Same-sex experiences are more prevalent than is thought. Individuals often engage in same-sex behaviours in order to understand their same-sex attractions, which may result in the incorrect integration of a homosexual or bisexual sexual identity. Same-sex behaviour may also lead to feelings of guilt and shame, and can result in confusion regarding sexual identity, which could ultimately influence the successful integration of a sexual identity (a key developmental task during adolescence) and subsequent stages of an individual’s life. This study investigated how young males experienced their sexual identity after having same-sex experiences. In order to better understand these experiences, this study also looked at sexual identity and its development from a psychosocial approach. In addition, this study also took a phenomenological approach into account to better understand how young males understand their same-sex experiences within their socio-cultural context. The qualitative research method was used because it aims to understand how people make sense of their everyday lives and foregrounds participants’ perceptions and experiences. When researching human behaviour, context and behaviour cannot be separated and therefore a phenomenological design was used. The population included five young males who lived in the Boland and Northern suburbs of the Western Cape and who have had same-sex experiences. The participants were selected utilizing the non-probability (convenient purposive) sampling technique, however, the sampling procedure also made use of snowball sampling. Biographically, the participants were between the ages of 18 and 24, and had different sexual orientations. The participants included black and white students who spoke Afrikaans or English, and originated from different provinces in South Africa. Data were collected through a two-part semi-structured interview. The first interview focused on questions about the participants’ sexual preference and identity, same-sex experiences and support system. During the second interview participants were asked to make a collage representing how they viewed their sexual identity with regards to the same-sex experiences they have had. This interview also focused on member checking. The collages and member checking served as forms of triangulation. Data were transcribed and analysed by means of a content analysis that focused on four main categories. These categories corresponded to four main questions that formed part of the first interview. The researcher concluded that each participant experienced his sexual identity and same-sex encounters differently and that none of them experienced the development of their sexual identity as ‘natural’ or as something that was present from birth. They all experienced confusion and conflict about their sexual preference because it was in contrast to their sociocultural context. Same-sex experiences were the result of confusion but also caused confusion and this confusion was mostly experienced in the earlier life stages. More research is needed on the heterosexual identity development of heterosexual identified individuals who have same-sex experiences, so that these individuals can also be accommodated within a sexuality. The development of programmes for therapeutic and/or educational purposes, that focus on the sexual identity and sexual identity development of adolescents, must also be considered in future research. / MA (Psychology), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Intimate partner violence (IPV) in sexual and gender minority relationships is an underexplored and misunderstood phenomenon. Much of what has been investigated has explored IPV from a heterosexual lens, without taking into account the complexities of these relationship dynamics. Further, outcomes of IPV traditionally focus on negative sequelae, such as depression or anxiety. In this study, we examined the propensity to forgive partner abuse as a means of adaptively coping with the trauma. Further, we looked at resilience as a possible factor in the process of forgiveness. We hypothesized that psychological resilience significantly moderates the forgiveness process in sexual and gender minorities who have experienced IPV. Our sample of 77 gender- and sexual-minority participants completed measures of psychological and physical IPV, resilience, and forgiveness. A regression analysis found our model accounted for 36% of the variance in forgiveness of self (adj. R2=.36, F (4, 72) = 10.34, p < .01) and 20% of forgiveness of others (adj. R2=.20, F (4, 72) = 5.01, p < .01). However, there was no significant moderating effect, nor was IPV a significant contributor to forgiveness. Results suggest trauma does not influence one’s likelihood to forgive, though some personal trait, such as resilience, is more likely to contribute to the forgiveness process. Implications are discussed.

