Face-ism and Objectification in Mainstream and LGBT Magazines

In visual media, men are often shown with more facial prominence than women, a manifestation of sexism that has been labeled face-ism. 

The present research extended the study of facial prominence and gender representation in media to include magazines aimed at lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) audiences for the first time, and also examined whether overall gender differences in facial prominence can still be found in mainstream magazines. Face-ism emerged in Newsweek, but not in Time, The Advocate, or Out. Although there were no overall differences in facial prominence between mainstream and LGBT magazines, there were differences in the facial prominence of men and women among the four magazines included in the present study. 

These results suggest that face-ism is still a problem, but that it may be restricted to certain magazines. Furthermore, future research may benefit from considering individual magazine titles rather than broader categories of magazines, given that the present study found few similarities between different magazines in the same media category—indeed, Out and Time were more similar to each other than they were to the other magazine in their respective categories.

Below:  Face-ism Indices of Men and Women in Two Mainstream and Two LGBT Magazines

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

By:  Nathan N. Cheek 

Department of Psychology, Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA, United States of America

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Bisexuality, Poverty & Mental Health: A Mixed Methods Analysis

Highlights

• Poverty is associated with poor mental health among bisexual people.
• Poverty is also associated with experiences of discrimination among bisexuals.
• Multiple pathways may link bisexuality, poverty, and mental health.
• Lack of affordable culturally competent services may sustain the disparities.

Bisexuality is consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes. In population-based data, this is partially explained by income differences between bisexual people and lesbian, gay, and/or heterosexual individuals. However, the interrelationships between bisexuality, poverty, and mental health are poorly understood. 

In this paper, we examine the relationships between these variables using a mixed methods study of 302 adult bisexuals from Ontario, Canada. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling to complete an internet-based survey including measures of psychological distress and minority stress. A subset of participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview to contextualize their mental health experiences. 

Using information regarding household income, number of individuals supported by the income and geographic location, participants were categorized as living below or above the Canadian Low Income Cut Off (LICO). Accounting for the networked nature of the sample, participants living below the LICO had significantly higher mean scores for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and reported significantly more perceived discrimination compared to individuals living above the LICO. 

Grounded theory analysis of the qualitative interviews suggested four pathways through which bisexuality and poverty may intersect to impact mental health: through early life experiences linked to bisexuality or poverty that impacted future financial stability; through effects of bisexual identity on employment and earning potential; through the impact of class and sexual orientation discrimination on access to communities of support; and through lack of access to mental health services that could provide culturally competent care. 

These mixed methods data help us understand the income disparities associated with bisexual identity in population-based data, and suggest points of intervention to address their impact on bisexual mental health.

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By:  Ross LE1, O'Gorman L2, MacLeod MA3, Bauer GR3, MacKay J4, Robinson M4.

• 1Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St. Room 560, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 3M7, Canada; Social & Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell St. Room T406, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R8, Canada. Electronic address: l.ross@utoronto.ca.
• 2School of Rural and Northern Health, Laurentian University, 935 Ramsey Lake Rd., Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 2C6, Canada.
• 3Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, Kresge Building Room K201, London, Ontario, N6A 5C1, Canada.
• 4Social & Epidemiological Research Department, Centre for Addiction & Mental Health, 33 Russell St. Room T406, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1R8, Canada. 
• Soc Sci Med. 2016 Mar 10;156:64-72. doi: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2016.03.009

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HIV Testing Practices & the Potential Role of HIV Self-Testing among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Mexico

The objective of this study was to characterize HIV testing practices among men who have sex with men in Mexico and intention to use HIV self-testing. 

In 2012, members of one of the largest social/sexual networking websites for men who have sex with men in Latin America completed an anonymous online survey. This analysis was restricted to HIV-uninfected men who have sex with men residing in Mexico. Multivariable logistic regression models were fit to assess factors associated with HIV testing and intention to use a HIV self-test. 

