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Psychoactive substance use (PSU) among gay men (GM) has been examined through a biomedical-epidemiological lens. While national studies offer a general overview from a biopsychosocial viewpoint, they fail to explore the cultural influences on PSU. The objective was to analyze the cultural aspects of PSU among GM in Mexico by exploring the social construction of identity as men with a non-normative sexual orientation who experience a distinct form of masculinity while engaging in PSU during sexual activities. Utilizing a symbolic approach in anthropology, specifically in identity and gender studies, three focus groups comprising 19 middle-class gay men aged 22 to 42 were conducted in May 2022 via Zoom Meetings. The information was coded and analyzed using targeted content analysis. Identity, masculinity, and homoeroticism play a crucial role in shaping PSU practices among GM in Mexico, with the interplay of these three cultural dimensions manifesting in the ritualistic practice of sexualized drug use (chemsex), particularly concerning crystal meth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focusing on the Malayalam film Ka Bodyscapes (2016), this article attempts to historically trace and critically engage with the representations of gay sexuality in Malayalam cinema from the South Indian state of Kerala. It interrogates how Ka Bodyscapes brought to the forefront hitherto unexplored visual dynamics of the gay male body and homoeroticism on screen while troubling the heterosexual dynamics of the Malayalam film industry. By situating this film within the history of representation of male homosexuality in Malayalam cinema and the changing regimes of queer politics and feminist interventions in Kerala in the last decade, the article argues how the film's radical visual representation of gay sexuality at the intersection of caste and religion problematizes the heterosexual family/state, thereby challenging the patriarchal masculinity that marginalizes women and sexual minorities in Kerala. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fear of COVID-19 can exacerbate social stigma and prejudice against individuals living with HIV (PLWH). This research delved into the behaviors of MSM (men who have sex with men) who practice physical-distancing from PLWH. Data from 878 respondents were collected through a web survey conducted on Korea's largest LGBT portal site over one month in July 2022. The study examined various independent variables encompassing socioeconomic characteristics, health status, media consumption habits, and homosexual attributes of MSM. The dependent variable assessed was the extent of physical-distancing perceived by MSMs without HIV toward PLWH. The statistical analysis employed nested regression models. In Model I, it was observed that physical-distancing from PLWH decreased as the age and education level of the respondent increased. In Model II, a decrease in physical-distancing was noted among respondents with underlying health conditions. Model III indicated that increased use of traditional media corresponded to greater physical-distancing from PLWH. Lastly, Model IV revealed a reduction in physical-distancing when the respondent was themselves a person living with HIV. This study underscores the existence of physical-distancing toward PLWH within the gay community. Consequently, fostering solidarity and providing support becomes imperative to prevent the isolation of PLWH within this community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article focuses on Israeli single gay fathers' reproductive choices. Thematic analysis of 13 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Israeli single gay fathers yielded two themes related to their reproductive choice. The first theme pertains to their decision to become single fathers. Three dimensions were prominent in the participants' decision to pursue lone parenthood: the choice to fulfill parenthood as gay men; the choice to separate parenthood from couplehood; and the view of single parenthood as empowerment. The second theme pertained to the fathers' decision to use surrogacy, which was influenced by three key factors: the desire to parent a biological child, the desire for exclusive fatherhood, and the perceived advantages of surrogacy for single fathers. The findings indicate that the fathers narrated their reproductive experiences in terms of choice and autonomy, while negotiating with dominant concepts of parenthood as a two-parent, heteronormative and biogenetic phenomenon. These men referred to the challenge they posed to some of these concepts and the social barriers they encountered as factors that facilitated their coping skills in lone parenthood, thereby enhancing their agency. These findings highlight the contextual, multidimensional and relational nature of the reproductive choices of men from minority groups like single gay fathers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The school, like many other social institutions, is not immune from the far reaches of heteronormativity. To further understand and challenge such an oppressive regime, our study paid closer attention to how selected gay men wield their agency in the context of higher educational institutions (HEIs) in the Philippines. Our analysis is anchored on the assumptions of the theory of the Chordal Triad of Agency (CTA). This theory sees agency as constructed temporally (past, present, and future) through social engagements or relational contexts of action. Data were drawn from in-depth interviews with 30 self-identified gay faculty. This empirical study reveals that the critical forms of social engagement in exercising gay agency are academic, interpersonal, and public in nature. Informed by the dimensions of the CTA, the specific ways of wielding gay agency are distancing strategically and displaying masculinity (iterative dimension); dissenting intellectually (practical-evaluative dimension); and segueing lessons, transforming time stereotypes, and queering tasks (projective dimension). This article not only reveals the power of dissent, as evident in the multiple and creative ways gay agencies are wielded, but also examines the conducive role of academic freedom offered by HEIs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV. While pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is highly effective at preventing HIV acquisition, uptake of PrEP among gbMSM is low, which may in part be due to stigma associated with PrEP use. This systematic review aimed to explore experiences of PrEP stigma and to identify factors associated with this. Four databases were searched for papers including terms relating to (i) gbMSM, (ii) PrEP, and (iii) stigma, with narrative synthesis used to analyze results. After screening, 70 studies were included in the final analysis. Experiences of PrEP stigma were found to be characterized by a number of stereotypes and came from a range of sources. Five categories of factors were associated with stigma: (i) healthcare-related factors, (ii) cultural and contextual factors, (iii) sociodemographic factors, (iv) peer-discussion, and (v) psychosocial factors. These findings suggest that stigma can be a common experience for gbMSM. However, some are more at risk than others. Interventions aimed at reducing PrEP stigma may be useful in increasing uptake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into intimate partner violence (IPV) has focused on the experience of female victims resulting from dominant theoretical frameworks and societal biases casting females as victims and males as abusers. While emergent studies suggest that gay male victims experience a higher