Sexual Orientation Change Efforts Through Psychotherapy for LGBQ Individuals Affiliated with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

This study reports the results of a comprehensive online survey of 1,612 current or former members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, many of whom engaged in psychotherapy to cope with (i.e., understand, accept, or change) their same-sex attractions. 

Data obtained from written and quantitative responses showed that therapy was initiated over a very wide age range and continued for many years. However, counseling was largely ineffective; less than 4% reported any modification of core same-sex erotic attraction. Moreover, 42% reported that their change-oriented therapy was not at all effective, and 37% found it to be moderately to severely harmful. In contrast, affirming psychotherapeutic strategies were often found to be beneficial in reducing depression, increasing self-esteem, and improving family and other relationships. 

Results suggest that the very low likelihood of a modification of sexual orientation and the ambiguous nature of any such change should be important considerations for highly religious sexual minority individuals considering reorientation therapy.

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By:  Kate Bradshaw^a, John P. Dehlin^b, Katherine A. Crowell^c, Renee V. Galliher^b & William S. Bradshaw^d*

^a English Department, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire, USA

^b Department of Psychology, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, USA

^c Department of Psychology, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington, USA

^d Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, USA

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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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Ecological Covariates of Subtle and Blatant Heterosexist Discrimination among LGBQ College Students

Sexual minority college students report experiencing interpersonal heterosexism, ranging from subtle insults to blatant physical violence. Such negative experiences can complicate developmental tasks common to adolescence and emerging adulthood. Studies examining the nature of heterosexism on college campuses have focused on blatant manifestations, yet subtle forms are more prevalent. 

Guided by ecological theory, we investigate the microsystem (e.g., perceived social support from friends, ambient heterosexism on campus), mesosystem (e.g., interaction between social support and ambient heterosexism), and macrosystem level (e.g., knowledge of gay-straight alliances on campus) covariates of interpersonal microaggressions, avoidance behaviors, verbal threats, and physical threats. 

Participants consisted of 530 self-identified LGBQ college students from 37 states. Regression results suggest that at the microsystem level, ambient heterosexism was positively associated with interpersonal microaggressions, avoidance behaviors, and verbal threats. 

At the mesosystem level, perceptions of LGBQ student support within one's institution moderated the effects of ambient heterosexism on three types of interpersonal heterosexism. At the macrosystem level, students who reported knowing that their campus had a sexual-orientation inclusive anti-discrimination policy reported encountering fewer verbal threats. 

Directions for future research and implications for campus programming are discussed.

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By: Hong JS1,2, Woodford MR3, Long LD4, Renn KA5.

• 1School of Social Work, Wayne State University, 4756 Cass Avenue, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA. fl4684@wayne.edu.
• 2Department of Social Welfare, Humanities and Social Science Campus, Sungkyunkwan University, 61505 Suseon Hall, 25-2 Sungkyunkwan-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea. fl4684@wayne.edu.
• 3Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, 120 Duke Street West, Kitchener, ON, N2H 3W8, Canada. mwoodford@wlu.ca.
• 4Michigan State University, 49 Abbot Road, MSU Union Room 326, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA. ldlong@msu.edu.
• 5Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education, Michigan State University, 620 Farm Lane - Room 425, East Lansing, MI, 48824-1034, USA. renn@msu.edu.

  

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