Den här uppsatsen handlar om hur rapporteringen om registrerat partnerskap och könsneutralt äktenskap i svensk dagspress såg ut under perioden 1 januari till 31 mars 1995 respektive 1 maj till 31 juli 2009. Genom att jämföra hur samkönade relationer, äktenskap och familjebildning gestaltas i texterna under de båda tidsperioderna, har syftet varit att undersöka huruvida rapporteringen har förändrats i riktning mot en mer tolerant diskurs. Studiens frågeställningar rör bland annat förekomsten av olika former av uttryck för diskursiv diskriminering i texterna samt andelen positiva/negativa uttalanden. Studien utgår från ett socialkonstruktionistiskt perspektiv, och betraktar de dagliga medierna som betydelsefulla agenter när det gäller att befästa eller utmana diskurser om vad som betraktas som normalt avseende olika sociala grupper. 341 artiklar i svensk dagspress har undersökts med hjälp av kvantitativ innehållsanalys. Tjugo artiklar har också valts ut för en kritisk diskursanalys baserad på Norman Faircloughs modell och Kristina Boréus typologi över diskursiv diskriminering. Resultatet visar att negativa uttalanden om samkönade relationer inte är lika vanliga 2009 som de var 1995, och att representationerna har förändrats i riktning mot en större mångfald när det gäller könsfördelning såväl som olika former av sexuell orientering. Samma mönster kan ses när det gäller negativ andrafiering och förslag som pekar mot negativ särbehandling av samkönade par, vilka inte är lika vanliga 2009 som de var 1995. Den övergripande slutsatsen är att dagspressens rapportering om samkönade relationer har förändrats i riktning mot en mer tolerant diskurs. / This study examines the coverage of registered partnership and same-sex marriage inSwedish daily newspapers at two periods of time; 1995-01-01–1995-03-31 and 2009-05-01–2009-07-31. By comparisons between the representations of same-sex couples and the construction of the concept of marriage and family during the two periods, the aim has been to analyse whether the coverage of the topic has changed towards a more tolerant discourse. The questions raised concern for example the presence of different forms of discursive discrimination in the texts, and the frequency of positive/negative statements. The study is based on a social constructive perspective, and the assumption that the daily newspapers are important agents when it comes to maintaining or contesting the discourse on what is regarded as normal concerning different social groups. 341 articles in Swedish newspapers have been analysed using quantitative content analysis, and twenty articles have been selected for a critical discourse analysis based on Norman Fairclough’s approach and Kristina Boréu’s typology of discursive discrimination. The results show that negative statements about same-sex relations are less frequent in the texts 2009 compared to 1995 , and that the representations have changed towards a larger diversity concerning female and male same-sex couples as well as regarding different sexual orientations. The same pattern applies to negative other-presentation and proposals pointing towards unfavourable treatment of same-sex couples, which are not as visible in the daily newspapers in 2009 that it was in 1995. The overall conclusion is that the media coverage about same-sex couples has changed towards a more tolerant discourse.

Background: Men who have sex with men (MSM) are heterogeneous with respect to sexual behavior. We examined differences in sexual risk behaviors and HIV protective behaviors between men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) and men who have sex with men only (MSMO). Among MSMW, we also examined associations between partner gender and disclosure of same-sex attraction to sexual risk behaviors. Methods: Data for this analysis were from MSM who participated in National HIV Behavioral Surveillance (NHBS) in 2011 and 2014. Prevalence differences comparing MSMW and MSMO were calculated for demographics and behaviors. Adjusted prevalence ratios comparing MSMW to MSMO were calculated for the outcomes condomless sex, exchange sex, testing for HIV, and disclosure of same-sex behavior. Results: MSMW were less likely than MSMO to have condomless sex with male partners (aPR 0.77; 95%CI 0.73-0.80), to have been diagnosed with another STD (aPR 0.83; 95%CI 0.73-0.95), and to disclose their same-sex behavior to healthcare providers (aPR 0.72; 95%CI 0.69-0.76). However, MSMW were more likely than MSMO to engage in exchange sex (aPR 2.43; 95%CI 2.17-2.72) and to have ever injected drugs (aPR 2.00; 95%CI 1.76-2.28) Conclusions: MSMW have distinctive sexual risk behaviors and could benefit from tailored interventions to reduce the prevalence of HIV in this population.

