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Even given its focus on narrowly defined audiences, contemporary radio in the United States is commercial, and thus dependent upon a consumer goods sector that is market-driven, risk-averse and fearful of recrimination by those opposed to homosexuality or non-binary genders and government regulators. Queer listeners, unlike their straight counterparts, found in radio not mentors to guide them through adolescence and into adulthood, but the ultimately doomed task of attempting to conform to standards and rituals that did not fit them or to alternative readings of the texts found in radio's music lyrics, disc jockey patter and commercials that constructed a world that were a better fit. In this article, I examine a varied and representative collection of podcasts and argue that the medium is uniquely positioned to deliver to queer audiences what conventional commercial radio was unwilling or unable to. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: South Asian gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) in the United States have been persistently overlooked in HIV research and programming. To address this limitation, this article describes their HIV-related knowledge, risk perception, and minority stressors, with a focus on identifying variations between American-born individuals and immigrants., Methods: Participants were recruited from April-July 2022 through social media advertising and peer referral and surveyed about their sociodemographic and HIV-related behavioral characteristics. Previously validated scales were used to assess their HIV-related knowledge, risk perception, disclosure of sexual identity, experienced homophobia, and perceived racism within the sexual and gender minority community. Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon tests were conducted to compare those born in the United States and those born abroad., Results: Of the 112 participants, 26 (23.21%) were American-born individuals and 86 (76.79%) were immigrants. Despite similar levels of sexual risk behaviors, such as having multiple male sex partners, engaging in condomless anal sex, and using alcohol or drugs immediately before or during sex, immigrants had lower levels of HIV-related knowledge ( p = .0480) and risk perception ( p = .0114) compared to American-born individuals. Immigrants were also less likely to have disclosed their sexual identity to family, friends, and society compared to American-born individuals ( p = .0004). No differences were identified with respect to experiences of homophobia ( p = .2303) or perceptions of racism ( p = .4011)., Conclusion: Comprehensive HIV prevention efforts that address the social and cultural norms of South Asian GBM in the United States are needed., Competing Interests: Declaration of conflicting interestsThe author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Smoking and rates of tobacco abuse remain higher in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) persons. There has been very little scholarly inquiry about the emerging trend of use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS; e.g., vaping and eCigarettes [eCigs]) in LGBTQ populations. The purpose of this article is to: (a) explore the most recent prevalence data regarding smoking and tobacco abuse in LGBTQ persons, (b) reveal strategies the tobacco industry has historically used in marketing their products to the LGBTQ community, (c) review data from the few studies evaluating use of ENDS in LGBTQ persons, (d) provide evidence‐based methods public health nurses can employ to discourage use of ENDS in LGBTQ persons by addressing two identified causes of ENDS use in LGBTQ populations (harassment/discrimination in LGBTQ youth and binge drinking in LGBTQ adults), and (5) encourage cessation among those already using ENDS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper mainly focuses on various cultural values and conflicts represented in the film The Wedding Banquet. In contrast with the civil marriage ceremony of American style performed in a Registry Office, the Chinese wedding is much more luxurious, filled with lots of over-elaborated formalities that are necessary in Chinese culture. The ceremony itself is considered more important than the notarization. Taking the subject of sexual orientation as a metaphor for larger cultural issues, the film is examined as identity confusion and inevitably, the pursuit of identity reconstruction. Through Wei-Tung's psychological struggles between Chinese traditional values and his homosexual desires, the film explores the possibility of a re-considered perception of identity for an Asian diasporic gay. Given the historical baggage brings with them, the process of the construction of identity for the immigrant is continuously dynamic and ongoing. After the implicit negotiations between ethnicity, sexuality, and patriarchy, the film story moves to reconciliation. This suggests that in such an era of multiculturalism, people had better come to realize their individual identities of diversity and complexity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study determined whether a novel (single-item) measure of poverty is associated with elevated sexual risk among young Black men who have sex with men who reside in a US city with high HIV seroprevalence. A convenience sample of 600 Black men who have sex with men (ages 16-29) completed a computer-assisted self-interview. The questionnaire included an item asking men, 'In the past 12 months have you missed meals because you did not have enough money to eat?' Selected measures of sexual risk and prevalence of chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV were assessed as outcomes of this novel measure of poverty. About 22% had missed meals due to lack of money. In age-adjusted analyses, these men were more likely to report: (1) having concurrent sex partners ( P = .03), (2) having sex with partners who were generally five or more years older ( P = .02), (3) not using condoms the first time they had sex with their most recent new partner ( P = .015), (4) having sex with persons not known by name ( P = .02), (5) depending on sex partners for food, money, and shelter ( P < .0001), and (6) testing positive for Chlamydia at study enrollment ( P < .02). Of interest, an association in frequency of recent condomless anal sex as top ( P = .04) was observed; however, the association for recent condomless sex as bottom ( P = .37) was not significant. For young Black men who have sex with men, a novel method of assessing poverty may be predictive of many sexual risk behaviors. Clinicians may benefit this population by including this question as part of their patient interview and prioritizing services when indicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research in the field of sexuality and space has begun to explore the relationships between gay and queer sexual subjectivities and migration. Much of this research examines the regulation and policing of queer international migrants or identity formation processes among younger queer people migrating within countries. This study, although located partially within the second category, broadens and deepens existing accounts of gay men's migrations within countries by focusing on life circumstances and events beyond an initial coming-out process and considering the migration experiences of gay men at multiple points in the life course. This study uses life course theory to contextualize the migration narratives of 48 self-identified gay men in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and Washington, DC. The findings lend credence to recent claims that migration is central in the lives of gay men and other queer people but extends the concept of gay migration to include more than just the disclosure or initial development of a gay identity. They reframe migration as a tool used to negotiate a variety of life circumstances and transitions (e.g., establishing careers, creating meaningful community identities) rendered challenging by variegated landscapes of stigma and inclusion in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The U.S. military's ban on open homosexuality has become an increasingly salient issue since its implementation in 1993 and its repeal in 2011. The military is an organization with a unique professional and social organization. Evaluating military attitudes from a network perspective may offer insight into the role of formal and informal leadership in engendering attitudinal change and cultural tolerance around homosexuality. This study evaluates the role of network centrality and network exposure across formal (command networks) and informal (friendship and perceived leadership networks) structures on attitudes toward homosexuality in the military. This work analyzes survey data from a single cadet company within the U.S. Military Academy (n = 139) prior to the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell. Results indicate that popular students tend to show tolerance toward homosexuality, whereas those who hold command leadership positions are more likely to have personal and professional opposition to homosexuality. In addition, formal superior–subordinate relationships are somewhat more likely to suggest social contagion compared to informal leadership and friendship relationships. Recommendations offer guidance for training strategies particularly with respect to a military leaders and socialization. Future research should monitor these issues relative to the post-DADT environment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The image of the male warrior still dominates military culture, to the exclusion of women and homosexuals. Complicating the picture is a technological revolution that promises to widen the current gap between the myth and reality of the modern warrior even further. Nonetheless, despite long arguing that homosexuals were a direct threat to military culture and effectiveness, the Pentagon has largely treated the end of Don't Ask, Don't Tell as a policy matter. The difficulties still experienced by women in the armed services 40 years after they were first incorporated in significant numbers indicates that this response will be insufficient to address the deeper cultural issues. Gender issues implicate deeply held beliefs and values that persist even in the face of years of official admonishment and denial. Unless the military begins to transparently bridge the gap between the myth and reality of the modern warrior, military service without discrimination based on sexual orientation will remain an unachieved goal. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Policing the legality and normalcy of service members’ sexual lives was a contentious process for military courts throughout the 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s that resulted in the inconsistent enforcement of the homosexual exclusion policy. Military personnel of all ranks and occupations harbored a variety of attitudes and beliefs about homosexuality that challenged the legitimacy and uniformity of the military's legal assault on sexual deviance. Over half of the active duty personnel originally accused of homosexual tendencies received either sentence reductions or sentence reversals as a result of this highly contested process by which official military policy was translated into practice via courts-martial. Paradoxically, the very policies that discriminated against alleged homosexual service members generated legal avenues through which gays and lesbians exercised their rights to due process, and, ultimately, their rights as American citizens embodied in the repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. Rather than being an ideologically homophobic monolith, the Cold War American military rocked with contestation over an exclusion policy that attempted—unsuccessfully—to eliminate all gay and lesbian service members. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The mental health implications of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy and the history of the relationship between psychiatry and the military on the issue of gay service members are reviewed. Before 1973, when homosexuality was removed from psychiatry's diagnostic manual, the psychiatric profession cooperated with screening gays out of military service. In 1990, the American Psychiatric Association officially supported gays being allowed to serve. Don't Ask, Don't Tell created a difficult situation for military psychiatrists and gay service members seeking mental health treatment, and the policy itself had negative mental health effects. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The author discusses his project of taking photographs and doing audio interviews of military veterans and service members affected by the ban on gays and lesbians serving, either before or after the enactment of the military's Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy. He reviews the history of the ban and presents excerpts from the interviews. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

This article will examine the social implications for African American homosexual males seeking to achieve the American Dream. Invisible Life and Just as I Am—the first two novels in a trilogy by the late E. Lynn Harris writing from a semi-autobiographical perspective in late-twentieth century America—will serve as the texts that drive this research topic. Careful analysis of these works will substantiate the assertion that the American Dream, even on the cusp of the new millennium, is just beyond the grasp of this specific subpopulation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Gay men entering the health care system present with unique needs essential for health care providers to comprehend and address. While data indicate mental health and substance abuse disorders are more prevalent among gay men compared with their heterosexual counterparts, the literature assessing abuse of alcohol by gay men is conflicting. This article explores the conflicting research examining the use and abuse of alcohol by gay men, common findings and themes among studies addressing the issue, the theoretical concepts of internalized homophobia and heterosexism as they relate to alcohol abuse, and clinical strategies providers can implement when encountering this issue among their gay male patients. This comprehensive assessment of the literature will also provide direction for future critical inquiries and outline ways to improve the current methods of inquiry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary purpose of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 was to end racial discrimination consequently sex was intentionally omitted from the bill. Opponents of the law proposed an amendment to include sex in order to defeat the bill. It passed without a definition or discussion of the meaning of sex. Subsequently, both domestically and internationally, the term has been transformed as various courts began to interpret the provision. It has changed from discrimination based on biological differences to include socially defined differences commonly understood to be gender stereotypes and sexual harassment, including same-sex harassment and Gender Identification Disorder. Among affected organisations are law enforcement services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Homosexual men and women have been subjected to constant discrimination and stigma while trying to do what most heterosexual individuals take for granted, serving their country. It is somewhat paradoxical that gays and lesbians who are treated as second-class citizens by their own country and government, with limited rights, would want to risk their lives and potentially die for that same country. As the literature illustrates, many homosexual men and women have chosen such a profession in order to justify their existence and demonstrate that they are worthy of the same rights as others. Just as women and African Americans eventually earned their status as equal members of society and proved their worthiness to serve in the military, homosexuals are now trying to achieve the same. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of men who have sex with men (MSM) who are using the Internet to initiate sexual relationships is increasing. Research suggests these men might have a higher likelihood of participation in high-risk sexual activities that might place them at greater risk for transmission of sexually-transmitted infections, including HIV. Although a few research studies have assessed higher risk behaviors among this population, studies have not typically focused on safer sex practices. This article presents findings from an original research study designed to assess both high-risk and safer-sex requests among MSM within a sample from Florida (n = 483) who use a popular Internet social networking site to initiate sexual relationships. Although the findings indicated a majority of MSM did not specifically request safe sex only within their profiles, its prevalence was higher in men with a reported negative HIV serostatus. This suggests some HIV-negative MSM are possibly participating in sexually-protective behaviors when using the Internet to meet sexual partners, which is an important consideration for healthcare providers when addressing HIV transmission and infection risks among clients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Varying measures of sexual orientation are used in women's health research. As they incorporate different dimensions, definitions, and categorical groupings, the comparability of results obtained across studies using different measures remains unknown. We examined the comparability of results using data from the U.S. 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (n = 6,356). Women were classified according to sexual orientation identity, sex of sex partners in the past year, and sex of sex partners over the lifetime. Associations with six health outcomes were compared across sexual orientation schemes. Associations differed in magnitude and statistical significance, even producing conflicting results. Our analyses resulted in series of methodological recommendations for research on sexual minority women. Data on both behavioral and identity measures should be gathered in health research; identity groups should not be combined for analysis; and researchers should carefully consider which classification scheme(s) to use based on the theoretical basis for the study and the implications for informing interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multimedia presentation Queer Ads: Gay Male Imagery in American Advertising chronicles the history of gay male images in American print and video advertising. It does this within the context of the history of the gay rights movement and with a focus on advertisements for a variety of product and service categories. It concludes that, although very rare, gay images appeared in subtle but non-judgmental portrayals early in the twentieth century. Starting at the end of the 1920s, imagery, equally rare, tended to depict gay men pejoratively as objects of ridicule or scorn. This approach changed in the 1970s when more positive and edgy images began appearing. Today, a broad range of gay male images - both positive and negative - appear in print and video advertisements. This document provides information intended to supplement the presentation. It includes (1) dimensions of what comprises a gay male image; (2) the method used to locate the images; (3) the narration script of the presentation annotated with references; (4) links to images for which copyright reprint permission was denied; and (5) a list of references. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Common and diverse depictions of gay men in American print advertising are recent phenomena, dating from the mid-1990s. However, gay male images have appeared in print advertisements since early in the last century. Using a framework categorizing minority depictions in media over time and adapted for this study, a chronological series of twenty-five print advertisements are analyzed dating from 1917 through 2004. In these ads, gay male images complying with one or more of the ten criteria established for this study are found to change over time. This evolution of imagery is categorized into four stages: (1) targeted recognition, (2) ridicule/scorn, (3) cutting edge, and ultimately, (4) respect. The evolution reflects society's changing view of homosexuality and the media's changing role in portraying gay men. It further can be analyzed within the context of the history of the United States' gay community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This note analyzes the issue of gay and lesbian adoption. Although such adoptions are becoming more accepted in the United States, there remain a few states-Florida, Mississippi, and Utah-that have banned gay and lesbian adoptions. This note will propose new legislative language for adoption laws in conservative states. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Studies continue to show that the majority of men who have sex with men in the United States remain unvaccinated against hepatitis B despite the licensure of an efficacious vaccine in 1982.Methods. A theory-based, qualitative approach is used to explore acceptance of hepatitis B vaccination among men who have sex with men residing in Birmingham, Alabama.Results. A total of 62 self-identified men who have sex with men (mean age = 25 ± 2.3; range: 18–36 years) participated in one of eight focus groups. Among the findings of this study, participants reported low levels of perceived susceptibility to infection; lacked basic information about hepatitis B and hepatitis B vaccination; did not perceive their providers to be comfortable with discussing their same-sex sexual behavior; did not identify tangible or intangible benefits to vaccination; had limited access to health care and had little continuity of care; did not trust federally supported vaccination efforts; and reported the inundation of HIV prevention messages hampered their receptivity to health messages in general.Conclusions. There is an urgent need to enhance awareness and facilitate hepatitis B vaccination among men who have sex with men. While further research is necessary, our findings indicate that numerous barriers to hepatitis B vaccination exist that may result in low vaccination rates. Prevention efforts would benefit from addressing