Of 4537 respondents, 70.9% reported ever having a HIV test, of whom 75.5% reported testing at least yearly. The majority (94.3%) indicated that they would use a HIV home self-test if it were available. Participants identifying as bisexual less often reported ever HIV testing compared to those identifying as gay/homosexual (adjusted odds ratio = 0.52, 95% confidence interval: 0.44-0.62). Having a physical exam in the past year was associated with increased ever HIV testing (adjusted odds ratio = 4.35, 95% confidence interval: 3.73-5.07), but associated with decreased interest in HIV self-testing (adjusted odds ratio = 0.66, 95% confidence interval: 0.48-0.89). 

The high intention to use HIV home self-testing supports the use of this method as an acceptable alternative to clinic- or hospital-based HIV testing.

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By:  Oldenburg CE1, Biello KB2, Perez-Brumer AG3, Rosenberger J4, Novak DS5, Mayer KH6, Mimiaga MJ7.

• 1Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA ceo242@mail.harvard.edu.
• 2The Fenway Institute, Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA, USA Departments of Behavioral & Social Health Sciences and Epidemiology and the Institute for Community Health Promotion, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA.
• 3Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
• 4Department of Biobehavioral Health, Penn State University, University Park, PA, USA.
• 5Online Buddies, Inc, OLB Research Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA.
• 6The Fenway Institute, Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA, USA Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA Department of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.
• 7Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA The Fenway Institute, Fenway Community Health, Boston, MA, USA Departments of Behavioral & Social Health Sciences and Epidemiology and the Institute for Community Health Promotion, Brown University School of Public Health, Providence, RI, USA. 
• Int J STD AIDS. 2016 Mar 27. pii: 0956462416641556.

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Adolescent Sexual Minority Girls Are at Elevated Risk for Use of Multiple Substances

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The Relationship Between Sexual Activity and Depressive Symptoms in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth: Effects of Gender and Family Support

There is considerable debate over whether adolescent sexual activity is maladaptive and associated with worse mental health outcomes versus a positive developmental milestone that is associated with better mental health outcomes. Although these perspectives are often pitted against one another, the current study employed a more integrative perspective: adolescent sexual activity may be maladaptive in certain contexts, but healthy in other contexts. 

We investigated whether family support and gender moderated the relation between sexual activity and mental health outcomes in a diverse sample of 519 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) youth. Specifically, we examined whether youth who engaged in more sexual activity would have fewer depressive symptoms in the context of a more supportive family environment, but more depressive symptoms in the context of a less supportive family environment and whether this effect was stronger for sexual minority girls. Consistent with the sexual health perspective, we found that among girls with more family support, those who engaged in more frequent same-sex sexual contact had lower levels of depressive symptoms. 

Unexpectedly, we found that among boys with more family support, those who engaged in more frequent same-sex sexual contact had higher levels of depressive symptoms. In contrast, girls and boys with less family support showed no relation between sexual activity and depressive symptoms. 

Overall, results suggest that context is critical when determining whether same-sex sexual contact among LGB youth should be considered maladaptive or beneficial.

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By:  Dickenson JA1, Huebner DM2.

• 1Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, Room 502, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112-0251, USA. janna.dickenson@psych.utah.edu.
• 2Department of Psychology, University of Utah, 380 South 1530 East, Room 502, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112-0251, USA. 

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Scrutinizing Immutability: Research on Sexual Orientation and U.S. Legal Advocacy for Sexual Minorities

We review scientific research and legal authorities to argue that the immutability of sexual orientation should no longer be invoked as a foundation for the rights of individuals with same-sex attractions and relationships (i.e., sexual minorities). 

On the basis of scientific research as well as U.S. legal rulings regarding lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) rights, we make three claims: 

• First, arguments based on the immutability of sexual orientation are unscientific, given what we now know from longitudinal, population-based studies of naturally occurring changes in the same-sex attractions of some individuals over time. 
• Second, arguments based on the immutability of sexual orientation are unnecessary, in light of U.S. legal decisions in which courts have used grounds other than immutability to protect the rights of sexual minorities. 
• Third, arguments about the immutability of sexual orientation are unjust, because they imply that same-sex attractions are inferior to other-sex attractions, and because they privilege sexual minorities who experience their sexuality as fixed over those who experience their sexuality as fluid. 

