This cross-sectional study examined if heterosexist experiences (harassment/rejection, workplace/school discrimination, other) were associated with suicidality (suicidal ideation, suicide attempts) and symptoms of anxiety/depression, and if symptoms of anxiety/depression were associated with suicidality in a national sample of sexual minority men (SMM; N = 89). The study also examined if depression mediated the relationship between heterosexist events and suicidal ideation and whether active and disengaged coping styles moderated this relationship. All associations were significant and positive, with harassment/rejection and symptoms of depression generally independently associated with outcome variables. Symptoms of depression were a significant mediator of the harassment/rejection-suicidal ideation relationship; however, neither disengaged nor active coping moderated the mediation. Clinical research could focus on reducing symptoms of depression associated with heterosexist events in order to influence suicidal ideation in SMM. Other implications are discussed.

Studies of the information needs of library patrons are necessary in order for the library to serve the community. Alas, studies of non-heterosexual persons are rare in the field of Library and Information Science in Sweden. This study aims at examining the information situation of women in same-sexed parenthood by means of analysing their situation as norm-breaking. The study is done through examining the specific information needs of this group, how they seek and receive information, what barriers they encounter and what function the library has in this information situation. A queer theoretical approach to heteronormativity in combination with McKenzie’s two-dimensional model of information seeking is used to perform a qualitative analysis of the material. The material consists of semi-structured interviews of eight women in same-sexed parenthood. The empirical material is divided first in four categories: Information need, Information source, Information barrier and The library. The results show that the women have a great need for information, because of their norm-breaking family constellation. They need information which is not entirely heteronormative. In order to find this kind of information many different information sources are used, both formal and informal, though the sources intended for parents in general often are inadequate. The barriers the women encounter are a result of heteronormativity and their situation as non-heterosexuals. These barriers are also a problem in the library. They don’t use the library to find information about same-sexed parenthood partly because of the lack of non-heterosexual material, and refrain from asking the librarian for help. / Uppsatsnivå: D

This dissertation investigates the broad area of social hate discourse. It interrogates the intersections between sexuality and race, and in particular, the intersections between the practices of antisemitism and heterosexism in New South Wales. Using a specifically designed database (Tracking Violence), 1227 complaint files from the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry lodged between 1995 and 1999 were analysed for the features common to antisemitic and heterosexist maledictive hate. Of particular interest to this dissertation is the text and context of malediction, and whether the regulation of maledictive hate is an appropriate strategy in the elimination and prevention of hate violence.

The current study examined the effect of client sexual orientation and gender role on psychologists’ clinical judgment. A secondary purpose was to examine the extent that psychologist heterosexual identity development status affects the level of heterosexist judgment error displayed when working with lesbian and gay male clients. It was hypothesized that psychologists’ clinical decisions will differ as a result of client sex, client sexual orientation, and client gender role when therapist heterosexual identity development status is controlled for, with psychologists providing significantly different clinical judgments (as measured by diagnostic impression ratings, global and relational functioning ratings, and therapist reported client attractiveness) for lesbian and gay male clients and those displaying cross gendered gender roles than heterosexual female and male clients and those displaying gender-congruent gender roles. It was also hypothesized that psychologist heterosexual identity development status and client sexual orientation together are better predictors of the variation observed in psychologist clinical decisions than client sexual orientation alone. Eight hundred randomly selected members of the American Psychological Association, were presented with a clinical vignette describing fictions client seeking psychological services. The vignettes were identical except for client sex (female or male), sexual orientation (heterosexual or lesbian/gay), and gender role (feminine or masculine), which were manipulated to produce eight different vignettes. After reviewing the vignette, participants provided their diagnostic impressions of the client, rated the overall attractiveness of the client, and completed a measure designed to assess their level of heterosexual identity development. One hundred and thirty-five participants completed the study's materials and were included in the main analyses. Results of the randomized 2 (Client Sex) x 2 (Client Sexual Orientation) x 2 (Client Gender Role) multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA), controlling for psychologist heterosexual identity development status, found that psychologists significantly differed in their assessment of lesbian and gay male clients and heterosexual female and male clients on a variety of clinical factors. Results of a series of multiple linear regressions found that psychologist heterosexual identity development status and client sexual orientation together were better predictors of the variation observed in psychologist clinical decisions than client sexual orientation alone. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Recently theorists have argued that in-group members might respond more harshly to deviant members of their own group in comparison to deviant members of the out-group. Previous research has provided extensive support for this “black sheep effect”; however, no prior studies have examined how it affects individuals’ attitudes towards sexual minorities, or those perceived as deviating from the heterosexual norm. Numerous factors have been found to be linked to negative attitudes towards sexual minorities, including religious fundamentalism and the traditional male role norm of anti-femininity, and several studies have suggested that intergroup threat theory may serve as a possible explanation for sexual prejudice. The present study examines the association between several known correlates of sexual prejudice and intergroup threat theory, and examines the possible mediating effect of sexual prejudice on the association between anti-femininity, religious fundamentalism, and the “black sheep effect”.

This dissertation investigates the broad area of social hate discourse. It interrogates the intersections between sexuality and race, and in particular, the intersections between the practices of antisemitism and heterosexism in New South Wales. Using a specifically designed database (Tracking Violence), 1227 complaint files from the NSW Anti-Discrimination Board, the Lesbian and Gay Anti-Violence Project and the Executive Council of Australian Jewry lodged between 1995 and 1999 were analysed for the features common to antisemitic and heterosexist maledictive hate. Of particular interest to this dissertation is the text and context of malediction, and whether the regulation of maledictive hate is an appropriate strategy in the elimination and prevention of hate violence.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Melbourne, Dept. of Education Policy and Management, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 211-225).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of South Australia, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on May 1, 2005). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Melbourne, 2004. / Title from PDF title page (viewed on Dec. 15, 2005). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 331-374).

The internalization of heterosexism places lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals at disproportionately higher risks of depression and self-destructive behaviors. For LGB Christians, this phenomenon is often exacerbated. Although literature on heterosexism has increased, little research has examined more insular, religious environments. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between Christian denominational religiosity and heterosexism and to compare the degree of religiosity and heterosexism between members of 5 Christian denominations and between same-sex sexuality perspectives in the southern United States. Guided by the attribution theory, a correlational, cross-sectional survey design was used to analyze degree of religiosity and heterosexism among 225 self-identifying Christians as measured by the Religiosity Measure and Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale. A Pearson Correlation revealed a large, positive relationship between religiosity and heterosexism. Two ANOVAs revealed significant differences in degrees of religiosity among denominations and same-sex sexuality perspective, in addition to significant differences in degrees of heterosexism among denominations and same-sex sexuality perspectives. Implications for positive social change center on illuminating the effects of heterosexism in insular environments, which may contribute to the understanding of heterosexist ideology including heteronormative assumptions that are replete throughout the United States, including mental health professions. Moreover, LGB Christians may particularly benefit from understanding the variability and distinctions within denominational religiosity, such that denominational choices become evident and viable options.