prevalence rate and more severe consequences from IPV than heterosexuals victims (male or female), few studies have explored the impact of IPV on gay male victims personal and working lives. We conducted a qualitative case study analysis using an Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis by interviewing four gay males with experience of IPV. Following a description of each case, a cross-case analysis identified the similarities and differences between the participants’ lived experiences according to four main themes: 1) formal support, 2) informal support, 3) workplace support, and 4) workplace performance. We found that the influence of minority stress may amplify the challenges that some gay male victims face when conceptualizing their abuse and seeking support in their personal and working lives. Organizations should develop targeted and inclusive policies that support victims, with LGBTQI±competent Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providers, and gender-neutral language when referring to IPV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, I explored how haptic modes of sense, contact, and practice affectively shape, become shaped with/in, the erotic experiences of gay fist-fuckers' fist-play. Unstructured individual interviews were conducted with 9 gay fist-fuckers from South Africa. Theoretically framed by DeleuzoGuattarian-inspired work on sexuality-as-assemblage and Mark Paterson's concept of feeling-with, a thematic analysis was employed to identify instances where participants' haptic sites and senses were co-articulated with the erotic experiences of their fist-play. What emerged were four themes of hapto-erotic sense-making in fist-play: feeling-with trust, feeling-with desire, feeling-with care, and feeling-with pleasure. Together, the findings highlight that erotic experiences of fist-play become (trans)formed with/in fluctuating assemblages of desire, communal ethics, repertoires of technique, sense perception, inter-corporeal contact, as well as nonhuman objects and substances that affectively charge and channel haptic sites and senses. The findings point to a queerer and relational sensing and making sense of intimacy, pleasure, and play that is not reliant on phallocentric logics or tropes of gay sex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

\nHighlightsAlthough numerous individual factors influencing dream content have been explored, research on the link between sexual orientation and dreaming remains limited. This study examined this relationship among 119 German-speaking men (mean age = 31.97 years), including 55 homosexual and 64 heterosexual participants. Participants completed a questionnaire on their waking life sexuality and dreams and provided two dream reports. Homosexual men reported more sexual partners in waking life and lower satisfaction with their sexual orientation compared to heterosexual men. No significant differences were found in dream recall frequency, emotional tone, nightmare frequency, or distress, though homosexual men reported more sexual dreams. Dream reports showed no significant differences in sexual interactions or the number of sexual partners between groups, but homosexual men’s dreams featured a higher ratio of male to female characters and more romantic relationships with men. These findings partially align with the continuity hypothesis, suggesting that the dream content of homosexual men reflects their social interactions and romantic preferences. Overall, the study suggests that homosexual and heterosexual men share a similar dream pattern. The implications of these findings highlight the importance of considering sexual orientation in dream research to better understand the intersection of sexuality and unconscious processes. First recent comparative analysis of dreams between homosexual and heterosexual menHomosexual and heterosexual men share a similar dream patternThe main differences in dream content were that homosexual men reported more sexual dreams, a higher ratio of male to female dream characters, and more romantic relationships with menFuture studies with larger sample sizes and more advanced methods (e.g. diary studies) are needed to better understand the relationship between sexual orientation and dreamingFirst recent comparative analysis of dreams between homosexual and heterosexual menHomosexual and heterosexual men share a similar dream patternThe main differences in dream content were that homosexual men reported more sexual dreams, a higher ratio of male to female dream characters, and more romantic relationships with menFuture studies with larger sample sizes and more advanced methods (e.g. diary studies) are needed to better understand the relationship between sexual orientation and dreaming [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on body image among men who have sex with men (MSM) has predominantly been approached with the assumption that all MSM conform to a culturally preferred body, and have a high risk of body image concerns leading to risky behaviors and negative health outcomes. Scholars have called for a more nuanced understanding of how MSM engage with their body images. In response, we conducted 30 semi-structured interviews with Vietnamese MSM to explore their perceptions and feelings of their bodies, including their current body, idealized body, and sexually desired body. Inductive thematic analysis was utilized. The findings highlight the diversity and complexity in Vietnamese MSM's perceptions and feelings about their bodies, which Western measurements of body image and body dissatisfaction might not fully capture. The participants also acknowledge the pressure of physical appearance; however, they do not always conform to the dominant body ideals and have a high risk of body dissatisfaction. We conclude with a call for reframing the approach to gay and bisexual men's body image to understand better how they navigate complex pressures and make sense of their body image instead of assuming they are at risk of body dissatisfaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a paucity of research on the links between gay dating apps usage and body dissatisfaction and disordered eating, especially for muscularity dissatisfaction and muscularity-oriented disordered eating in non-Western contexts. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the associations between gay dating apps usage, body image inflexibility, body dissatisfaction, and disordered eating with the inclusion of both body fat and muscularity dissatisfaction and both thinness–and muscularity–oriented disordered eating in a sample of Chinese young gay men. A total of 247 Chinese young gay men (mean age: 21.92 ± 2.74 years) were recruited. Gay dating apps usage, body fat dissatisfaction, muscularity dissatisfaction, body image inflexibility, and thinness–and muscularity-oriented disordered eating were evaluated. Pearson correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. Gay dating apps usage was positively correlated with body fat dissatisfaction (r =.20, p =.002), muscularity dissatisfaction (r =.17, p =.006), thinness-oriented disordered eating (r =.21, p <.001), and muscularity-oriented disordered eating (r =.29, p <.001), and these relationships could be mediated by body image inflexibility. Findings support technologically-informed prevention and intervention strategies for eating and body image disturbances in gay men in the Chinese context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Depression is a prevalent mental health issue for sexual minority men (SMM), with the internalization of sexual identity-based stigma a key risk factor. Self-warmth is a protective factor and self-coldness