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Previous research on sexual minority health has largely focused on negative experiences related to one’s sexual orientation with limited attention to the ways in which being a sexual minority can contribute to positive experiences. This is especially true of bisexual, pansexual, and queer (bi+) male youth, whose experiences have not been represented in the literature. To address these gaps, the goal of the current study was to characterize positive experiences related to one’s sexual orientation in a sample of 46 bi+ male youth (ages 14–17) who were interviewed as part of a larger study. Interviews were transcribed and thematically analyzed. Almost all of the participants described at least one positive experience related to their bi+ identity. The positive experiences fell into six categories: (1) experiences with LGBTQ+ people in general; (2) experiences with other bi+ people; (3) experiences in LGBTQ+ environments; (4) experiences disclosing bi+ identities; (5) romantic and sexual experiences; and (6) experiences with allies. Participants described eight reasons for these experiences being positive: (1) feeling a sense of belonging in a community; (2) the normalization, acceptance, and visibility of one’s identity or community; (3) providing or receiving support; (4) discussing shared experiences; (5) the promotion of authenticity; (6) celebrating one’s identity or community; (7) experiencing personal growth; and (8) not feeling limited by gender when it came to romantic and sexual experiences. In sum, bi+ male youth report a range of positive experiences related to their sexual orientation, which may have important implications for promoting resilience and wellbeing.

Research on the lives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual and other forms of sexual identities and orientations (LGBTQIA+) youth in care has mainly examined their experiences from a risk-based approach, while few studies have explored their resilience experiences. Using in-depth interviews, the present study aims to illuminate the resilience experiences of 13 LGBTQIA+ young people in out-of-home care in the Netherlands. Four themes emerged from their narratives: relationships that support and empower; construction of a positive identity around their sexual orientation and gender identity and expression (SOGIE); community involvement and self-relying strategies. Our findings support the view of resilience as a complex process that shows at an individual, interpersonal and social level.

Background: Young people in the United States know little about contraceptive options available to them, although method use is sensitive to individual preferences, and method switching is common. For young people to gain reproductive autonomy, a first step is to be aware of different contraceptives, including hormonal and nonhormonal methods. We tested whether an educational intervention delivered on community college campuses was effective in increasing contraceptive awareness. Materials and Methods: We developed a low-cost educational intervention featuring youth-friendly visual tools and tested its impact on method awareness and knowledge among 1,051 students of all genders, aged 18-25 years, at five community colleges. We used generalized estimating equations to test changes in awareness of a range of methods, including male and female (internal) condoms, the pill, patch, vaginal ring, shot, intrauterine devices, implant, and emergency contraception. Results: Over 90% of participants were aware of male condoms and the pill at baseline, but fewer had heard of other options (ranging from 31% to 76% for different methods). Across all methods, awareness increased to a mean of 88% among female participants and 82% among male participants postintervention. Awareness of the full range of methods increased from 31% to 55% (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 4.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.1-6.2]) among female participants and 11% to 36% (aOR: 10.8, 95% CI: 5.3-21.8) among male participants postintervention. The intervention was similarly effective by sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, nativity, or insurance coverage. Conclusion: This educational intervention significantly improved all students' awareness of a range of contraceptives, supporting one important aspect of reproductive health for young people in community settings.

Body image concerns typically affect women more so than men, but there is reason to believe that this pattern may depend on sexual orientation. The present study examined differences in levels of body satisfaction among men and women who identified as heterosexual, plurisexual (bisexual and pansexual), gay, and lesbian, using data from a large-scale national probability sample from New Zealand (N = 17,005). As expected, heterosexual men reported higher body satisfaction than heterosexual women. Gay and plurisexual men reported lower body satisfaction than heterosexual men. Gay men also reported lower body satisfaction than lesbian women, and did not differ significantly from heterosexual and plurisexual women. Ratings of heterosexual, plurisexual, and lesbian women’s body satisfaction did not differ significantly. Results held when adjusting for a range of demographic covariates (including age and BMI), and highlight the importance of examining the psychological and health outcomes associated with poor body image among gay men. These findings emphasize the relevance of sexual orientation in understanding men’s body image-related issues.

Introduction Our study sought to assess the interplay of family dynamics, namely familial warmth and LGBTQ+ specific rejection, and its association to self-esteem in a non-probabilistic sample of LGBTQ+ adolescents in the United States. Methods Stratified by (1) cisgender and (2) transgender and non-binary LGBTQ+ adolescents (N = 8774), we tested multivariable regression analyses to assess the association between familial warmth and LGBTQ+ specific family rejection, adjusted for sociodemographic characteristics. We then conducted a sub-analysis with LGBTQ+ adolescents who reported being out to any family member about their LGBTQ+ identity; specifically, we tested a series of multivariable regression models to assess whether levels of LGBTQ+ specific family rejection attenuated the association between familial warmth and self-esteem. Results Full sample models indicated a positive association between familial warmth and self-esteem. Findings from our sub-analysis indicated that familial warmth remained positively linked to self-esteem and family rejection was negatively associated with self-esteem. Family rejection was a statistically significant moderator, attenuating the association between familial warmth and self-esteem. With respect to being out about one's sexual orientation, these findings were robust across gender stratification groups. Conclusions Families of origin serve as sources of stress and resilience for LGBTQ+ adolescents. Our findings contribute support to arguments that familial warmth and LGBTQ+ specific rejection are not mutually-exclusive experiences among LGBTQ+ adolescents. We provide recommendations for multilevel interventions to leverage activities that support positive family dynamics and self-esteem among LGBTQ+ adolescents.

Background: Women differ in how they psychologically respond to the end of menstruation and onset of menopause; however, little empirical evidence exists for understanding how sexual orientation an...

