attachment anxiety and avoidance play different roles in the relationship between internalized homonegativity and relationship quality. While high levels of anxious attachment appear to be a risk factor, high levels of avoidant attachment seem to play a protective role. Although future studies are needed to investigate the present preliminary findings further, the results of the present study provide useful clinical and research insights. Full article

This study examines the values of religious and non-religious people in Central and Eastern Europe over the past thirty years. It focuses on changes in perceptions of gay people and explores how the emergence of sexual orientation in public discourse has influenced its acceptance or rejection. The research highlights a specific duality in the region where religiosity is accompanied by an increasing acceptance of gay people in the region; but in some countries, differences between religious and non-religious perceptions of gay people are increasing. The study argues that this duality is shaped by different public discourses, identity politics, and the varied roles of churches in these processes across countries. Consequently, it offers a new interpretation of the relationship between religiosity and attitudes toward gay people. Full article

Narrative therapy and expressive writing interventions have been found to improve health and wellbeing among vulnerable populations; however, few have been conducted with young lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people, and those of other diverse sexual orientations and gender identities (LGBTQ+). This study aimed to determine how young LGBTQ+ people in Australia might make meaning of themselves and their experiences through life writing and the implications for health and wellbeing. A study was conducted with 20 LGBTQ+-identifying participants, aged 16 to 20, in or around Melbourne, Australia. The participants attended one of two writing workshops held at a public library in Melbourne in October 2019 and February 2020, where they were taught creative nonfiction writing techniques. They were asked to submit pieces of life writing (“narratives”) and reflections about participating in the study. Fifteen participants submitted one or more narratives in response to a prompt, and 10 participants provided reflections. Thematic analysis was used to code the data and identify themes that emerged. The participants’ processes of meaning-making were analysed using a performativity lens. This article explores the theme “sex and relationships” that emerged and the related sub-themes. The participants’ writing provided insights into sociocultural norms, discourses, and tropes, including those present in school-based sexuality education and in the media, that may impact the developing sexual subjectivities of young LGBTQ+ people in Australia. Engaging in life writing provided an outlet for developing self-knowledge, agency, and subjectivity. The findings can be used to promote the use of creative, youth-centred and queer-affirming practices and interventions for LGBTQ+ youth in school and community settings, including peer support and community health approaches. They indicate the need for de-pathologising the medicalised risk- and prevention-based interventions for LGBTQ+ youth in health and education research and policy, particularly around sexual and mental health. Full article