is a risk factor for depressive symptoms, yet limited research in this area has focused on SMM. In the present study, an international sample of 1,285 gay and 487 bisexual men completed measures of depression, internalized heterosexism, and self-warmth/self-coldness. A multiple linear regression showed that internalized heterosexism explained 0.4% unique variance, self-warmth explained 0.5% unique variance, and self-coldness explained 18.8% unique variance in depressive symptoms. Self-warmth was directly and indirectly related to lower levels of depressive symptoms among SMM. In contrast, self-coldness was directly related to higher levels of depressive symptoms among SMM, and indirectly related to higher levels of depressive symptoms only for gay men. Findings should inform work aiming primarily to reduce self-coldness among SMM, thereby reducing depressive symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we present the person-based approach to measuring implicit attitudes toward gay men and lesbian women—this approach uses face stimuli rather than traditionally used symbols, and creates salient social categories through contextual variation techniques. Across 5 experiments using the Go/No Go Association Task (n = 364), we present evidence that the person-based approach can disentangle implicit gender-based attitudes from implicit sexuality-based attitudes, that these attitudes vary as a function of participant gender and sexuality, and that they are different to attitudes elicited by typically used stimuli. We demonstrate that implicit person-based gender attitudes toward straight and gay people are similar and are consistent with the literature (i.e. attitudes toward [lesbian] women are more positive than attitudes toward [gay] men). However, we reveal a reversed pattern of findings for person-based implicit sexuality attitudes (i.e. attitudes toward gay men are more positive than attitudes toward lesbian women). These findings suggest that the person-based approach uniquely captures nuanced implicit attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, raising important questions regarding previous findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, I consider a selection of photographs of a man of color from a luxury book of male nudes, Images (1982), aimed at white gay men and published in South Africa by Alternative Books (AB) in the late apartheid period. Given the exclusive association of assimilable homosexuality with whiteness in the national gay press and other homoerotic commodities available in South Africa at the same historical juncture, I propose that these photographs, which interrupted longstanding, racist homoerotic iconographies, elicited experiences of ambivalence (and thus critical reflection) amongst their historical audiences. To this end, I analyze the editorial and commercial content of the newspapers Link/Skakel and Exit for the period that AB was active (1981–1991), anticipating an overlap of readership between these papers and the publisher's titles. More precisely, I discuss the prevalence of the figure of the "good homosexual" and representations of classical (that is, white) male beauty in these papers to plot how apartheid logic was broadly reproduced (and same-sex desire disciplined according to such dictates) in mainstream South African gay movements, institutions, and print cultures during this time, but, notably, not in Images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research explored baby boomer gay men’s experiences with primary healthcare and their perspectives of future long-term care. Baby boomer gay men’s perspectives about primary healthcare remain understudied in the United States. A descriptive qualitative study was conducted with 30 baby boomer men in the Southwest USA. We used semi-structured interviews to assess participants’ initiation and maintenance of primary healthcare, disclosure of sexual orientation to providers, and perspectives about future healthcare needs, including long-term care. Data were analyzed with a latent thematic analysis. We found baby boomer gay men anticipate discrimination because of their sexual orientation whenever they establish healthcare with new providers. Participants identified circumstantial comfort in the new healthcare setting as a key motivator to disclose their sexual orientation. Thus, baby boomer gay men specifically sought gay or gay-friendly healthcare providers to ease the burden of managing disclosure and to permit free discussion of their sexual orientation and healthcare needs. Participants faced recurring anticipation of rejection and discrimination from healthcare providers, which extends to their perceptions of current healthcare encounters and future long-term care placement. Healthcare providers would benefit from understanding the practice implications of this dynamic. Future research on primary healthcare inclusivity is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gay men are particularly at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV). As regards the prevalence and unique consequences of IPV, many studies seek to understand the specific stressors faced by gay men, but few provide a more comprehensive perspective of IPV-related factors, including gay men-specific, general as well as protective factors. An ecological perspective was used to conduct a qualitative study aimed at identifying the different risk and protective factors related to IPV among gay men. We conducted individual semi-structured interviews with 23 gay men who acknowledge having experienced IPV by another man, as well as two focus groups with practitioners who provide services to this population. Our analysis led to a five-level ecological model, ranging from most proximal (e.g. prior victimization) to distal (e.g. conception of masculinity) factors, and including both general factors (e.g. power dynamics) and factors specific to gay men. Heterosexism emerged as an overarching contributing sociocultural factor. This study sheds new light on mechanisms whereby these factors affect the IPV experience, namely the risk of being victimized; the recognition of IPV victimization; and the response to the IPV experienced. These mechanisms are discussed along with heterosexism-related factors, and implications for research and practices are suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some older gay men (50+) experience diminished quality of life (QOL) due to historical and ongoing discrimination in addition to living through a collective trauma—the pre-HAART era of the HIV/AIDS epidemic—characterized by the absence of treatment and rampant discrimination targeting gay men. A growing body of literature, however, illustrates that older gay men demonstrate remarkable resilience but little is known about how QOL is conceptualized and how these conceptualizations are potentially shaped by pre-HAART experiences. The current study drew on constructivist grounded theory methods to examine how QOL is conceptualized in light of the sociohistorical relevance of pre-HAART. Twenty Canadian based gay men aged 50+ participated in semi-structured interviews via Zoom. Ultimately, QOL is understood as experiencing contentment, which is made possible by the development and implementation of three key processes: (1) developing and cultivating meaningful connections, (2) growing into and embracing identity, and (3) appreciating the capacity to do what brings joy. QOL for this group is greatly informed by a context of disadvantage, and the demonstrated resilience warrants further investigation to meaningfully support the overall well-being of older gay men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexually and gender diverse