The present study explored factors affecting vulnerability to depression among gay men and lesbian women in metropolitan Gauteng, South Africa. Risk factors consistently cited in the literature on depression among gay men and lesbian women, namely self-esteem, social integration, hate speech, physical victimisation, fear of victimisation and alcohol and drug abuse, were examined to determine their ability to predict vulnerability to depression. Data was collected from 385 participants who self-identified as lesbian or gay, using a purposive quota sampling technique to ensure representation across age, gender, race and socio-economic status lines. Participants were selected through gay and lesbian organisations, support groups, counselling centres, the gay and lesbian Pride Parade, an online questionnaire, and via snowballing techniques. Multiple regression analysis indicated that self-esteem and hate speech were the only significant predictors of vulnerability to depression. The regression model accounted for 21.7% of the variance in vulnerability to depression scores. / Psychology / M. Sc. (Psychology)

This short dissertation is an appraisal of same-sex marriages. The traditional arguments against same-sex unions are examined and rejected as being circular, unconvincing and baseless. Some of the international developments on the subject of same-sex unions are examined and it is noted that a slow but distinct change in attitude towards same-sex marriages is beginning to emerge from international judiciaries. The legal position of people with same-sex orientation in the South African legal system is examined with special reference to our Constitution. It is submitted that our Constitution is the foremost vehicle for legal change in this regard and that the equality clause of our Constitution is authority for the recognition by the law of same-sex marriages. This dissertation concludes that same-sex marriages ought to be fully accepted and recognised by the law for reasons, inter alia, of fairness and equality for people of same-sex orientation. / Constitutional, International & Indigenous Law / LL. M.

Thesis (MDiv (Old and New Testament))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / In present day society and the context within which we find ourselves, the word “marginalised” is not altogether uncommon, therefore the marginalised is on the rise. It is precisely the marginalised that feel the need to hide their true identity. Finding refuge in this option offers them some degree of protection against discrimination/discriminatory practices. This is all too common-place for homosexuals who often find themselves existing only on the fringes of society. Homosexuality is a highly contentious and emotional issue within most denominations, because it goes against most people’s beliefs. This begs investigation into how the homosexual person is dealt with/treated within society as well as how accommodating the Church of Christ is towards them. This dissertation deals with the “hermeneutics of inclusivity” – the acceptance of the homosexual person within the faith-communities, and the ethics surrounding “hospitality”. Acts 15: 1-29, the text which is being dealt with/studied, does not deal with homosexuality, rather it deals with the inclusion of the other/others. Many Christians today long to experience the munificent power of God, this is precisely why Acts is used in this discussion as it is a book that vibrates with life – God’s new life that He bestows upon His people through the Holy Spirit. Looking at Acts 15: 1-29, which speaks about Christian leaders’ meeting in Jerusalem, will aid me in discussing inclusivity and how to incorporate lesbigays, who are seen as “different”, into the extended family within God’s church. By virtue of the text and stories that Paul, Barnabas and Peter had shared with their followers, they had convinced the church that heathens that were not circumcised could still be included within the faith-community. These apostles delivered personal testimonies about the “signs and wonders” and how they also occurred and succeeded amongst the non-believers. This is precisely the type of testimony that the church needs for, and by its lesbigay followers. It is important that we create room for each other to truly live out our Christianity, to be receptive and open to each other, to accept each other as Jesus Christ and God loves and accepts each and every one of us – basically a space where we include everyone in the covenant with God, and the Word of God that asks us to love our neighbour as we love ourselves, as Christ loves us. This love is witnessed in the crucifiction of Christ. We all have a stake in this be it Jew or non-Jew, slave or free man, man or woman, heterosexual or homosexual. If God can include everybody in His love, then that should be the role of the Church, and of each Christian. We should be able to live as one big, happy family whilst serving our God. God’s love and grace excludes no-one.