We conclude that the legal rights of individuals with same-sex attractions and relationships should not be framed as if they depend on a certain pattern of scientific findings regarding sexual orientation.

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By:  Diamond LM1, J Rosky C2.

• 1 Department of Psychology , University of Utah.
• 2 S. J. Quinney College of Law , University of Utah. 
• J Sex Res. 2016 Mar 17:1-29. 

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Place Matters: Contextualizing the Roles of Religion & Race for Understanding Americans' Attitudes About Homosexuality

As laws and policies related to homosexuality have evolved, Americans' attitudes have also changed. Race and religion have been established as important indicators of feelings about homosexuality. However, researchers have given almost no attention to how county characteristics shape Americans' attitudes. 

Using Hierarchical Linear Modeling techniques, we examine how personal characteristics and the religious and racial context of a county shape feelings about homosexuality drawing on data from the American National Election Survey and information about where respondents reside. 

We find that African Americans initially appear less tolerant than other racial groups, until we account for the geographical distribution of attitudes across the nation. 

Additionally, once we consider religious involvement, strength of belief, and religious affiliation African Americans appear to have warmer feelings about homosexuality than whites. Drawing on the moral communities' hypothesis, we also find that the strength of religiosity amongst county residents heightens the influence of personal religious beliefs on disapproving attitudes. 

There is also a direct effect of the proportion conservative Protestant, whereby people of all faiths have cooler attitudes towards homosexual individuals when they reside in a county with a higher proportion of conservative Protestants. 

Finally, we do not find any evidence for an African American cultural influence on attitudes.

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By:  Adamczyk A1, Boyd KA2, Hayes BE3.

• 1John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the Graduate Center, City University of New York, USA. Electronic address: AAdamczyk@jjay.cuny.edu.
• 2Department of Sociology, Philosophy, and Anthropology, The University of Exeter, UK.
• 3Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Sam Houston State University, USA. 
• Soc Sci Res. 2016 May;57:1-16. doi: 10.1016/j.ssresearch.2016.02.001. Epub 2016 Feb 8.

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Trajectories of Dating Violence: Differences by Sexual Minority Status & Gender

The purpose of this study was to examine how sexual minority status (as assessed using both identity and behavior) was associated with trajectories of dating violence. 

University students from a large Southwestern university completed questions on their sexual minority identity, the gender of their sexual partners, and about experiences of dating violence for six consecutive semesters (N = 1942). Latent growth curve modeling indicated that generally, trajectories of dating violence were stable across study participation. 

Sexual minority identity was associated with higher initial levels of dating violence at baseline, but also with greater decreases in dating violence across time. These differences were mediated by number of sexual partners. Having same and other-sex sexual partners was associated with higher levels of dating violence at baseline, and persisted in being associated with higher levels over time. 

No significant gender difference was observed regarding trajectories of dating violence.

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By:  Martin-Storey A1, Fromme K2.

• 1Département de Psychoéducation, Université de Sherbrooke, Pavillon A7, 2500 Boul. De L'Université, Sherbrooke, Quebec J1K 2R1, Canada. Electronic address: alexa.martin@gmail.com.
• 2Department of Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, 108 E Dean Keeton Stop A8000, Austin, TX 87812-1043, USA. 
• J Adolesc. 2016 Mar 16;49:28-37. doi: 10.1016/j.adolescence.2016.02.008.

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The National LGBT Cancer Action Plan: A White Paper of the 2014 National Summit on Cancer in the LGBT Communities

Despite growing social acceptance of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) persons and the extension of marriage rights for same-sex couples, LGBT persons experience stigma and discrimination, including within the healthcare system. 

Each population within the LGBT umbrella term is likely at elevated risk for cancer due to prevalent, significant cancer risk factors, such as tobacco use and human immunodeficiency virus infection; however, cancer incidence and mortality data among LGBT persons are lacking. This absence of cancer incidence data impedes research and policy development, LGBT communities' awareness and activation, and interventions to address cancer disparities. 

In this context, in 2014, a 2-day National Summit on Cancer in the LGBT Communities was convened by a planning committee for the purpose of accelerating progress in identifying and addressing the LGBT communities' concerns and needs in the spheres of cancer research, clinical cancer care, healthcare policy, and advocacy for cancer survivorship and LGBT health equity. 