staff in Higher Education Institutions may experience a sense of belonging and acceptance in inclusive environments, but may also face discrimination and bias, leading to feelings of isolation and exclusion. This paper reports on findings from 40 in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions with LGBTQIA+ self-identified staff members in a HEI and LGBTQIA+ allies who may identify as LGBTQIA+ themselves. Findings reveal that first impressions when joining a university as a staff member may have a long-lasting effect, while both positive and negative experiences are present. Further, a pattern is developed among gay men who may be placing more emphasis on their relationship with line managers, which can be supportive but at times toxic, unsupportive and inattentive. In addition to this, the findings highlight discrimination faced by staff, its impact on their wellbeing, and the significance of visibility and representation. This paper concludes that lived experiences of LGBTQIA+ staff members in Higher Education continue to be mixed with a high percentage of staff experiencing discrimination, primarily in the form of microaggressions, but institutions need to be more pro-active to foster safe spaces for all with more inclusive policies and practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous studies provide critical analyses of TV minority representations but only few examine successful portrayals. Moreover, there is no consensus on what makes a given depiction successful and how to measure it. Bringing insights from representation studies and media psychology, we propose that successful representations showcase minorities in a way which may foster audience engagement with characters and improve their diversity attitudes. In the current project, we developed a quantitative content analysis codebook with the following representation strategies: portrayal of minority experiences, recognizable representation, attractive representation, psychological depth, stereotypical representation, and friendly interactions. We demonstrate our approach by analyzing the portrayal of non-heterosexual and Black characters in Sex Education. We coded all the scenes with Eric, Adam, and Jackson from the first season of the TV show. Results indicate that these characters are predominantly shown as recognizable to viewers and in friendly interactions with other people. Moreover, they are depicted with attractive personality traits, and indicators of psychological depth. They also undergo various minority experiences. Some stereotypes about gay men are shown but anti-Black stereotypes are rare. In the results' discussion, we suggest different ways of using our codebook in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effeminate gay bottoms, or gender nonconforming men who are anally receptive and/or give oral sex to other men who are also "gender nonconforming," are persistently marginalized in gay and LGBTQ+ communities in Britain and the US. For some LGBTQ+ commentators, "twink" has become relexified to mean a young-looking, slim, hairless effeminate bottom, whereas originally the term primarily denoted a body type and age bracket among gay men. This article explores how the twink has come to bear connotations of effeminacy and bottom subjectivity, highlighting the steady erosion of other available cultural terms to denote a bottom whose gender expression does not conform to dominant cultural masculine stereotypes. It offers an analysis of two key historical effeminate bottom identities in Britain and the US, the "fairy" and "queen," and argues that the twink not only now carries connotations originally attached to these historical identities, but that it merges their gendered and sexual connotations with new characteristics concerning age and body type that may cause considerable anxiety among contemporary gay men due to their unsustainable "shelf life." [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to understand young gay men’s experiences of social support, relationships, community networks, talking about psychological distress, and their impact on distress and wellbeing. Eight verbatim transcriptions from semi-structured interviews with gay men aged 18–35 years were analyzed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Three super-ordinate themes were developed; 1) Growing up gay in a straight world: Developmental traumas, regarding men’s experiences of homophobic abuse and exclusion and the internalized impact on their identities and identity concealment. 2) Belonging and not belonging within LGBTQ+ communities, encompassing men’s varied experiences of LGBTQ+ communities and the corresponding impacts upon their wellbeing. 3) Relational responses to rejection, describing how men made sense of and managed their relationships within the context of the developmental traumas they had experienced growing up as gay men. These findings illuminate the psychological impact of experiencing multiple developmental traumas related to one’s identity as a gay man, and how this influences lifelong relational behavior; and how experiences of social support, relationships and LGBTQ+ communities influence men’s mental health. They provide a strong rationale for psychological interventions to acknowledge and address gay men’s unique and adverse social experiences within their relationships, communities and societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article explores how gay men in Iceland were constructed as good responsible citizens through neoliberal discourses from 1990 to 2010. Drawing on interviews with gay men in Icelandic magazines, we focus on three discursive formations of responsibilization that reveal the technologies of agency at play in transforming the men into good, responsible gay citizens capable of self-management. The discursive formations focus on the good gay citizen who (a) has a positive mind-set, (b) transforms himself, and (c) displaces responsibility for personal harm. They reveal how gay men are constituted as neoliberal subjects through discursive practices linked to responsibility, happiness, and national progress. These practices enable a normalization process devoid of confrontation, anger, or blame where gay men are not only made responsible for their own lives but also the marginalization they experienced in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to highlight the issue of the inclusiveness of lesbian and gay man members in the Slovenian Armed Forces. Based on focused structured interviews, we studied both the social (perception of lesbians) and institutional aspect (perception of the Slovenian Armed Forces). The findings suggest that more attention should be paid to this issue and it should be explored from other methodological perspectives, which would help the Slovenian Armed Forces to follow the patterns of change in Slovenian society in order to maintain its legitimacy and an inclusive working environment also for social groups with different sexual orientation. The research concerns a sensitive and still mostly hidden topic of the Slovenian Armed Forces, which is not much talked about. The article brings the first military sociological research on the inclusion of lesbian and gay man members in the Slovenian Armed Forces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims at understanding the social representations of homophobia among older gay men. A number of 20 older gay men aged between 60 and 75 years old participated of the study; the average age was 63.25 years old (SD = 3.58). In the data collection, a semi-structured interview about homophobia was used; they were analyzed on IRAMUTEQ, which compiles the descendant hierarchical classification. The corpus