Bakgrund Forskning visar att hälso- och sjukvården har ett övervägande heteronormativt synsätt och brister i bemötandet av personer utsatta för samkönat partnervåld. Betydligt fler HBTQ-personer som utsatts för partnervåld skulle enligt forskning sökt vård om de kunde förvissas om att bli bemötta på ett adekvat sätt baserat på kunskap om deras livsvillkor. Därför är det av stor vikt att genom djupintervjuer av våldsutsatta HBTQ-personer belysa hur de upplever bemötandet och hur de själva velat bli bemötta av hälso- och sjukvårdspersonal. Syfte Syftet var att belysa HBTQ-personers upplevelser av hälso- och sjukvårdens bemötande när de sökt vård på grund av samkönat partnervåld. Metod Enfallsdesign (Single Case Study Design). En (1) semistrukturerad djupintervju genomfördes och intervjun analyserades med kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats. Resultat Studien visar på åsidosättande av adekvat behandlings- och undersökningsmetodik och att råd och föreslagen behandling endast gavs i enlighet med den egna begränsade kompetensen. Studien visar även på bristande kunskaper om vad som särskiljer det samkönade partnervåldet gentemot heterosexuellt partnervåld hos hälso- och sjukvårdspersonalen. Vidare saknades anpassning av adekvata behandlingsåtgärder lämpade för situationen och okunskap kring remitteringsvägar. En osynlighet avseende hur initial och vidare kontakt upprättas framträdde och så även okunskap om vart personer utsatta för samkönat partnervåld kan vända sig för hjälp och stöd. Dessa brister i bemötandet ledde till personliga upplevelser av frustration, ambivalens, missförstånd, hopplöshet och osynlighet hos personer som söker vård på grund av samkönat partnervåld. Slutsats Det finns brister hos hälso- och sjukvården avseende bemötandet gentemot en person utsatt för samkönat partnervåld. Ökade kunskaper hos hälso- och sjukvårdspersonalen kring HBTQ-personers livsvillkor och det samkönade relationsvåldets praktik skulle förhoppningsvis leda till bättre bemötande och en personcentrerad vård och därmed ökad patientsäkerhet. / Background Previous research has shown that health care is permeated with heteronormative ideals resulting in sub optimal encounters with victims of same-sex domestic violence. According to previous studies, victims of same-sex domestic violence would be far more likely to approach health care services if they felt secure in health care service's knowledge and experience concerning LGBTQ-specific circumstances. It is therefore of upmost importance to highlight/report, through in-depth interviews, LGBTQ persons subjected to domestic violence, encounters with health care services.Aim The aim of this study was to highlight LGBTQ domestic violence victims’ experiences of encounters with health care services. Method Single Case Study Design. One semi structured in-depth interview was conducted with interviews analyzed through qualitative content analysis. Results Results of this study showed a lack of adequate treatment and examination methods as well. In addition, professional recommendations for treatment to the LGBTQ victims of domestic partner violence tended to be based primarily on the health care provider's own limited competence and knowledge of LGBTQ subject matter. Furthermore, health care providers' lack of knowledge concerning discrepancies between same-sex domestic violence and heterosexual domestic violence was identified. Additionally, there was an inability to adapt situation-appropriate treatment measures as well as a lack of knowledge concerning referral management. An apparent imperceptible lack of guidelines for facilitating initial and follow-up contact emerged as well as a lack of awareness concerning avenues of help and support for LGBTQ domestic violence victims. These shortcomings of professional treatment of LGBTQ persons resulted in feelings of frustration, ambivilance, confusion, despair, and a feeling of invisibility among LGBTQ persons seeking care for domestic violence. Conclusion There are deficiencies among health care personnel's ability to adequately treat a person subjected to same-sex domestic violence. Improved knowledge among health care providers concerning LGBTQ person's social determinants would hopefully lead to improved encounters and treatment with a person centered care, resulting in reinforced patient safety.

Bakgrund: I arbetet som barnmorska är det viktigt att bemöta alla på samma sätt utifrån deras individuella behov, oavsett deras sexuella läggning och familjekonstellation. Med tanke på den heteronormativitet som genomsyrar samhället kan man tänka sig att det även visar sig inom mödra- och förlossningsvård. Syfte: Syftet med studien var att belysa hur gravida och födande homosexuella kvinnor upplever barnmorskornas bemötande under graviditeten och efter barnafödandet. Metod: En kvalitativ metod och en kvalitativ innehållsanalys med induktiv ansats användes, Semistrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes med tolv homosexuella kvinnor som varit eller var gravida. Resultat: I resultatet framkommer det vad homosexuella kvinnor ser som ett gott respektive ett dåligt bemötande. Resultatet behandlar även barnmorskans bemötande gentemot medföräldern. Konklusion: De homosexuella kvinnorna i studien uppgav att ett gott bemötande från barnmorskor kunde vara att de bemöttes med respekt och att barnmorskorna fokuserade på graviditeten istället för på den samkönade relationen. Barnmorskors bemötande uppfattas som bättre om könsneutrala uttryck används. Medförälderns delaktighet i graviditet, förlossning och eftervård är något barnmorskor ska beakta och uppmuntra. / Background: In the work as a midwife it’s important to respond to everyone the same way based on their individual needs, regardless their sexual orientation and family constellation. Given the heteronormativity that permeates society, one can imagine that it also proves to maternity and obstetric care. Purpose: The purpose of the study was to explore how pregnant and birthing lesbian women experience midwifes response during pregnancy and after childbirth. Method: A qualitative approach and content analysis with inductive approach was used, semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve lesbian women who had been or where pregnant. Results: The result shows what lesbian women see as a good or a bad response. The result also addresses the midwife’s attitude towards the co-parent. Conclusion: The lesbian women in the study said that a good response could be that they where responded to with respect and that midwifes are focused on the pregnancy, instead of the same-sex relationship. Midwifes response is perceived as better if gender-neutral terms are used. The co-parents involvement in pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal care is something midwifes should consider and encourage.