Aims This study aim to gain insights into attitudes, acceptance and knowledge levels among family physicians toward homosexual people, which are important as they may affect care among this at-risk group. Methods An anonymized self-administered questionnaire in English was posted with the assistance of the College of Family Physicians Singapore in February 2015 to its 1 529 members with self-addressed, pre-stamped envelopes for replies. The questionnaire included demographic questions such as age group, gender, religion, ethnicity, marital status and place of practice. Questions and scales that measured attitude, acceptance, knowledge and perception of colleagues who are homosexual were also included in the questionnaire. Results 451 responses (29.5%) were obtained, of which 441 were valid (28.84%). About 52.8% of participants were found to have negative, 8.9% neutral and 38.3% positive attitudes toward homosexuality. Most (75.6%) were accepting of homosexuals, with 9.3% neutral and 15.1% not accepting. Knowledge levels were poor, with a mean score of 6.9 out of a maximum of 13. A strong correlation was found between the attitudes towards lesbians and gay men (ATLG) and acceptance of homosexuals scales (r = 0.69, P Conclusion Despite majority of family physicians having negative attitudes towards homosexuality, most are able to accept homosexuality. With better education in sexual orientation in the medical educational curriculum, the increase in knowledge will lead to better care for people with homosexuality.

Past research suggests an apparent paradox: Women who engage in same-gender sexual behavior show higher rates of unintended pregnancy than women with exclusive other-gender sexual behavior. Such women also have disproportionate rates of early adversity (both harshness, such as abuse or neglect, and unpredictability, such as father absence). We used the Add Health data (N = 5,617 cisgender women) to examine the relative contributions of early adversity, adolescent same-gender sexual behavior, and general sexual risk behavior to women’s risks for adult unintended pregnancy. Women who engaged in adolescent same-gender sexual behavior were more likely to report childhood adversity, and both childhood adversity and adolescent same-gender behavior made independent contributions to subsequent rates of unintended pregnancy. The association between adolescent same-gender sexual behavior and adult unintended pregnancy was partially attributable to the fact that women with adolescent same-gender sexual behavior engaged in greater sexual risk behavior more broadly. These findings suggest that same-gender sexual behavior in adolescence may relate to a broader set of sexual risk behaviors that augment future risk for unintended pregnancy, independent of sexual identity. We draw on life history theory to explain this pattern of results and suggest directions for future research.

This study examined reasons for romantic and sexual relationships with adult partners among men with pedohebephilic preferences (N = 125). We also explored whether age sexual orientation impacted reasons for engaging in sex with adult partners. Pedohebephilic men endorsed both non-sexual and sexual reasons for engaging in adult-partnered relationships. The top reasons for sexual relationships with adult partners were pleasure, love and commitment, physical desirability, experience seeking, and practicality. The top reasons for romantic relationships with adult partners were to gain companionship, love toward romantic partner, to escape loneliness, to engage in sexual activities, and it seemed natural. The exclusivity of attraction to children was found to be significantly related to some of the factors. These findings support differential reasons for pedophilic men engaging in adult-partnered relationships. Professionals should seek to understand the nature of their clients’ relationships and age sexual orientation to determine whether such factors are relevant. Professionals can then support clients in their search for meaningful relationships.

The debate over pornography has drawn attention to sex differences not only in the frequency of pornography consumption but also in the different ways males and females may perceive sexually explicit images and respond to them. Some of these differences may be due to sex differences in a variety of factors including sexual strategies and disgust, in particular, disgust related to pathogen avoidance. There is a large literature that focuses on how pathogen avoidance has shaped human behavior from political ideology to in-group/outgroup behavior to sexual risk taking/avoidance. This study examined sex differences in perceptions and how they are influenced by the emotional context of the image as well as individual difference factors, including disgust sensitivity, mate value, sociosexuality, and sexual orientation. Participants viewed a series of sexually explicit images of external ejaculations and rated them in terms of being positive, neutral, or negative. The factors accounting for the greatest variance in perceptions were target affect and sex, sexual orientation, and respondent sex, followed by pathogen and sexual disgust, self-perceived mate value, and sociosexual attitudes and desire.

The sexual identities of today's young women are more fluid and less consistently heterosexual than those of their predecessors – a trend that can be attributed to shifts in the socio-cultural context over time. However, this cannot explain within-cohort differences in women's identity trajectories. In this article, I draw from critical heterosexuality studies and test how young women's social locations are associated with their propensities to change towards or away from claiming a straight identity. Consistent with expectations, I find that women who occupy a position on the sexual landscape characterised by lower levels of heteronormativity, or who indicate a willingness to break with heteronormative expectations in the future, are more likely to change away from claiming a straight identity over time. My findings suggest that heteronormative ideology continues to structure women's lives to degrees that vary according to their social locations.

Because the public health response to the disproportionate HIV burden faced by Black sexual minority men (BSMMM) has focused on sexual risk reduction and disease prevention, other vital components of sexual health (e.g., intimacy, pleasure, benefits of sex) have been often overlooked. Sex-positive describes a more open, holistic approach toward sex and sexuality that prioritizes these other components, though such an approach is rarely applied to BSMM's sexual health. For sex-positive BSMM, risk/preventive discourse may foster or exacerbate medical mistrust as a reaction to the dissonance between how these men view sexual health and how the medical establishment views it, which may discourage sexual healthcare-seeking. We assessed sex-positivity and its association with medical mistrust and PrEP conspiracy beliefs among 206 HIV-negative cisgender BSMM in Atlanta, Georgia. We performed exploratory factor analytic procedures on responses to a sex-positivity scale, followed by multivariable linear regressions to determine sex-positivity's associations with medical mistrust and PrEP conspiracy beliefs. We extracted two sex-positivity factors: sexual freedom (α = 0.90), reflecting openness toward casual sex and rejection of sexual mores, and essence of sex (α = 0.77), reflecting the intimate, relational, and pleasurable qualities of sex. Sexual freedom was independently associated with perceived provider deception (β = 0.19, CI = 0.04, 0.34). Essence of sex was independently associated with PrEP conspiracy beliefs (β = 0.16, CI = 0.02, 0.31) and marginally associated with perceived provider deception (β = 0.14, CI = - 0.00, 0.29). Healthcare providers and public health practitioners may cultivate greater trust with BSMM by incorporating a sex-positive approach into patient/participant interactions, clinical decision-making, and interventions. Improving access to sexual pleasure acknowledges BSMM's right to optimal, holistic sexual health.