Thesis (MEd )--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: During no other time in history have sexual minority individuals been the recipients of so much attention, scrutiny and unprecedented acceptance and inclusion into mainstream culture. However, despite advances and society's ever increasing tolerance toward sexual minorities, many individuals with alternative sexual orientations remain fearful of disclosing their sexuality. Consequently, adolescents often hide their alternative sexual orientation from others or disclose to only a select few. Adolescents with alternative sexual orientations face unique challenges, such as the coming out process, during which they must recognise, explore, define and disclose their orientation in a way that heterosexual individuals need not. Disclosure of an alternative sexual orientation is a struggle for most lesbian, gay and bisexual youth due to fears of discrimination, ostracism and violence from others. Despite a growing body of scientific literature on homosexuality in general, little is known about the disclosure process and its impact on an adolescent. This study seeks to help fill the gaps by giving voice to the adolescent by exploring the experience of disclosure. Furthermore, this study seeks to provide insight and knowledge to mental health professionals to aid adolescent clients throughout the disclosure process. This study's research methodology can be described as qualitative research which is embedded within an interpretive/constructivist paradigm. Purposive sampling was used to select five male and five female research participants. The methods of data collection that were employed comprised semi-structured individual interviews and reflective notes. Furthermore, content analysis was used to analyse the data. The findings of this study suggest that many unique issues besides the normative challenges that lesbian and gay adolescents share with heterosexual adolescents characterise their development. This research study suggests that there are several milestones that are characteristic of lesbian and gay identity development, the negotiation of which may hinder development in other areas. The male and female participants described a similar trajectory to coming out, consistently identifying a feeling of being different during early childhood which resolved into an awareness of same-sex attraction that concluded in their self-labelling as gay or lesbian. The findings of this study suggest that the process of disclosure is continuous and emergent. The reactions of parents ranged from extreme outrage and expulsion from the home to support and acceptance of the fact that their child had disclosed his/her homosexual orientation. From the findings of this study it would appear that the participants' parents were initially ill prepared and unable to support their child during his/her disclosure. The participants voiced various strategies to support an adolescent in the position of disclosing to family. There are several implications of this study's findings for mental health professionals working with lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents and youth. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die aandag, noukeurige betragting, aanvaarding en ongekende insluiting binne die hoofstroom van die kultuur wat tans deur seksuele minderheidsgroepe ervaar word, is ongekend in die geskiedenis. Ten spyte van vooruitgang en die toenemende verdraagsaamheid teenoor die seksuele minderheid in die samelewing, vrees diegene wat 'n alternatiewe seksuele oriëntasie toon steeds om hulself bloot te stel. Gevolglik hou adolessente dikwels hul alternatiewe seksuele oriëntasie geheim of onthul hulle dit slegs aan 'n uitgesoekte paar persone. Adolessente met 'n alternatiewe seksuele oriëntasie kom op 'n wyse wat nie vir heteroseksuele individue nodig is nie, voor unieke uitdagings soos die openbaarmaking van hul oriëntasie te staan wanneer hulle dit moet erken, verken, definieër en aan die moet lig bring. Die erkenning van 'n alternatiewe seksuele oriëntasie plaas die meeste lesbiese, gay en biseksuele jeugdiges voor 'n stryd vanweë die vrees vir diskriminasie, verstoting en geweld deur andere. Ten spyte van die algemene toenemende hoeveelheid wetenskaplike literatuur oor homoseksualiteit, is daar weinig kennis van die verklaringsproses en die impak daarvan op 'n adolessent. Hierdie studie poog om die ervaring van verklaring te ondersoek om die adolessent se stem te laat hoor en sodoende die kennisgaping te oorbrug. Verder poog die studie ook om insig en kennis aan professionele persone binne die gebied van die geestesgesondheid te bied, om hulle in staat te stel om adolessente kliënte met die verklaringsproses by te staan. Die navorsingsmetodologie wat vir die studie gebruik is, kan as kwalitatiewe navorsing binne 'n interpretiewe/konstruktiwistiese paradigma beskou word. Doelgerigte toetsing is ingespan om vyf manlike en vyf vroulike deelnemers vir die navorsingspoging te werf. Data is met behulp van semigestruktureerde onderhoude en reflektiewe notas ingesamel. Verder is inhoudsanalise gebruik om die data te ontleed. Die bevindings van die studie dui daarop dat die ontwikkeling van gay en lesbiese adolessente benewens die normatiewe uitdagings wat deur hulle sowel as heteroseksuele adolessente aangespreek moet word, ook deur unieke kwessies gekenmerk word. Hierdie navorsingstudie suggereer dat verskeie mylpale kenmerkend is van die ontwikkeling van lesbiese en gay identiteit en dat die bewerkstelliging daarvan ontwikkeling in ander areas kan stuit. Die manlike en vroulike deelnemers aan die studie het langs soortgelyke bane tot die verklaring van hul oriëntasie gekom en het die gewaarwording dat hulle tydens hul vroeë jeug reeds 'n gevoel dat hulle anders was konsekwent geïdentifiseer. Hierdie gevoel het tot 'n bewustheid van die aantrekking van dieselfde geslag ontwikkel en tot self-etikettering as gay of lesbies gelei. Die bevindings van die studie stel voor dat die verklaringsproses voortdurend en opdoemend van aard is. Die reaksies van ouers wissel vanaf uiterste verontwaardiging en verdrywing vanuit die tuiste tot ondersteuning en aanvaarding van die wete dat hul kind sy/haar homoseksuele oriëntasie verklaar het. Die bevindings laat blyk ook dat die ouers van die deelnemers aanvanklik gebrekkig voorbereid was en nie in staat was om hul kind tydens die verklaring te ondersteun nie. Die deelnemers het verskeie strategieë voorgestel vir die ondersteuning van 'n adolessent wat hom/haar op die punt van hierdie verklaring aan die gesin bevind. Die studie se bevindings het ook verskeie implikasies vir professionele persone wat binne die gebied van die geestesgesondheid met lesbiese, homoseksuele en biseksuele adolessente en jeugdiges te doen het.

