Exploring Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Queer (LGBQ) People’s Experiences with Disclosure of Sexual Identity to Primary Care Physicians

Background

It has been demonstrated that health disparities between lesbian, gay, bisexual and queer (LGBQ) populations and the general population can be improved by disclosure of sexual identity to a health care provider (HCP). However, heteronormative assumptions (that is, assumptions based on a heterosexual identity and experience) may negatively affect communication between patients and HCPs more than has been recognized. The aim of this study was to understand LGBQ patients’ perceptions of their experiences related to disclosure of sexual identity to their primary care provider (PCP).

Methods

One-on-one semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted, audio-recorded, and transcribed. Participants were self-identified LGBQ adults with experiences of health care by PCPs within the previous five years recruited in Toronto, Canada. A qualitative descriptive analysis was performed using iterative coding and comparing and grouping data into themes.

Results

Findings revealed that disclosure of sexual identity to PCPs was related to three main themes: 1) disclosure of sexual identity by LGBQ patients to a PCP was seen to be as challenging as coming out to others; 2) a solid therapeutic relationship can mitigate the difficulty in disclosure of sexual identity; and, 3) purposeful recognition by PCPs of their personal heteronormative value system is key to establishing a strong therapeutic relationship.

Conclusion

Improving physicians’ recognition of their own heteronormative value system and addressing structural heterosexual hegemony will help to make health care settings more inclusive. This will allow LGBQ patients to feel better understood, willing to disclose, subsequently improving their care and health outcomes.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/s3JWfn

By:   Marcus Law, Anila Mathai, Paula Veinot, Fiona Webster, and Maria Mylopoulos

Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Room 3157, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8 Canada

Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, 500 University Avenue, 5th Floor, Toronto, ON M5G 1V7 Canada

The Wilson Centre, 200 Elizabeth Street, 1ES-565, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4 Canada

Marcus Law, Phone: +416-978-4543, Email: ac.otnorotu@wal.sucram.

 

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The Whole Family Serves: Supporting Sexual Minority Youth in Military Families

Sexual minority youth in military families have a unique set of stressors that affect their mental, emotional, and physical health. There is a pronounced gap in data addressing the specific stressors of this population and how they interact to impact the health of the adolescent. 

The culture of the United States military has historically been heterosexist and homophobic, propelled primarily by policies that restricted the recruitment and service of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals, leading to a continued secrecy around sexual orientation that may affect how sexual minority youth within the community view themselves. 

Homophobia, social stigma, and victimization lead to significant health disparities among sexual minority youth, and youth connected to the military have additional stressors as a result of frequent moves, parental deployment, and general military culture. 

Primary care providers must be aware of these stressors to provide a safe environment, thorough screening, and competent care for these adolescents.

Purchase full article at:  http://goo.gl/YINBXA

By:  Gyura AN, McCauley SO.

Correspondence: Ashley N. Gyura, BSN, RN, School of Nursing, Columbia University, New York, NY.

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Heteronormativity and Sexual Partnering among Bisexual Latino Men

Our analyses address the question of how bisexual Latino men organize their sexual partnerships. Heteronormativity can be understood as the set of social norms and normative structures that guide sexual partnering among men and women. We provide descriptive statistics to describe bisexual Latino men's sexual partnerships. Logistic and linear regression modeling were used to explore bivariate and multivariate relationships. 

Of our total sample (N = 142), 41.6% had unprotected vaginal intercourse 2 months prior to the interview; 21.8% had unprotected anal intercourse with female partners; 37.5 % had unprotected insertive anal intercourse with male partners; and 22.5% had unprotected receptive anal intercourse with male partners. 

In our multivariate model, machismo was directly associated with meeting female partners through formal spaces (workplace, school, and/or church), but inversely associated with meeting male partners in formal spaces. Machismo was positively associated with meeting male sex partners through social networks (i.e., friendship and kinship networks). The more comfortable men were with homosexuality the less likely they were to meet men online and the more likely they were to meet men through social networks of friends and kinship. 

Interventions to reduce sexually transmitted diseases that target bisexual behavior as an epidemiological "bridge" of transmission from homosexual to heterosexual networks might very well benefit from a more complex understanding of how Latino bisexuality is patterned. Thus, this exploratory analysis might lead to a rethinking of how to address risk and vulnerability among Latino bisexual men and their sexual networks.

Via: http://ht.ly/SefUP 

By: Muñoz-Laboy M1, Garcia J, Wilson PA, Parker RG, Severson N.
1School of Social Work, Temple University, 1301 Cecil B. Moore Ave., 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19122, USA