Surveys have shown that Chinese gay men have high levels of depressive symptoms. Self-concept clarity is a critical intrapersonal psychological factor affording the alleviation of depressive symptoms. The objective of this research is to investigate whether self-concept clarity is related to depressive symptoms in gay men within the Chinese context and explore the specific mediation mechanisms of sexual orientation concealment and gay community connectedness. Data were collected online from 405 Chinese gay men in 2020. Participants were assessed with scales regarding self-concept clarity, sexual orientation concealment, gay community connectedness, and depressive symptoms. Self-concept clarity was negatively correlated with depressive symptoms in Chinese gay men. The relation between self-concept clarity and depressive symptoms was mediated by sexual orientation concealment, and sexual orientation concealment and gay community connectedness also played a sequential mediation effect between self-concept clarity and depressive symptoms. The improvement of self-concept clarity may be one of the foremost concerns for the decrease in depressive symptoms among Chinese gay men. Self-concept clarity is related to reduced depressive symptoms through lower sexual orientation concealment and higher gay community connectedness. Policy makers should provide more support for organizations and institutions that focus on improving the mental health of Chinese gay men and encourage these organizations and institutions to popularize effective self-adjustment methods (such as improving self-concept clarity) that can help reduce depressive symptoms among gay men. In addition, policy makers should take measures to further enhance social tolerance of homosexuality and provide more gay communication platforms for Chinese gay men.

The issues of sexuality have been very contentious in Africa more so after the legalization of same-sex marriages by the U.S. Supreme Court in June 2015 under the President Obama reign. Africans have resented the way sexuality is understood and practiced in the west and has termed it un-African. Some scholars and indeed African leaders have argued that the attitude towards sexuality is a modern practice which is being introduced and even forced to Africa by modernity and influenced greatly by the western worldview. In a modern setting, different sexual orientation has been accepted as a lifestyle and has been institutionalized. Although African does not refute the fact that there were and indeed still are people with different sexual orientation, they do not find it right to institutionalize it since according to African culture, this is an abnormality that needs to be corrected, sympathized with and tolerated. To that end, African peoples assisted those with a different sexual orientation to live normal lives as much as possible. At the same time, the community was kind and tolerant and never banished or mistreated them based on their sexual orientation. This paper will attempt to show the attitude taken by the African people, the process of assisting those with different sexual orientation and how they were incorporated into the society. The paper will draw valuable lessons to be learned by modernity and which will correspond to African Christianity in accordance with the teaching of Jesus Christ

There is limited evidence about the lives of queer Mongolian youth. This is despite mental health problems being a pressing concern among young Mongolians, and international evidence suggesting queer youth may experience more mental health challenges than their non-queer peers. We explored the experiences of queer youth in their immediate environments and navigation of their identities in Mongolian society. In this study, twelve young queer-identifying people aged 18-25 from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia participated in photo-elicitation interviews. Visual research methods allowed participants to generate rich (visual, textual, and oral) data about their lived experiences. We analysed data using a thematic approach and identified three main themes, each with three sub-themes. Participants reported that peer bullying and gendered expectations at school, heteronormativity and gender role expectation in family settings, along with strong stereotypes about queerness in broader society, substantially impacted participants' mental and physical wellbeing. Mongolian queer youth need strong support from their immediate environments, such as school and family. Stigma and misconception around queerness remain persistent among the public but young people are continuously resisting the prejudice expressed towards them. Understanding these challenges is crucial to increasing inclusivity in policies and programmes to enhance the wellbeing of young queer Mongolians.

Background: There is increasing awareness of diversity and inclusion needs within health and education systems to help address access and equity issues for minority groups. Although these calls are well known, there is little guidance for those working within these systems to create meaningful change. The purpose of this study was to critically review case-based teaching material within the authors' programmes through the lens of equity, diversity, and inclusion. Methods: A document analysis of clinical workshop cases extracted from all integrated therapeutics courses administered in 2020 was conducted. Results: Sex, age, and employment status were most commonly presented in cases (84.0%, 97.1%, 49.0% respectively). The majority (90.0%) of cases did not have ethnicity defined. The overwhelming majority of cases did not have living situation (68.3%) or sexual orientation (78.0%) defined. Conclusion: Case-based teaching material within a pharmacy programme was largely undefined according to patient demographics and diversity markers. Findings support the notion that teaching material may have a contributory role towards systemic racism, prejudice, and implicit bias.

Since the Stonewall uprisings, there has been greater social acceptance of homosexuality within Western contexts. Nevertheless, those who are at the intersection of more than one minority identity continue to face prejudice and discrimination, including homophobia and racism. Though there has been increasing work regarding the experiences of sexual minority people of colour (POC), a lacuna remains regarding the experiences of sexual minority British Muslim South Asian men and the integration of sexual minority and religious identities, particularly within a context of increased societal acceptance towards sexual minorities and societal Islamophobia. In this study, 38 sexual minority British Muslim South Asian men were recruited via snowball sampling and interviewed. Data were examined via reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were identified: degrees of “outness”, hegemonic Whiteness and the LGBTQ+ community, internalisation of White hegemony, distancing from the sexual minority religio‐cultural ingroup, and attempting to reconcile potential identity conflict between sexual orientation identity and religious and cultural identities. Respondents' experiences highlighted substantial social exclusion due to intersectional disadvantage as well as a lack of intra‐community social support, suggesting substantial isolation, psychological implications and a general eschewing of identity affiliation based on sexual attraction. This has implications on services predicated on identity affiliation which may potentially exclude the needs of hidden and intersectionally disadvantaged populations.