Submitted by Irvana Coutinho (irvana@ufpa.br) on 2017-05-15T14:53:11Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Tese_RepresentacoesSociasUniversitarios.pdf: 5214846 bytes, checksum: a18b91ba2e513b779daa8af26f705831 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Irvana Coutinho (irvana@ufpa.br) on 2017-05-15T14:53:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Tese_RepresentacoesSociasUniversitarios.pdf: 5214846 bytes, checksum: a18b91ba2e513b779daa8af26f705831 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-15T14:53:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Tese_RepresentacoesSociasUniversitarios.pdf: 5214846 bytes, checksum: a18b91ba2e513b779daa8af26f705831 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-08-25 / Este estudo tem como objetivo discutir e analisar as representações sociais de universitários de sexualidades LGBT (Lésbicas, Gays, Bissexuais, Travestis, Transexuais e Transgêneros) sobre os seus processos de escolarização e as implicações deste percurso em seus projetos de vida. Para tanto, foram escolhidos quatro sujeitos que se autodeclararam com as identidades sexuais de acordo com a disposição da sigla LGBT, ou seja, uma mulher lésbica, um jovem gay, um bissexual e uma mulher transexual. Inicialmente situamos a questão LGBT no panorama atual, bem como sua origem e especificidades. Em seguida questões sobre educação, diferença e escolarização são problematizadas por todo o estudo assim como apresentamos individualmente as principais características da Teoria das Representações Sociais e da Teoria Queer, para depois tentar aproximá-las teórica e metodologicamente. Buscamos entender primeiramente as suas trajetórias escolares dividindo-as em três etapas: ensino fundamental, médio e superior, as quais chamamos de primeira, segunda e terceira escolarização, respectivamente. Suas trajetórias escolares foram analisadas a partir do referencial teórico e epistemológico da Teoria das Representações Sociais com base em Moscovici (2003; 2002) e Jodelet (1989) e o referencial teórico metodológico da Teoria Queer a partir dos estudos de Butler (2014; 1993). Nosso estudo é uma pesquisa descritiva, qualitativa e interpretativa e como método de pesquisa nos utilizamos parcialmente do referencial de análise do Discurso do Sujeito Coletivo (DSC) proposto por Lefevre e Lefevre (2012; 2005) bem como a própria Teoria Queer também enquanto referencial metodológico. Como resultado, percebemos que os sujeitos analisados possuem consensos e partilhas sobre as imagens e os sentidos atribuídos à escola e à sua sexualidade, buscando na escolarização uma forma de legitimação de si e empoderamento como compensação dos enfrentamentos que impactaram em seus projetos de vida. / This study aims at discussing and analyzing the social representations of LGBT university students (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual and Transgender) on their educational processes and the implications of this trajetory in their life projects. In order to do this, four people were chosen based on their specific sexual identities according to the terms of LGBT acronym, i.e. a lesbian woman, a young gay man, a bisexual and a transsexual woman. Initially we situate the LGBT issues in the current scenario as well as their origin and basic characteristics. Then, questions about education, difference and schooling are problematized throughout the study as well as we present specifically the main features of the Social Representation Theory and Queer Theory, and then we try to compare both in terms of theoretical and methodological backgrounds. We firstly intend to comprehend their learning paths dividing them into three stages: basic, secondary and higher formal education, which we call the first, the second and the third schooling process, respectively. Their school trajectories were analyzed from the theoretical and epistemological framework of Social Representation Theory based on Moscovici (2003; 2002) and Jodelet (1989) and methodological theoretical framework of Queer Theory from Butler's studies (2014; 1993). This study can be considered a descriptive, qualitative and interpretative research, and concerning to the research method in use, part of the analytical framework of the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) proposed by Lefevre and Lefevre (2012; 2005) is taken into account as well as the Queer Theory as methodological framework. As a result, we realize that the analyzed students are consensual by the sharing of images and meanings attributed to school and to their sexual identities, and they also try to reach ways of being legitimised by themselves, looking for in education a significant empowerment as a compensation for the school clashes which surely impacted on their life projects.