these barriers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A qualitative research methodology with heuristic features was employed as a process of self-immersion, self-search, and reflection into the researcher's experiences as a gay man living in Wyoming. This was followed by in-depth, conversational interviews with eight additional gay men living in Wyoming. Focus was placed on the "here and now." The descriptions and examples provide a rich composite image of day-to-day experiences, while reflecting an outlook on life shaped by being raised, and living in, a rural environment. These gay men talk about being happy living in Wyoming even as they describe an environment which reflects the epitome of the "don't ask, don't tell" mentality. They discuss constantly being on guard, being a good neighbor and worker, and pushing the envelope. They talk about being close to family, interacting with a small core group of friends, and the informal, hard to find, gay community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article traces the depiction of professional discourse on homosexuality in "The Ladder," the first widely circulated lesbian publication in the United States. The views of medical and psychiatric professionals had an important effect on lesbians' conceptions of themselves and their sexuality in the 1950s and 1960s. In this context, the author notes that "The Ladder" shows evidence of changes in lesbians' acceptance of negative conceptions of homosexuality during the period 1956 to 1965. These changes are in part attributed to the increasing militancy of the homophile movement during the 1960s. The staff and readers of the publication were familiar with psychiatric and medical opinions about homosexuality, and in the early years of publication, they reported on radio shows, public lectures, and panel discussions and reviewed books by psychiatrists and other experts with very little editorializing. Some of the reports focused on whether or not homosexuality was a form of mental illness per se, or whether homosexuals tended to be neurotic or mentally ill because of the social pressures of living in a heterosexual world.

The article presents information on a descriptive empirical study that identified family dynamics associated with measures of family happiness for biological fathers, stepfathers, and adolescents in 48 European-American gay stepfamilies. Forty-eight European-American gay stepfamilies from throughout the continental United States comprised the sample. The family members who participated in the study were the biological father, the stepfather, and the oldest or only child of the biological father. Flyers introducing the researcher and asking for participation in the study were circulated to potential participants through clinicians, appropriate newsletters, and gay fathers' organizations. The study was described to potential participants as having two goals to develop an instrument appropriate for gay male families and to gather information about these families. The results of this study showed that the key family dynamics revolve around integration of the stepfather into the family and his relationship with his stepchildren, developmental processes that have been identified in heterosexual stepfamilies and secondly, the children are more closeted than the adults about their status as members of gay families, and get very little social support from friends or relatives.

Background: Representing the pathological extreme pursuit of muscularity, muscle dysmorphia (MD) is characterized by a pervasive belief or fear around insufficient muscularity and an elevated drive for muscularity. Despite evidence of elevated body image-related concerns among sexual minority populations, little is known about the degree of muscle dysmorphia (MD) symptoms among sexual minorities, particularly based on Muscle Dysmorphic Disorder Inventory (MDDI) scores. The objective of this study was to examine the nature and severity of MD symptoms in cisgender sexual minority men and women and provide community norms of the MDDI for these populations., Methods: Data from participants in The PRIDE Study, an existing study of health outcomes in sexual and gender minority people from the United States, were examined. Participants included cisgender gay men (N = 1090), cisgender bisexual plus (bisexual, pansexual, and/or polysexual) men (N = 100), cisgender lesbian women (N = 563), and cisgender bisexual plus women (N = 507). We calculated means, standard deviations (SD), and percentiles for the MDDI total and subscale scores for cisgender sexual minority men and women. We compared MDDI scores by sexual orientation using linear regression models, both unadjusted and adjusted for sociodemographics., Results: Overall, the sample was 85.2% White, 3.0% Asian or Pacific Islander, 2.0% Black, 0.5% Native American, 3.9% multiracial, and 6.6% Hispanic/Latino/a. The mean age was 38.6 (SD = 14.3) and 69.4% had a college degree or higher. Means (SD) for the MDDI total score were 27.4 (7.7) for cisgender gay men, 26.4 (6.4) for cisgender bisexual plus men, 24.3 (6.1) for cisgender lesbian women, and 24.6 (5.5) for cisgender bisexual plus women. There were no significant differences in MDDI scores between cisgender gay and bisexual plus men, or between cisgender lesbian women and bisexual plus women in unadjusted or adjusted models., Conclusions: These normative data provide insights into the experience of MD symptoms among cisgender sexual minority men and women and can aid researchers and clinicians in the evaluation of MD symptoms and interpretation of MDDI scores in sexual minority populations.