The aim of this paper is to reconstruct the transformation process that takes place in the parent-child relationship with a non-normative sexual orientation or gender identity (LGBT+). Due to the fact that the transformation of oneself and reality takes place in the course of undertaken activities, mental, affective and performative activities as well as relationships between them were identified from the communicated biographical experiences of the narrators. Parents of LGBT+ people from Poland who were selected according to the snowball procedure participated in the study. Empirical data was collected through the narrative interview technique and developed through qualitative inductive thematic analysis. The transformation process recreated on this basis included the identified mental changes in the perception and understanding of reality, modifications of affects that dynamized the activity of the subject and activities transforming the world. The transformations were expressed both in the perception and transformation of reality, as well as the subject acting in it. Le but de cet article est de reconstruire le processus de transformation qui a lieu dans les relations entre parent et enfant d’une orientation sexuelle ou d’une identité de genre non normative (LGBT+). Les transformations de soi et du réel se développent au cours des activités. L’identification des activités mentales, affectives et performatives, ainsi que les liens entre elles, permettent de reconstruire des tensions entre savoir, informations, vision du monde et émotions, sentiments et action entreprise. Ont participé à la recherche des parents de personnes LGBT+ de Pologne, au total 28 personnes, qui ont été sélectionnées selon la procédure dite de boule de neige, en tenant compte de la stratégie du contraste minimum et maximum résultant de la sélection théorique de l’échantillon. Le matériel empirique (récits autobiographiques) a été collecté à l’aide de la technique d’entretien narratif (F. Schütze), et ensuite élaboré au cours d’une analyse inductive et qualitative. Le cadre interprétatif de cet article est le concept de transformation du sujet au cours de l’activité (J.-M. Barbier). Les expériences communiquées dans les récits se réfèrent à la transformation des activités entreprises par le sujet, qui changent pendant et à travers l’activité. Au cours de la construction de leurs récits de vie, les parents interrogés ont fait des rétrospections sur les événements entrelacés, sur les activités entreprises et sur les émotions les accompagnant, ce qui a souvent déclenché un travail sur l’expérience. Les tissages reconstitués des activités mentales, affectives et performatives soulignent liens réciproques et tensions entre eux. Ce sont notamment : une (in)conscience de la souffrance de l’enfant ; un éprouvé et une compréhension de sa propre souffrance ; une confrontation affective au regard de ses représentations ; un travail sur l’expérience dans le contexte de tensions émotionnelles ; une expérience de (co) ressenti et de (co) compréhension ; un effort pour donner du sens à l’activité. Les changements mentaux identifiés l’étaient dans la perception et la compréhension du réel, dans les affects dynamisant l’activité du sujet, ils comprenaient l’analyse du processus des transformations produites en interaction. Celem niniejszego tekstu jest rekonstrukcja procesu transformacji, jaki zachodzi w relacji rodzica z dzieckiem o nienormatywnej orientacji seksualnej lub tożsamości płciowej (LGBT+). Z uwagi na to, że przekształcanie siebie oraz rzeczywistości ma miejsce w toku podejmowanych aktywności, zatem z komunikowanych doświadczeń biograficznych narratorów zidentyfikowane zostały aktywności mentalne, afektywne oraz performatywne, a także związki między nimi. W badaniu uczestniczyli rodzice osób LGBT+ z terenu Polski, którzy byli dobierani zgodnie z procedurą kuli śnieżnej. Dane empiryczne zostały zgromadzone za pośrednictwem techniki wywiadu narracyjnego i opracowane w toku jakościowej indukcyjnej analizy tematycznej. Odtworzony na tej podstawie proces transformacji obejmował zidentyfikowane zmiany mentalne w zakresie postrzegania i rozumienia rzeczywistości, modyfikacje afektów, które dynamizowały aktywność podmiotu oraz czynności przeobrażających świat. Transformacje wyrażały się zarówno w postrzeganiu i przekształcaniu rzeczywistości, jak też działającego w niej podmiotu.

This article explores the intersection of gender identity and sexual orientation in the narrative experiences of trans identified young people. Data were collected in collaboration with trans youth community centres in the USA, Canada and Ireland. Axial and selective coding procedures were used to examine the interplay between developing sexual orientation and gender identity. The relational language used by participants when explaining the process of negotiating and renegotiating sexual orientation prompted us to ground theory building in a framework of intersectionality, feminist concepts of 'doing gender' and peer mediated approaches to identity development. Two overarching themes were developed and are deconstructed in this paper: labelling and peer mediated self-consciousness. With respect to labelling, through the feminist concept of 'doing gender' we explain how trans youth navigated accountability to self, others and society as they negotiated and renegotiated sexual orientation labels in conjunction with gender labels. In relation to peer meditated consciousness, we examined how through relationship with peers, participants explored and internalised concepts important for sexual orientation formation. The paper begins to explore some of the ways in which gender identity and sexual orientation are interwoven, challenging the notion that they are fully autonomous constructs.

Despite the challenges faced by sexual orientation minority (SOM) individuals, many SOM individuals are able to persist and develop resiliency over the course of their lives. The present study explored how prominent SOM elders perceived the LGBTQ+ community as developing hope and resiliency in relation to major events of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ+) rights development. Using a basic qualitative approach, we analyzed interview data and three categories emerged. More specifically, these categories were: (1) internalization of societal views; (2) fostering safety and acceptance by creating a sense of community; and (3) sources of inspiration for initiating change. The resulting categories show the complex interaction of social influences and resiliency during times of societal reformation. We discuss the implications of how group-based emotions and identity processes during times of societal reformation foster a life-long resilience.

Research has long pointed to a number of health inequalities and differences in the quality of life of people, whose main distinguishing feature is their sexual orientation, sexual self-identification, or sexuality in general. However, this diversity is rarely included among demographic questions, so we currently face not only the unavailability of essential data but also many ambiguities associated with the “measurement of sexuality” in research. This article has four interconnected primary goals. First, to contribute to the discussion, which may identify the absence of items determining the sexuality of respondents in relevant studies as a significant barrier limiting the availability of information about the health of non-heterosexual people. Further, it clarifies key terminological issues, which are mainly related to the continually evolving sexual-identity terminology. Third, it focuses on the discussion of methodological but also contextual pitfalls, which touch on the issue of measuring in the field of sexuality and contribute to various types of selection bias. In the final part, the question of “representativeness” of available research results is discussed, and using current Czech and foreign representative surveys, the question of whether it is still true that non-heterosexual people make up 4% of the population is addressed.