Using the perspectives of individualism-collectivism, Social Cognitive Theory and other concepts such as gay community attachment, this study focused on issues of homosexual identification, disclosure and sexual risk practices in relation to cross-cultural differences among gay Asian and Caucasian men in Sydney. Mostly recruited from gay social venues, 19 gay Asian men participated in exploratory focus groups discussions, another 201 gay Caucasian and 199 gay Asian men completed an anonymous questionnaire, and a further 10 gay Caucasian and 9 gay Asian men took part in in-depth one-to-one interviews. The major findings were: gay Asian men tended to experience conflict, in being both gay and Asian, related to individualism and collectivism; the gay Asian and Caucasian men differed in various aspects of homosexual practice, but shared certain sexual traits and practices; self-efficacy in safe sex and gay community attachment were key factors associated with gay men???s sexual risk practices (???risk??? being defined as unprotected anal intercourse with any casual partners or with a regular partner whose HIV status was not concordant with the participant???s). This study provides evidence that the inclusion of individualism-collectivism, social cognitive variables and gay community factors in the examination of homosexual identity and practice among men of different cultural backgrounds holds promise. It further suggests that educational programs to encourage safe sex will continue to yield benefits from increasing individual awareness, confidence and ability to effectively deal with situations that could pose risks of HIV transmission.

Not available / text

Using the perspectives of individualism-collectivism, Social Cognitive Theory and other concepts such as gay community attachment, this study focused on issues of homosexual identification, disclosure and sexual risk practices in relation to cross-cultural differences among gay Asian and Caucasian men in Sydney. Mostly recruited from gay social venues, 19 gay Asian men participated in exploratory focus groups discussions, another 201 gay Caucasian and 199 gay Asian men completed an anonymous questionnaire, and a further 10 gay Caucasian and 9 gay Asian men took part in in-depth one-to-one interviews. The major findings were: gay Asian men tended to experience conflict, in being both gay and Asian, related to individualism and collectivism; the gay Asian and Caucasian men differed in various aspects of homosexual practice, but shared certain sexual traits and practices; self-efficacy in safe sex and gay community attachment were key factors associated with gay men???s sexual risk practices (???risk??? being defined as unprotected anal intercourse with any casual partners or with a regular partner whose HIV status was not concordant with the participant???s). This study provides evidence that the inclusion of individualism-collectivism, social cognitive variables and gay community factors in the examination of homosexual identity and practice among men of different cultural backgrounds holds promise. It further suggests that educational programs to encourage safe sex will continue to yield benefits from increasing individual awareness, confidence and ability to effectively deal with situations that could pose risks of HIV transmission.

"A Master's paper submitted to the faculty of the School of Information and Library Science of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Library Science." / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 21, 2006). Includes bibliographical references (p. 22-23, 28-33).