When Donald Trump took the stage as the Republican presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention in July 2016, he made a historical appeal to LGBTQ Americans: to the boisterous applause of a Republican audience, he promised "to protect LGBTQ citizens from the violence and oppression of a hateful foreign ideology." Utilizing this historical moment as an indicator of shifting political views around LGBTQ rights in the Republican Party and the US nation-state as a whole, this paper links contemporary iterations of the War on Terror to the legalization of same-sex marriage in June 2015. Connecting same-sex marriage to the US nation-building project, I argue that the "dignity" newly available to certain queer folks via the institution of marriage makes possible an articulation of queer-defensibility that services a Republican investment in the aging War on Terror and the sustained targeting and hyper-surveillance of Muslims globally.

The aim of this study was to analyze and critically review how cohabited parents are represented in selected Swedish newspapers during three periods of time. We have conducted a critical discourse analysis and looked at how daily newspapers use the language based on social constructivism. As a power aspect we also used Foucault's power analysis as a theoretical starting point. In the study's results, we saw that the language used in the articles differs depending on the time period they had been published. In the result, we found three general themes that we analyzed: exercise of power within the discourse, norms and categorizations, as well as changes over time. During the years 1992-1993, different expressions were used against same-sex couples, compared to today. In 2002, the focus instead was on the adoption issue. In the later period, 2017-2018, the result showed that the policy took more place in the articles. Same-sex parents also expressed themselves in the media and they described how they still felt excluded in a society dominated by heterosexual norms.

Thesis advisor: John J. Michalczyk / The traditional concept of marriage for the purpose of procreation is being challenged by one of the smaller states, Massachusetts, with the advent of same-sex marriage. With the court decision in the landmark case Goodridge v. Department of Public Health (440 Mass. 309 [2003]), the Massachusetts courts were forced to provide equal marriage rights to homosexual couples. With marriage rights being debated, same-sex married couples began to look at the impact marriage would have on their economic status. The government quickly passed both DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act) in 1996 and FMA (Federal Marriage Act) in 2003 that specifically stated that same-sex marriages are not recognized within the federal government. Thus, homosexual married couples face problems economically in five areas: insurance and beneficiaries, taxes and governmental aid, estate planning and retirement, employee benefits, and children. Each of these areas has hurdles for same-sex couples; however, with guidance, some of these bridges may be crossed. In addition, one realizes that married homosexuals should have basic rights that are provided to heterosexual married couples. By looking at four different factual perspectives of homosexuals from Massachusetts, a more encompassing picture can be seen. By combining factual economics with humanistic qualities, same-sex marriage has a strong case in the courts. These new laws in Massachusetts are being compared to those of other states and the impact that this may have on the future. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2005. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: College Honors Program.

Thesis advisor: Donald Hafner / There is perhaps no issue more controversial in the so-called American culture war than that of gay marriage. In the last five years, four states have legalized same-sex marriages and several more appear poised to follow suit. This paper creates an analytical framework with which to evaluate the chances of successful gay marriage initiatives in any given state. Demographics, political institutions, and state-specific variables make up the three parts of the framework, which is then applied to three case studies in which gay marriage has already been addressed: Massachusetts, Vermont, and California. A fourth case, Maine, serves as a prediction state to test the validity of the framework. The paper’s conclusions indicate that, in the current political and cultural domain, there is a set of factors that tend to promote the legalization of gay marriage. The demographics of a population need to be such that they qualify as a “tolerant citizenry,” people who are hesitatingly accepting of gay marriage and can be persuaded to support that legalization. On the political side, a positive evaluation of gay marriage by the state supreme court that then passes on responsibility to the state legislature is the most conducive to legalization. The court provides the constitutional and legal grounds for gay marriage, while the legislature acts as an intermediary between the justices and the wider population. Finally, states in which the constitutions are difficult to amend, and which amendment procedures are controlled by the legislature, are the most likely to legalize gay marriage. The application of the framework to the three case studies illustrates this complex process. / Thesis (BA) — Boston College, 2009. / Submitted to: Boston College. College of Arts and Sciences. / Discipline: Political Science Honors Program. / Discipline: Political Science.