Historically women have been underrepresented in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Some scholars have suggested that science self-concept perceptions have contr...

There is evidence that gender as well as sexual orientation can affect body image. In particular, heterosexual women and homosexual men seem to be more vulnerable to a negative body image compared to homosexual women and heterosexual men. One reason for this may be derived from the fact that heterosexual women and homosexual men try to attract male romantic partners: As men place more importance on physical attractiveness than do women, the pressure to fulfill the sociocultural beauty ideal is thus increased. The present online study investigated differences in appearance-related partner preferences and their associations with measures of body image and eating pathology in homosexual and heterosexual women and men. The non-representative sample consisted of 893 participants (n = 201 lesbian women,n = 192 gay men,n = 349 heterosexual women, andn = 151 heterosexual men), who completed silhouette measures assessing their perception and expectations regarding body fat and muscularity of their own body and the body of a potential romantic partner, as well as questionnaires on drive for thinness, drive for muscularity, and eating pathology. Overall, few differences in appearance-related partner preferences emerged between the four groups. However, compared to heterosexual women, homosexual men appeared to prefer higher muscularity in potential romantic partners, which was also associated with increased drive for thinness and muscularity and increased eating pathology. The present findings indicate that, irrespective of sexual orientation, women and men tend to share similar standards regarding their own and a potential partner’s physical appearance, potentially suggesting an increased hegemony of heteronormative beauty ideals in women and men in general.

Background Individuals of the LGBTQITS community face significant disparities when accessing healthcare, including stigma, oppression, and discrimination contributing to health inequities. Integrating cultural humility practice in nursing education is needed to navigate barriers. Method A mixed methods usability study evaluated a bilingual online educational toolkit including curated instructional videos, personal bias quiz, and virtual simulation games VSGs. A convenience sample of nursing faculty and students were invited to participate. Results Participants (N = 11) were observed playing the games, overall average time was 14 mins per game. Largely usability testers agreed or strongly agreed VSGs were easy and fun and helped them understand personal assumptions. Presimulation preparation was mostly viewed as relevant and engaging. Conclusions Results support the feasibility of educating nurses and students about cultural humility, sexual orientation, and gender identity (SOGI) using VSGs. The SOGI-Nursing toolkit was found to be functional and a valuable and engaging teaching and learning strategy.

The article responds to practical dillemas of parents, psychologists or educators who come across teenagers declaring their homosexual orientation. In this overview, the authors discuss primary developmental factors and they point out the dynamic specific of adolescence, comprising also a psychosexual growth. Current research review shows that sexual orientation has a developmental and often fluent character, mostly in a heterosexual direction, and that a research on homosexuality leads to the conclusion, that it's etiology is multifactoral, with predominance of environmental over the genetic factors. For these reasons, early declarations of homosexual orientation uttered by teenagers rather should not be supported. At the end, a reader can find pieces of practical advice for psychologists, educators and parents.

This study examines the severity of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) symptoms among sexual minorities in a large international sample and analyzes the relationship between GAD symptoms and two nation-level policies discriminating against sexual minorities: marriage inequality and criminalization of same-sex sex acts. Members of sexual minorities show higher rates of GAD. Structural stigma may contribute to poor mental health outcomes among sexual minorities. We collected GAD symptoms in a sample of 5,929 participants from countries with differing policies restricting the rights of sexual minorities between May 2018 and October 2018. We then used mixed effects regression to examine the effects of sexual orientation and structural stigma (marriage inequality and criminalization of same-sex sex acts) on GAD symptoms. Participants reporting same-sex and both-sex attraction showed more anxiety symptoms than participants reporting opposite-sex attraction. There was no significant interaction effect between marriage inequality or criminalization of same-sex sex acts and sexual orientation on GAD symptoms. The higher measured anxiety among sexual minority participants is consistent with previous research; however, the absence of an interaction effect between sexual orientation and discriminatory policies was contrary to our predictions. We hypothesize that this could be due to differential concealment of sexual orientation due to structural stigma or the effects of stigma and discrimination outside of policy. These findings suggest that changing discriminatory policies may not be sufficient to improve mental health outcomes among sexual minorities; instead, it may be necessary to address sources of stigma beyond direct legal policies.

The bondage-discipline, dominance-submission, and sadism-masochism (BDSM) community has achieved diversity with respect to gender identity and sexual orientation yet does so to a lesser extent with respect to race and ethnicity. A total of 398 BDSM practitioners recruited in 2018 and 2019 from BDSM conferences located within the Southern, Midwestern, and Western regions of the U.S., as well as online, completed surveys asking about racial and ethnic discrimination, fetishization, and inclusivity. People of color were 16 times more likely than non-people of color to feel discriminated against at BDSM events and 17 times more likely to feel fetishized. Qualitative results included troubling stories of overt racism and offensive racial slurs, and examples of microaggressions, feelings of isolation, and feelings of being dismissed. The results suggest that organizations can increase inclusivity by understanding the unique costs faced by people of color with an awareness that these costs might be invisible to non-people of color, diversifying positions of authority and leadership, and teaching well-meaning members what types of behaviors could create a hostile environment.

Mozambique experienced a ground-breaking decriminalisation of same-sex sexual acts in 2015, of importance across Africa, and this article provides the first critical analysis to situate that event in colonial and wider socio-political contexts. The struggles of peoples outside heterosexual sexuality and gender norms in the "Global South" generally occur in the tension between transnational discourses of sexual orientation and gender identity or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) human rights, and the renewal of pre-colonial forms of sexuality and gender. In sub-Saharan Africa, state homophobia has increased in many countries, but has often been analysed in former British or French colonies, making Mozambique a rare and significant case of decriminalisation in the Lusophone context shaped by Portuguese colonialism. Drawing on new data, the article investigates apparently contradictory contestations, where legislation favourable to LGBT populations (including an anti-discriminatory Labour Law) coexists with the State’s refusal to legally recognise the only LGBT association: Lambda. The Mozambique case distinctively reveals both decriminalisation and repression, partly explained by a history of relatively loose regulation of sexuality by Portuguese colonial authorities, with Christian renewals moderated by the Maoist Marxist-Leninism ideological heritage of the Frelimo party, favouring social equality without discreet political identities. This has yielded a government strategy of discursive silence accompanied by quiet reforms that avoid explicit recognition of LGBT identities. The study demonstrates insights that can be drawn from analysis concerning gender and sexuality attending to specific colonialities and political discourses in African societies.