Made available in DSpace on 2010-04-20T20:48:25Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 3 71050100666.pdf.jpg: 20494 bytes, checksum: 8333bd3ae66ca7fad9f78cef2e970df2 (MD5) 71050100666.pdf: 1238997 bytes, checksum: 1e4b53f618cae75498567a1134e4105d (MD5) 71050100666.pdf.txt: 745247 bytes, checksum: 60d372a039a05439ca15e410a03a0c70 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-09-05T00:00:00Z / The object of this research is to understand the impact of the multiple sexual orientations on the organizations and how this diversity is perceived by the homo, bi and heterosexual employees. Ontologically, this study uses the critical postmodernism, specifically the Queer Theory, which deconstructs all conventional categories of sexuality and gender. The field research consisted of four visits to 13 large companies, in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, between July 2005 and November 2007, as well as 95 interviews, divided in four groups. The first one was composed of heterosexual and the second of homo and bisexual individuals, who were informed of the real object of this research. As a discrepancy of what the heterosexuals said during the interviews and their attitudes in the work environment as well as their comments to other heterosexuals was observed, a control-research was also carried out. Two othe groups – one of heterosexuals and the other of homo and bisexuals – were interviewed; nevertheless, they were informed that the object of the research was to study health in the workplace. The fieldnotes as well as the interviews were transcripted and submitted to discourse and conversational analyses. The findings were presented in five sections: the individual dimension, the social dimension, the workplace environment itself, the psychosomatic costs and, finally, the outcome of the research on health at the workplace. This study revealed that, when questioned about discrimination at the workplace, gays, lesbians and bisexuals tend to recognize the existence of such practices, as well as advocate that they also have been a victim of such. On the other hands, the heterosexuals tend to minimize the existence of such practices, as well as deliver a politically-correct speech. Notwithstanding, it was clear that the heterosexuals have introjected the masculine hegemonic paradigm, which was been built historically through social practices and, discriminatory attitudes and comments are disguised by the Brazilian sense of humour and informality. On the other hand, the research that was guided by the investigative question on health at the workplace revealed that, as the were not being confronted directly, the heterosexuals felt more at ease to express themselves, using homophobic expressions and referring to discriminatory practices. Yet, the homo and bisexuals attained to the question of health itself and, rarely, did they refer or mention discriminatory practices in the workplace. At the bottom line this study confirmed that the sexual orientation per se is only a component of an individual’s personality and, although it may be the ground for prejudice and discrimination, these practices are also caused due other factors such as gender, race, and social status. / Este estudo tem por objetivo apreender como a diversidade de orientação sexual se manifesta e é percebida nas organizações brasileiras. Ontologicamente, o mesmo se valeu da pós-modernidade crítica, especificamente da Queer Theory, a qual traz no seu bojo a desconstrução de todas as categorias convencionais de sexualidade e gênero. A pesquisa de campo se dividiu em 4 visitas a treze grandes empresas, no Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo, entre julho de 2005 e novembro de 2007, e a entrevistas com 95 indivíduos hétero, homo e bissexuais, divididos em quatro grupos. O primeiro foi composto por heterossexuais e o segundo por homo e bissexuais, que foram informados sobre o real objeto da pesquisa. Como foram observadas discrepâncias entre o que os heterossexuais declararam na entrevista e seus comportamentos no ambiente de trabalho, bem como comentários em grupo, foram trabalhados dois grupos de controle. O primeiro, composto por heterossexuais e o segundo, por homo e bissexuais, aos quais foram informados que o objetivo da pesquisa era a questão da saúde no ambiente de trabalho. As anotações de campo e as entrevistas foram transcritas e submetidas à análise do discurso e análise conversacional. As revelações da pesquisa de campo foram apresentadas em 5 partes: a dimensão individual, na qual se analisou o que significa não ser heterossexual; a dimensão social; o ambiente de trabalho em si; a estratégia de não assumir publicamente a orientação sexual e, finalmente, os resultados da pesquisa-controle feita tendo a saúde organizacional como pergunta investigativa. Este estudo revelou que, quando perguntados sobre práticas discriminatórias em função da orientação sexual, os homo e bissexuais masculinos e femininos, em sua maioria, confirmaram a existência das mesmas na sociedade e no ambiente de trabalho,bem como afirmaram já terem sido vítimas. Já os heterossexuais apresentaram um discurso politicamente correto e minimizaram a existência das mesmas. No entanto, ficou evidente que este último grupo, reproduzindo a lógica da hegemonia masculina, introjetou os estereótipos dos homossexuais, os quais foram construídos socialmente. Não raramente, esta discriminação é mascarada pelo senso de humor. Por outro lado, na pesquisa que teve como questão investigativa a saúde no ambiente de trabalho, os heterossexuais não hesitaram em externar mais sua visào heterocêntrica; os homo e bissexuais, por sua vez, não focaram as suas falas em práticas discriminatórias. No limite, em comum, ficou patente que a orientação sexual de um indivíduo, por si só, é apenas um dado categórico, que não necessariamente é fator isolado de discriminação, já que esta também abrange questões como gênero, etnia, classe social e senso estético.