was divided into three classes of social representations. The first representation comprises images of prejudice within society. The second one presents social representations involving reports of internalized homophobia and the experiencing of prejudice. The third one shows social representations about physical and identity violations. The social representations of homophobia show how the participants lead their actions in society, being based upon risk and protection issues to face the objective and subjective difficulties present in their social representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Terror Management Theory has shown that mortality salience can increase outgroup stereotyping and dislike of people who are different. We examined heterosexual participant reactions to profiles of homosexual and heterosexual men after mortality salience utilizing need for closure (NFC) as a moderating variable. We also examined the role of death-thought accessibility (DTA) in these effects. Among those with high NFC, mortality salience increased stereotyping and preference for the heterosexual individual. This effect only occurred when participants examined the profiles before completing the DTA measure. Control participants showed parallel reactions to the mortality salience condition when completing the DTA measure first. We found no reliable effects of mortality salience increasing DTA, and defensiveness decreasing DTA. The current findings demonstrate how two different death reminders can affect reactions to homosexual men among those in high NFC. Potential reasons for the lack of support for DTA in these effects are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Internationally, gay men have been found to be at a higher risk of mental health problems than heterosexual men. However, there is little information about the mental health situation of Iranian gay men, a population facing serious legal repercussions. Additionally, there is limited international data on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of gay men. The aim of this study was to evaluate Iranian gay men's mental health during this pandemic. We assessed depression, anxiety, and stress with the DASS and insomnia with the ISI in N = 176 Iranian gay men. We compared their DASS subscores with those of the general male population during the COVID-19 pandemic. 65.9% of Iranian gay men showed mild to extremely severe depression symptoms, 63.6% reported mild to extremely severe anxiety symptoms, 65.3% had mild to extremely severe stress symptoms, and 43.3% had mild to severe insomnia symptoms. Compared to the general Iranian male population, gay men reported significantly more depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms. Iranian gay men show a high number of depression, anxiety, stress, and insomnia symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic. Gay men reported significantly more mental health symptoms in the DASS subscores than the general population of Iranian men recruited during the pandemic. They showed descriptively more insomnia symptoms than Iranian adults before the pandemic. The mental health of Iranian gay men should be improved by abolishing punishments for same-sex sexual activities and establishing specialized mental health units for this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides an evaluation of a health and well-being workshop-based intervention, "The Quest" for gay and bisexual men from British Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. A quantitative component assessed reported and intended sexual risk, drugs and alcohol use alongside measures of psychological well-being with pre and post-program data collected from 26 men. Fourteen men participated in focus groups that discussed experiences of the intervention. Significant improvements were found on measures of internalized homophobia, self-esteem and self-efficacy but not for health behaviors including safer sex or substance use. Qualitative feedback was generally positive especially around enhanced psychological well-being, identity integration, and enhanced self-awareness. There were some concerns over group size and whether non-BAME gay men were appropriate as facilitators. Theoretically informed, culturally competent interventions can demonstrate significant potential in enhancing the well-being of BAME gay and bisexual men but follow-up data are needed to show longer-term benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A gay identity offers a perspective outside heteronormative narratives characterized by exclusion as well as a radical position of difference. Being a psychotherapist, too, holds complex implications for identity. This paper explores the lived experience of gay male psychotherapists, a group whose voice is seldom heard. Based on interviews with six White South African gay male psychotherapists, a narrative analysis explores their experience of identity and voice. This paper highlights the ways in which the journey to occupying oneself as gay and the journey of becoming a therapist are intertwined. The complex power relations evoked in this experience are explored, and the position of the gay male therapist as "outside looking in" is interrogated as a position of marginality that both excludes and provides a unique vantage point from which to challenge exclusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this article is to compare the cultural-historical events and decisions regarding how to deal with the higher risks of HIV in MSM, and more specifically, gay populations in Sweden and the Netherlands. A narrative literature was used, based on 46 scientific articles and 20 additional semi-scientific resources. The themes of the arrival of HIV and AIDS, blood donations, offender/victim, the balance of risks with respect to the statistical probabilities and the human factor, and finally, prevention were discussed. It is concluded that certain context-specific historical events (the Dutch Bloody Sunday and the Swedish gay sauna ban) and culturally determined processes (trust in others in the Netherlands, and disapproval of casual sex in Sweden) have led to some important differences in how HIV and AIDS and the higher risks for gay men and MSM have been dealt with. In the Netherlands, there is a stronger protective attitude when it comes to the freedom and autonomy of MSM both when it comes to decisions about sexual behavior and to sharing any positive HIV status. In Sweden, on the other hand, there is a stronger tendency to enforce informing others of their HIV status. In both countries, despite efforts to prevent this, HIV has increased stigma for gay men and other MSM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines how Chinese lesbians and gay men make sense of the prospect of growing old and plan for later life in Hong Kong, where same-sex relationships are yet to be legally recognized. Drawing on in-depth narrative interviews, the results show that lesbians and gay men in midlife reported a range of previous, current, and anticipated challenges associated with the stigma attached to homosexuality. These, in turn, shaped their ways of perceiving and planning for later life. Three forms of reflexivity in response to minority stress and the prospect of aging were identified: coping with fears of aging alone, striving for self-mastery, and planning ahead with feelings of wariness. Participants' concerns and plans around aging demonstrated differing degrees of reflexivity, through which they attempted to navigate family norms and structural constraints and find ways to accumulate resources for later life. Meanwhile, their heightened sense of uncertainty and insecurity showed that their perceptions and experiences of aging were influenced by minority stress and material, familial, and socio-political circumstances. This article builds a constructive dialogue between sexuality and aging studies by unraveling both the aging insecurity and capacities for reflexive planning among an oft-neglected group of sexual minority people in midlife. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relatively little is known about how gender and sexual orientation intersect to predict young adults' responses to unwanted romantic and sexual overtures from men and women suitors. To better understand these potential differences, and explore possible mechanisms that explain them, this pre-registered study used an online questionnaire to assess reactions to both hypothetical and recalled suitors among a sample of 855 cisgender heterosexual and gay young adults (18–35) from the United States. Results revealed that gay women and heterosexual men reported the most negative hypothetical reactions to men (versus women) suitors, while gay women, heterosexual men, and heterosexual women all recalled more negative reactions to men than women suitors. Gay men recalled relatively benign reactions to suitors of both genders. A desire to be seen as one's true orientation was a mediating factor for both gay women's and heterosexual men's negative reactions to men suitors. These findings and their potential explanations highlight the complexity of how gender and sexual orientation intersect to shape responses to romantic and sexual overtures from men and women suitors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Debate over the origins of sexuality has animated a great deal of research on homosexuality, centering largely on whether sexuality is biologically determined or socially constructed. The contours of this debate have important ramifications regarding experiences of marginalization within the gay imagined community. Dominant discourses of sexuality can flatten and obscure differences within this community, and these discourses are often connected to essentialist notions of the origins of homosexuality. Nonetheless, the mechanisms through which essentialist notions affect non-heterosexual individuals' understandings of sexual identity and of the gay community remains somewhat unclear. Through analysis of interviews with 29 non-heterosexual men, I find evidence of essentialist logic concerning not only origins but also race, nationality, class, and sexual identity/preference. I synthesize these by advancing the concept of gay essentialism, arguing for a more intersectional approach to the concept that deemphasizes debate over origins. I also examine how gay essentialist logic helps to (re)produce and obscure inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Latino gay and bisexual men (GBM) may experience discrimination attributed to their sexual orientation and ethnicity, necessitating an examination of their experiences from an intersectional lens. While relationships between discrimination and the internalization of those messages have been previously researched, less is known about experiencing discrimination attributed to different identities and its relationships with discrete attributions of internalized stigma. Understanding how different attributes of identity-based discrimination are related to different attributes of identity-based internalization of stigma among gay and bisexual men of color may be important in the design of interventions to help Latino GBM cope with discrimination and prevent negative mental health outcomes. In order to achieve this aim, the current study utilized data from the Latino MSM Community Involvement: HIV Protective Effects Study, which included 571 self-identified Latino GBM. Results demonstrate that experiences of external anti-Latino discrimination were significantly linked to both internalized ethnicity- and sexuality-based stigma, whereas experiences of external sexuality-based discrimination were not significantly linked with internalized ethnicity- or sexuality-based stigma. Results suggest a need for future research to further examine effects of external ethnic discrimination on the psychosocial health of Latino GBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the experience of loneliness among Israeli gay men in their early and mid-adulthood, ages 30–50 (N = 14). The findings demonstrate three main categories of loneliness that study participants experienced: childhood loneliness as an initial experience of gay identity; loneliness in the context of other gay men, via sexual encounters, friendships, and the use of dating apps; and loneliness in the context of heterosexual society. The findings point to the centrality of the experience of loneliness among Israeli gay men in their mid-adulthood years and emphasize how this loneliness is rooted in socio-cultural and political perceptions concerning hetero-normative as well as gay identities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis has two interlinked goals. First, drawing on Lee Edelman, Dudley Andrew and Laura Mulvey, it theorizes the male homosexual optique, a mode of address that is predicated on the relationship between a film, its context of reception and its spectator, and which undermines the heterosexual exigencies of classical narrative style to implicitly address a gay male viewer. Second, it illustrates how the putatively heterosexual romance of Curtis Harrington's Night Tide (1961) appeals to gay male spectators through two mechanisms that underpin the optique, specifically the homosexual gaze and characterization. Key to each of these aims is how the non-normative heterosexual male body functions as a site of gay male objectification and identification. This article ultimately argues that Harrington's film enables us to envisage a queer cinema that is not predicated on fictions of homosexual desire but nevertheless provides a framework for deepening our understanding of what queer spectatorship (and the male homosexual gaze in particular) may involve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inspired by the question of why some gay and bisexual men hide same-sex affection when in public, this study integrates the concept of minority stress into Noelle-Neumann's spiral of silence theory and Goffman's interaction order to build an integrated model explaining why some people avoid nonverbal stigma expression in public. It is hypothesized that perceived stigma, prejudice events, and internalized stigma will result in a greater tendency to hide male same-sex affection. An empirical study involving n = 25,884 gay and bisexual men in Germany showed that higher levels of perceived stigma and internalized stigma were associated with a greater tendency to hide male same-sex affection when in public. However, being a victim of prejudice events did not substantially predict whether individuals hide their male same-sex affection. Findings are discussed in terms of their generalizability and implications for the underlying theory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent discussions of gay male bottom identity have been cautious about positioning bottoms in relation to a gendered identity, and thereby colluding with stereotypes about gay bottoms being effeminate and effeminate gays being bottoms. In wider LGBTQ media in Europe and North America there is an effort to destigmatize effeminate gay men in a dating culture that privileges "masc4masc." While this is welcome, it obscures the existence of effeminate gay bottom fantasies that are gender stratified and which insist on a connection between sex role preference, sex object choice, and gender presentation. This paper analyses sexual fantasy