Although personal identities influence teaching and learning and the field of mathematics education is committed to equity and diversity for all learners, sexual minorities have been neglected in mathematics education research. Accordingly, the purpose of this paper is to call for research on sexual identity in mathematics education. I first define key terms and their relationships. Next, I discuss how students’ sexual identity relates to school experiences and outcomes. I then summarize existing research on sexual identity and STEM/mathematics education. Finally, I recommend research on sexual identity and mathematics education that can advance our field in a continued commitment to equitable mathematics teaching and learning.

Bisexual people experience lower levels of belonging in the LGBTQ+ community than gay and lesbian people. We investigated one of the factors that may reduce bisexual individuals’ feelings of belonging in and identification with the LGBTQ+ community: Sexual orientation essentialism. Across two online studies with participants recruited through Prolific, we tested whether bisexual people endorsed sexual orientation essentialism less than lesbian and gay individuals and, in turn, feel lower levels of identification and belonging with the LGBTQ+ community. Essentialism separated into three dimensions in Study 1 (N = 375): Entitativity, naturalness, and discreteness. Relative to lesbian and gay individuals, bisexual individuals viewed sexual orientation as less natural, in turn reporting lower levels of belonging and identification. They also viewed sexual orientation groups as less discrete, which instead translated to higher levels of belonging and identification. Sexual orientation groups did not differ in their endorsement of entitativity beliefs. In Study 2 (N = 390), we focused on naturalness and replicated findings from Study 1. In addition, lower naturalness beliefs were associated with the belief that one’s own views were different from those held by the LGBTQ+ community, which also contributed to lower levels of belonging and identification. Together, these studies contribute to understanding the role of essentialism in intragroup processes and paint a nuanced picture of essentialism in different sexual minority groups.

A growing proportion of young adults report regularly playing video games and using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS). Although video gaming is often normative and adaptive, excessive gaming is associated with adverse health outcomes and dependency, as seen in gaming disorder/internet gaming disorder (GD/IGD). Possible additive detrimental effects of ENDS use on the physical outcomes of GD/IGD lend particular concern to these concurrent behaviors. The present study explored group differences in concurrent ENDS and GD/IGD dependency by demographic factors, including age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, racial identity, relationship status, and year in school. The interaction effect of symptoms of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) on the association between ENDS dependency and GD/IGD was also examined. Lastly, group differences in ADHD symptoms for individuals who endorse (1) neither GD/IGD nor ENDS dependency, (2) either GD/IGD or ENDS dependency, or (3) both GD/IGD and ENDS dependency were explored. Data were collected in a large, multi-university sample of college students (N = 1,054). Higher symptoms of GD/IGD were positively associated with greater symptoms of ENDS dependency. Men and individuals with significant symptoms of ADHD were at an increased risk of concurrent GD/IGD and ENDS dependency. These results may be used to identify demographic and psychological associations linked to these comorbidities, ultimately informing future prevention strategies.

Heterosexual women trust mating-relevant advice received from gay men more than that received from heterosexual women. This trust is predicated on women’s perception that gay men lack ulterior sexual motives and romantically pursue other gay men. However, this trust may not hold in all cultures. For example, in both Samoa and the Istmo Zapotec of Southern Mexico, women take part in mate competition against feminine same-sex attracted males—referred to as fa’afafine and muxe, respectively—who regularly engage in sexual activity with masculine men. The present studies sought to replicate and extend research on women’s trust in males who are same-sex attracted. Experiments were conducted in Canada, Samoa, and the Istmo Zapotec, with women randomly assigned to consider the likelihood of various mate-poaching behaviors performed by either a rival woman or a same-sex attracted male. In Canada, women were more trusting of cisgender gay men than other women. Similarly, Samoan women were more trusting of fa’afafine than other women. In the Istmo Zapotec, women were equally distrustful of women and feminine muxe gunaa, whereas more masculine muxe nguiiu were rated as more trustworthy than women and muxe gunaa. These results illustrate that women’s trust in same-sex attracted males varies both between and within cultural contexts, perhaps impacted by the relative femininity of the male in question.

Understanding the processes contributing to equality of opportunity and outcomes in contemporary societies is at the core of the discipline of sociology. This paper illustrates the value of administrative data to underpin research aimed at identifying, monitoring, and addressing socio-economic disparities between population groups. To accomplish this, I draw on three case studies of recent empirical research leveraging administrative data to examine processes contributing to the (re)production of inequalities by sexual orientation. Collectively, the three case studies exemplify how data sources that fall within the broad category of ‘administrative data’ can help social researchers generate new, policy-relevant knowledge on socio-economic inequalities, as well as robust information to contextualize public and legislative debate. The paper concludes with a discussion of the promises and challenges of using administrative data to understand inequalities by sexual orientation, as well as inequalities between other minority and majority groups.

Objective: We examined sadness/hopelessness and suicide among racial/ethnic and sexual minority youth (SMY).Methods: 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) data on sadness/hopelessness and suicide were analyzed among White, Black, and Hispanic/Latino youth.Results: A main effect of sexual minority (SM) identity emerged for sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempts, and injurious attempts; SMY reported increased risk compared to their heterosexual peers. An interaction between Black race and SM identity emerged for sadness/hopelessness, suicidal ideation, and suicide plan; White SMY were at greater risk than Black SMY. A main effect of Black race on suicide attempts was found; Black youth reported increased risk of suicide attempts compared to White youth.Conclusions: Black SMY exhibited lower risk of sadness/hopelessness, suicide ideation, and suicide plans than their White SMY peers, whereas Black youth overall were more likely to report suicide attempts than their White peers.HIGHLIGHTSThere was an interaction of sexual minority identity and race (Black or White) for three outcomes.SM and Black identities were associated with higher risk for suicide attempts.Only SM identity was associated with increased risk of injurious suicide attempts.