Illicit substance use poses a significant public health challenge in the United States. Certain populations are disproportionately impacted by substance use disorders. Men who have sex with men (MSM) have been shown to be three to four times more likely to report substance use compared to the general population. MSM also make up a disproportionate number of new cases of STIs. The impact of substance use disorders on STI and HIV infection risk has been well documented among this vulnerable population. Understanding the intersection of substance use and sexual risk is important to design effective interventions to reduce substance use and risk of STIs. However, little is known about the relationship between venues used to arrange sexual encounters including hook-up apps and substance use. This study describes the demographics and social network characteristics of MSM who presented to an STI clinic in Rhode Island including reported substance use and the primary hook-up venues used for meeting sexual partners. The results show that individuals using online venues to meet sexual partners were more likely to report substance use, indicating the possible utility of interventions using social media to address the unique vulnerability of STI and HIV infection for substance using MSM.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately affected by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and there is evidence that this population is participating in increasingly risky sexual behavior. These changes are occurring in the context of new modes of online social interaction--many MSM now report first meeting their sex partners on the Internet. Better monitoring of key behavioral indicators among MSM requires the use of surveillance strategies that capitalize on these new modes of interaction. Therefore, we developed an annual cross-sectional behavioral survey of MSM in the United States, the American Men's Internet Survey (AMIS). Objective: The purpose of this paper was to provide a description of AMIS methods. In addition we report on the first cycle of data collection (December 2013 through May 2014; AMIS-2013) on the same key indicators used for national HIV behavioral surveillance. Methods: AMIS-2013 recruited MSM from a variety of websites using banner advertisements or email blasts. Adult men currently residing in the United States were eligible to participate if they had ever had sex with a man. We examined demographic and recruitment characteristics using multivariable regression modeling (P<.05) stratified by the participants' self-reported HIV status. Results: In the AMIS-2013 round, 79,635 persons landed on the study page and 14,899 were eligible, resulting in 10,377 completed surveys from MSM representing every US state. Participants were mainly white, 40 years or older, living in the US South, living in urban areas, and recruited from a general social networking website. Self-reported HIV prevalence was 10.73% (n=1113). Compared to HIV-negative/unknown status participants, HIV-positive participants were more likely to have had anal sex without a condom with any male partner in the past 12 months (72.24% versus 61.24%, respectively; P<.001) and more likely to have had anal sex without a condom with their last male sex partner who was discordant/unknown HIV status (42.95% versus 13.62%, respectively; P<.001). Illicit substance use in the past 12 months was more likely to be reported by HIV-positive participants than HIV-negative/unknown status participants (39.17% versus 26.85%, respectively; P<.001). The vast majority of HIV-negative/unknown status participants (84.05%) had been previously HIV tested, but less than half (44.20%) had been tested in the past 12 months. Participants 18-24 years of age were more likely than those 40 years or older to have had anal sex without a condom with a discordant/unknown HIV status partner, were more likely to report substance use, and were less likely to have been HIV tested. Compared to general social networking, those from a geospatial social networking website were more likely to have reported all risk behaviors but were more likely to have been HIV tested. Conclusions: The first round of AMIS generated useful behavioral measures from more than 10,000 MSM Internet users. Preliminary findings identified some subgroups of MSM Internet users that are at potentially higher risk of HIV acquisition/transmission. AMIS will provide an ongoing data source for examining trends in sexual risk behavior of MSM. This will help to plan and monitor the impact of programs to improve this population's health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]