narratives on the social media platform, Tumblr, and interrogates a deep structure of gender-stratified male androphilia that finds thematic similarities in non-Western settings, where "egalitarian" or Western "gay" expressions of male same-sex unions compete with traditional "heterogender" forms. It concludes by reaffirming the need to consider gender positionality among gay bottoms' narratives in Western contexts, and for further research on Western gay men to recognize the heterogeneity of gay identities and experiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drag queens are typically gay men who perform as caricature-like women. They thereby publicly challenge "naturally" binary gender role categories, though it remains unclear how that interplays with their private (e.g., sexual) lives. This study seeks to answer this question by exploring the sexuality and sexual practices of drag queens. Employing a critical realist approach, ten semi-structured interviews were conducted in Germany, with questions focusing on the drag queens' views on sexuality and sexual positioning. By adopting a thematic analysis, three main themes were identified: natural versus artificial identity; advocacy for sexuality; and rejection of heteronormativity. Results suggest that the primary intention of drag queens is to challenge heteronorms, while they regularly adhered to these privately. This illustrates the distinction made by the participants between their "public" persona, an artificial character that lacks sexuality, and their "private" life (e.g., sexual practices), shaped by an "inborn" sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aging paradigms should entail all individuals. More research on older LGBT+ adults is needed since the literature has been mainly built on heteronormative and cisgender standards. The creation and shaping of the kind of legacy an individual would like to leave behind when he/she dies is key in aging well. This study explores the intended legacies of older lesbian and gay adults (50+ years old) who were activists in social movements in Spain. Eighteen participants (12 gay men) participated in a semi-structured interview on their intended legacies. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the interviews. The main findings showed that all participants reported intended legacies: i) personal, to transmit their lived knowledge and to be remembered as good and committed persons; ii) broader, to contribute to LGBT+ rights, and to a better society; iii) composite, the desire that younger generations recognize their contributions, and to know they helped to protect new generations. The participants in this study lived a life of intense involvement in social movements, and currently their intended legacies involve leaving a mark and passing the torch to younger generations. This understanding will help us to develop adequate practices that promote well-being in older LGBT+ adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

LGBTphobia is a characteristic of Brazil when data on this type of violence are analyzed. For a long time, this theme was neglected at many social levels, including the legal and governmental spheres. A response to the violence experienced by Brazilian LGBT+ people has been tried many times through specific laws, however, only after many years did this advance happen. Then, Brazil became the 43rd country to criminalize LGBTphobia. Even with such progress, LGBTphobia rates in Brazil continued to be alarming, constituting a social, health and legal issue. In view of these factors, this study sought to analyze the social conceptions about criminalization among Brazilian homosexual men and heterosexual men. Based on the analysis performed, contrasting differences were noted between the two groups. It is expected that this study can provide technical and scientific data to possible interventions on the problems exposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A lifetime of disadvantages shapes how lesbians and gay men navigate healthcare as they age and their fears about end-of-life care. This paper investigates how a localized group of older white, college educated, and economically privileged gay men and lesbians conceptualize their approach to healthcare. Analyzing 23 in-depth interviews with gay men and lesbians over the age of 60 I consider how they utilize their advantages when aging and facing declining health. I pay particular attention to how discriminatory social and legal contexts shaped elders' current situations and ability to be "out" and engage with healthcare professionals. I utilize the theory of cumulative advantages and disadvantages as another way to understand literature on health inequalities and LGBTQ health work, finding that despite systemic inequalities some gay men and lesbian elders use their resources to find gay-friendly primary care physicians, age at home, and build social supports for caregiving as their health declines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proximal minority stressors (i.e., internalized homonegativity, anticipation of rejection, and concealment of sexual identity) lead to depression and anxiety. General psychological factors mediate the association of proximal stressors with depression and anxiety. Based on this, the present study aimed to investigate the sequential mediating roles of shame and forgiveness of self on the relations of proximal stressors with depression and anxiety in a sample of self-identified gay men in Turkey (N = 200). The findings revealed that proximal stressors significantly predicted depression and anxiety indirectly through shame and self-forgiveness. Thus, the link between minority stress and shame should be considered in clinical practice, and self-forgiveness should be integrated into intervention programs to eliminate the negative impacts of shame on depression and anxiety among this population. Limitations and directions for future studies are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2019, the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) was hosted in Tel Aviv. Like other national contests such as the Olympics or the FIFA World Cup, the ESC is a political event. For gay Israeli men who are ESC fans, this was an opportunity to become more integrated in the gay and national communities through homonormativity and homonational processes. However, as this case study shows, Israeli gay men ESC fans mostly rejected homonational masculinity in favor of a counterhegemonic identification, self-characterized as "ESC geeks." In that, they adhered to their marginal space and adopted a subversive queer perspective. Analytically, this means that homonationalism should not be considered a political form of normalizing power that is accessible to all gay men. Rather, it is a process that produces manifold, including queer practices, and it can no longer be seen as accessible to all LGBTs, or as something into which LGBTs are duped. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