Recent research has focused on the connection between romantic love and sexual desire from psychological, neurological, and sexual health perspectives. However, studies examining this connection are varied, often are limited to heterosexual reports and rarely include women’s lived experiences. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine perspectives on the link between romantic love and sexual desire from a sample of heterosexual, bisexual, and lesbian women. Interviews were conducted to assess perceptions of the connection between love and desire with 31 women (10 bisexual, 8 lesbian, and 13 heterosexual) from the United States ranging in age from 20 to 69 years old. Utilizing thematic analysis, interview transcripts were coded into themes. Four main themes were identified in which participants described the connection between love and desire as (1) separate experiences, (2) fueling one another, (3) intertwined experiences, and (4) love encompassing desire. The current study offers exploratory findings and supports future research incorporating diverse women’s perspectives in research on romantic love and sexual desire.

BACKGROUND Unhealthy weight control and disordered eating behaviors are prevalent among adolescents who identify as a gender and/or sexual minority (SGM). The current study examined how perceptions of school safety contribute to reduced negative weight control and eating behaviors across adolescents with diverse sexual and gender identities. METHODS Data on perceptions of school safety, as well as negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors (ie, binge eating, eating to cope), were drawn from a large national sample of SGM secondary school students (ie, grades 7-12; N = 17,112; LGBTQ National Teen Survey). RESULTS Differences in negative weight control and disordered eating behaviors emerged as a function of gender identity and sexual orientation. School safety was significantly associated with fewer negative weight control behaviors (B = -0.30, p

As mindfulness-based programs (MBPs) become widespread, MBP research samples should be representative of the general public to avoid exclusion of minoritized groups. This systematic review retrospectively investigates demographic diversity in MBP research, based on reported variables and patterns of omission during that time. We reviewed randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of standard MBSR and MBCT that targeted self-regulation outcomes through 2016 with healthy and clinical adult populations. Completeness of documentation and analyses for race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, language, education, age, and intersectionality were extracted, compared with census data when possible, and tracked over time based on the date of publication. The included 94 RCTs comprised populations that were predominantly White (79%), middle-aged (46 years), highly educated (15 years), and female (70%). The composition of studies from the USA differed significantly from the US census data. Only 41% of studies reported race or ethnicity, 95% reported gender without non-binary categories, 64% reported education, 89% reported age variance, 2% reported sexual orientation, 9% stratified analyses by demographic variables, and none reported identity multiplicity or intersectionality. MBP efficacy could not be determined for subgroups due to lack of subgroup analyses. Temporal trends show limited improvements in diversity composition and reporting of race over time. MBPs’ potential benefit for diverse populations will depend on adequate reporting of currently underreported demographic variables. To develop culturally responsive interventions, MBPs research must include underrepresented populations to counter observed systemic bias and address inclusion disparities in the field. We offer recommendations to further this aim. The PROSPERO review registration (number: CRD42016051765 (Loucks et al., American Journal of Health Behavior 40:258–267, 2016)) with a review protocol was submitted on December 9, 2016, and confirmed on December 16, 2016.

Same-sex relationships and marriages are increasingly becoming legal in some parts of the globe, in the United States and Europe, in particular. However, opposition is strong and same-sex marriage remains banned in many countries leading to uneven expansion of broader lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning rights globally. Researchers conducted a formative qualitative cross-sectional descriptive and retrospective study with women who have sex with women to, among other objectives, assess and document female same-sex legal status and its implications to these women’s daily lives, health, and wellbeing in Tanzania. Results indicate that female same-sex is illegal in Tanzania and same-sex activities are punishable on conviction by life imprisonment. As a result, female same-sex behaviors and practices are pushed underground due to fear of stigma, rejection, abandonment, discrimination, and violence from the law enforcement machinery and the general public. In turn, this situation restricts these women from utilizing healthcare services available, which endangers women who have sex with women’s health and wellbeing. Recommend for further multidisciplinary, comprehensive, and informative public health research among women who have sex with women to generate data that would facilitate improving healthcare professionals’ ability to diagnose, treat, control, and prevent illnesses among women who have sex with women in Tanzania.

Para promover un desarrollo sexual saludable es necesario garantizar el acceso de las personas con discapacidad intelectual (PDI) a la formación en relación con sexualidad y las relaciones interpersonales. En este sentido, se precisan programas de educación afectivo sexual para PDI que presenten evidencias empíricas sólidas acerca de su validez. Con este objetivo, el presente estudio ofrece los datos preliminares sobre la eficacia de cuatro de las sesiones del Programa de Educación Afectivo-Sexual SALUDIVERSEX: (1) Higiene íntima, (2) Abuso sexual, (3) Orientación sexual e (4) Intimidad. El programa fue aplicado a 43 usuarios de cuatro centros ocupacionales de la Comunitat Valenciana. La implementación del programa y la evaluación de los conocimientos (antes y después de ponerlo en marcha) fue llevada a cabo por los profesionales del propio centro que previamente habían sido formados en dicho programa. Los resultados muestran que los participantes mejoraron o mantuvieron sus conocimientos en todas las áreas evaluadas, aunque fue en la sesión sobre abuso sexual en la que el grado de aprovechamiento fue mayor (entre un 25% y un 80%) siendo inferiores los resultados en la sesión sobre intimidad (entre un 0% y un 20%). Por otra parte, se observó un mayor impacto de las sesiones dedicadas a intimidad y orientación sexual en aquellos grupos formados únicamente por PDI con bajo CI; y en abusos sexuales en los grupos formados por personas de mayor edad. A falta de un análisis más comprehensivo, podemos concluir que las sesiones presentadas del Programa SALUDIVERSEX se muestran eficaces para mejorar los conocimientos de la PDI si bien dicha eficacia se ve modulada por factores como el CI o la edad.

Every month, millions of users worldwide play the online digital game League of Legends, which also contains a server dedicated to the Brazilian region. Social oppression by race, skin color, sexual orientation, among others, occurs within the game and is reported constantly. In this paper, we analyzed possible indications of depressive disorder by using an online questionnaire as a basis. We used quantitative and qualitative methods, analyzing the relationship between the interactions and the social identities of the players. We define quantitative hypotheses and qualitative syntheses related to different social factors of the game through the analysis of 604 responses. League of Legends has a negative influence on the mental health of socially peripheral players, and the qualitative analysis exposes specific and widespread cases of oppression and discrimination. We present a discussion on ethics, possible collusion with oppression, and proposals for mitigation or solution.

Many of the systemic practices in medicine that have alienated lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning (LGBTQ) individuals persist today, undermining the optimal care for these patients and isolating LGBTQ medical providers from their colleagues. The 2020 Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Report recently published by the Society for Vascular Surgery marked the first publication advocating for the inclusion of sexual orientation and sexual identity in the development of initiatives promoting and protecting diversity across vascular surgery. Vascular providers should be aware that it is crucial to cultivate an environment that is inclusive for LGBTQ patients because a large proportion of these patients have reported not self-disclosing their status to medical providers, either out of concern over potential personal repercussions or failing to recognize the potential relevance of LGBTQ status to their medical care. Safe Zone training has provided a standard resource for providers and staff that can be integrated into onboarding and routine training. Clarifying the current terminology for sexual orientation and identity will ensure that vascular providers will recognize patients who could benefit from screening for additional vascular risk factors relevant to this population related to sexual health, social behavior, physical health, and medical therapies. The adoption of gender neutral language on intake forms and general correspondence with colleagues is key to reducing the unintended exclusion of those with LGBTQ identities in both inpatient and outpatient environments. In many locales across the United States, the professional and personal repercussions for openly reporting LGBTQ status persist, complicating efforts toward quantifying, recognizing, and supporting these patients, practitioners, and trainees. Contributing to an inclusive environment for patients and peers and acting as a professional ally are congruent with the ethos in vascular surgery to treat all patients and colleagues with respect and optimize the healthcare of every vascular patient.

A escola não é um espaço neutro, ela é povoada por sujeitos que possuem marcas de identidade de gênero, raça, classe e orientação sexual, entre outras. A negação de que vivemos numa sociedade que explora e exclui mulheres, negros, a população LGBTQIA+, os pobres, mostra como a escola pode ser o local onde essas opressões são perpetuadas. A educação sexista cria e dissemina as opressões ao mesmo tempo que é calcada nelas; por conseguinte, não pode ser uma educação libertadora, como defendida por Paulo Freire. Porém, a educação pode e deve ter um papel importante a desempenhar no combate às desigualdades e na construção de uma sociedade mais justa. Por isso, é fundamental discutirmos as teorias e práticas de uma educação antissexista. Através de uma análise bibliográfica sobre o tema e relato de experiências no âmbito do Instituto Federal Fluminense, pautaremos a metodologia desse artigo. O objetivo principal deste trabalho é se debruçar sobre ações concretas de uma educação feminista, libertária e afirmativa, que traz à tona as angústias subjetivas e os conflitos coletivos que, desde muito antes da pandemia, afligem-nos e que deixarão marcas profundas em nossa geração.

During the 20th century, society’s view on sexualities has undergone a severe paradigm shift. While moving away from ideas of decency and bawdiness to evaluate legitimate sexuality, concepts of autonomy and consent gained importance. This transformation is also challenging the law.1 With the broad acceptance of various forms of sexual behavior and sexual orientation, legal regulation based on morality and ethics is outdated. Recent debates on law and sexualities focus on sexual autonomy and its conditions. This is shown especially by the legal debate on sexual violence and criminal law.2 But the right to sexual autonomy does not only require adequate protection against sexual violence. As a human right, it obliges State Parties to Human Rights Treaties such as the European Convention on Human Rights and the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women to respect, protect, and fulfill sexual autonomy. This includes the guarantee of freedom from sexual violence, coercion and discrimination, as well as control over one’s own body and over the involvement in sexual interactions with others. In order to ensure the different components of sexual autonomy, sexual education and reliable access to information and medical services are necessary. This paper presents an approach concerning the multifaceted dimensions of sexual autonomy through a human rights lens.

For the first time, Scotland’s 2022 census will ask a question about sexual orientation. Correspondence between National Records of Scotland, the Scottish Parliament’s Culture, Tourism, Europe and External Affairs Committee and campaign groups present insights into decisions made, the uneasy relationship between queer identities and state data collection practices, and the question of who is counted when we count LGBTQ people. Building on Foucault’s critique of projects that construct population knowledge, the census is framed primarily as a tool to facilitate the state’s capacity to govern. My engagement in the design process enabled me to critically examine decisions made about the exclusion of non-binary identities and the use of predictive text technology. These decisions demonstrate how the design process constructed a queer population that ‘made sense’ to the heteronormative majority and ‘designed-out’ queer lives that the state did not wish to bring into being.

In general, women show physiological sexual arousal to both sexes. However, compared with heterosexual women, homosexual women are more aroused to their preferred sex, a pattern typically found in men. We hypothesized that homosexual women’s male-typical arousal is due to their sex-atypical masculinization during prenatal development. We measured the sexual responses of 199 women (including 67 homosexual women) via their genital arousal and pupil dilation to female and male sexual stimuli. Our main marker of masculinization was the ratio of the index to ring finger, which we expected to be lower (a masculine pattern) in homosexual women due to increased levels of prenatal androgens. We further measured observer- and self-ratings of psychological masculinity–femininity as possible proxies of prenatal androgenization. Homosexual women responded more strongly to female stimuli than male stimuli and therefore had more male-typical sexual responses than heterosexual women. However, they did not have more male-typical digit ratios, even though this difference became stronger if analyses were restricted to white participants. Still, variation in women's digit ratios did not account for the link between their sexual orientation and their male-typical sexual responses. Furthermore, homosexual women reported and displayed more masculinity than heterosexual women, but their masculinity was not associated with their male-typical sexual arousal. Thus, women’s sexual and behavioral traits, and potential anatomical traits, are possibly masculinized at different stages of gestation.