HIV remains a principal inequity for queer men across the United States. Biomedical practices all but dominate interventions, and HIV-related stress persists among queer men. Regarding HIV as discourse is not well represented in prevention and care. This study is a response, then, to this need that seeks to build an HIV-informed model of praxis, entitled HIV Stress Exchange. A Queer Discourse Study was conducted with 20 queer men across two generations, pre-AIDS and post-AIDS. The data included in-depth interviews and material resources participants brought to the conversation. In all, this data speaks to the ways in which HIV is given life in discourse and what meaning it holds in embodied lives. Resultantly, five themes materialized, inclusive of all ages and sero-statuses: HIV provided meaning as in-/validated, un-/voiced, un-/intelligible, holding intimacy/-ies, and being PrEP/-ared. Based on the findings, the conceptual model for HIV Stress Exchange is presented along with an HIV-informed model of practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the correlates of internalized sexual orientation stigma, psychological distress and depression in a religiously diverse sample of gay and bisexual men in Lebanon. A convenience sample of 200 participants completed a cross-sectional survey. Bisexual men reported greater internalized sexual orientation stigma and less outness to their family and were more likely to face family pressure to have a heterosexual marriage than gay men. People of no religion reported more outness than Muslims and Christians but also higher psychological distress and depression. Multiple regression analyses showed that religiosity, outness, family pressure to marry and being bisexual were positively associated with internalized sexual orientation stigma; and that frequency of attending one's place of worship was negatively associated with psychological distress and depression. Individuals may be coping with adversity through engagement with institutionalized religion, which also appears to be a source of negative social representations concerning their sexuality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative beliefs and stigmatization of all that is not heterosexual still have an adverse impact on the mental health of the homosexual population in many countries. The purpose of the present study was to comparatively assess how sociocultural differences regarding the level of homosexuality acceptance impact the adult attachment dimensions and emotion regulation strategies among three groups of Iranian and Dutch gay men. A community sample of 124 gay men (40 of Iranians residing in their home country, 41 of Iranians immigrated to the Netherlands and 43 Dutch) participated in the study and completed Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). MANOVA and follow-up post-hoc Tukey tests were conducted in order to analyze the data. Results demonstrated a noticeable difference in both studied variables, attachment dimensions (close, anxiety, and depend) and emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), among the three groups of participants. As the Iranian (residing in Iran) group showed the greatest levels of anxiety and emotional suppression with the lowest levels of close (convenience of getting intimate to others), depend (trust and depend on others to be availabale when needed) and cognitive reappraisal (ability to alter the emotion caused by an event, before experiencing it by reinterpreting the situation), while the highest levels of depend, close and cognitive reappraisal and the lowest levels of anxiety and emotional suppression were seen in the Dutch group. Finally, Iranian gay immigrants came half way between. This data highlights the role of cultural differences in terms of homosexuality acceptance or stigmatization, in the way gay men exhibit their attachment and manage their emotions either by reappraisal or suppression. Comparative cross-cultural studies are possibly able to open paths to new research on psychological factors of non-heterosexuals in different countries with various cultures and religions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual diversity is a contentious topic in South Africa because many people still hold the perception that sexual identity can only be understood in heteronormative terms. This article adopts a feminist research approach to investigate how black gay male identities are constructed and managed at home, within friendships and in mining workplaces, drawing on data collected from five black gay male mineworkers. It opens up discussion on gay mineworkers' experiences in a country where diversity is upheld and celebrated through a democratic constitution, yet gay men must often negotiate and manage their sexual identities to fit in with the dominant heteronormative discourses present in different spaces in society, including adopting false heterosexual identities in particular spaces, which limits their freedoms. The study argues that experiences of constructing and managing black gay identities in heteronormative spaces is guided by the level of acceptance and tolerance perceived by gay people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study sought to understand the social and individual factors that predict loneliness among older lesbian and gay people in Australia. A sample of 508 gay men and 241 lesbian women, aged 60 and over, completed a survey including measures of loneliness, internalized homonegativity, sexual orientation discrimination, and connectedness to lesbian and gay communities. A multivariable linear regression predicting loneliness was conducted. Not being in an intimate relationship and having less connection to lesbian and gay communities were significant predictors of loneliness for both older lesbian women and gay men. For the men, younger age, internalized homonegativity and more frequent lifetime experiences of sexual orientation discrimination also appeared to predict greater likelihood of loneliness. More frequent recent experiences of sexual orientation discrimination predicted loneliness for the women. The findings confirmed loneliness as an issue of concern among older lesbian and gay people and identified factors amenable to intervention to address loneliness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explores the experiences of single gay men and gay men who raise children in couples who have created their families through surrogacy procedures in different countries and cultural contexts. The analysis of 39 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with these fathers suggests that the effects of medicalized reproduction on these men are twofold. Medicalized reproduction leads these men, on one hand, to feel alienated from surrogate pregnancy and the fetus, and on the other hand, to contribute to the construction of a new form of intimacy between the surrogates and the newborns. This highlights the paradoxical character of overseas surrogacy, which resonates with other forms of reproductive procedures. The importance of these findings is examined by means of a qualitative paradigm, through which we stress the complex impacts of medicalization on gestation, childbirth, and transition to parenthood among ART (i.e.: Assisted Reproduction Technologies) participants, in particular on gay men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies have documented gay men's engagement in collective sex (e.g., group sex in public or commercial environments) but little attention has been paid to these men's relationship desires or agreements. We report on qualitative interviews with 20 gay men who attended private sex clubs in New York City, asking how participants navigated sometimes conflicting desires for collective sex and committed relationships. Participants felt that collective sex was either a) incompatible with relationships, which should be monogamous; b) complementary to a primary non-monogamous relationship; or c) at least as important as relationships. Gay men attending sex clubs attribute different value to collective sex and to committed relationships, and experience different challenges in satisfying their desires for intimacy. Resources could help gay men navigating these apparently conflicting desires and making suitable choices regarding their relationships and/or sexual agreements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]