Summit participants were 56 invited persons from the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada, representatives of diverse identities, experiences, and knowledge about LGBT communities and cancer. Participants shared lessons learned and identified gaps and remedies regarding LGBT cancer concerns across the cancer care continuum from prevention to survivorship. 

This white paper presents background on each of the Summit themes and 16 recommendations covering the following: sexual orientation and gender identity data collection in national and state health surveys and research on LGBT communities and cancer, the clinical care of LGBT persons, and the education and training of healthcare providers...

Recommendations

1. Add SOGI questions to all national health surveys and promote SOGI data collection in diverse healthcare settings so as to better understand psychosocial, behavioral, and medical risk factors that can increase LGBT persons' cancer risk and to examine health outcomes and disparities in each LGBT community.
2. Organize stakeholders and promote education within the NIH and its institutes, centers, and offices, and in particular the NCI, about the health and cancer needs of LGBT communities to arm with facts and sensitize decision-makers who help set scientific and funding priorities.
3. Overcome the gap in financial support of research to develop and test cancer prevention and control interventions targeted and tailored to LGBT communities by issuing research funding opportunities specific to the population.
4. Increase the amount of federal funding dedicated to LGBT cancer research. Furthermore, assure that career development and training grants for under-represented populations in the workforce include those identifying as LGBT and with potential for conducting high-quality cancer research with LGBT communities.ⁱ
5. Address the absence of SEER cancer registry data on SOGI. SEER should consider partnering with cancer researchers to pilot test such an effort, perhaps within a region or state, to identify and overcome barriers to standard collection of SOGI data.
6. Recognize intersectionality within the LGBT communities when conducting cancer research by assessing and examining the impact of SOGI, race, ethnicity, class, disability/ability, and other sociodemographic factors on cancer outcomes across the cancer care continuum.

Recommendations

1. Increase research to document elevated cancer risks and cancer screening disparities in LGBT communities.
2. Develop psychosocial and educational support groups specifically for LGBT survivors and caregivers, and when this is not feasible, assure the cultural competence of professional support service providers to better meet the needs of LGBT communities.
3. Improve care coordination for LGBT patients, survivors, and caregivers through the integration of LGBT community resources. These resources include culturally competent oncologists, primary care and specialty physicians, mental health providers, and other professional providers.
4. Educate healthcare providers about the unique cooccurring conditions that LGBT cancer patients may present in their care settings.
5. Ensure that palliative and end-of-life care addresses the specific legal and psychosocial needs of LGBT communities.
6. Support efforts to increase insurance coverage for LGBT communities, with a focus on the transition and cancer care needs of transgender communities.

Recommendations

1. Develop accreditation agency standards for the provision of culturally competent care to LGBT people and to assure professional training in LGBT cultural competence and health for providers of primary care, cancer screening and treatment, and cancer survivorship healthcare both during their academic training and for those already working in the field. This can be best accomplished by working with LGBT-focused organizations and other content experts in these areas.
2. Educate LGBT communities about their increased cancer risks and the importance of appropriate cancer screening and early detection through outreach by cancer experts through tailored lectures, print materials, internet content, mass media messaging, and other means that will effectively engage the community.
3. Increase representation of LGBT persons in leadership positions and throughout the workforce. The workforce pipeline draws from many streams, but for there to be greater LGBT representation at all levels of the cancer healthcare continuum and in health policy and research, efforts are needed to welcome, include, and develop the potential of LGBT persons within the under-represented populations in the workforce. This will entail collecting SOGI data to track the effectiveness of such efforts, as well as targeting for recruitment of LGBT-identified persons in academic and training programs and assuring that they will experience LGBT-affirmative environments and mentoring opportunities in their new settings.
4. Initiate a comprehensive effort to identify and modify healthcare organization policies that are not inclusive or pose barriers to patient-centered cancer care for LGBT persons. These policies may range from how to manage the comfort and confidentiality of transgender patients presenting for cancer screening based on gender-specific anatomy to providing culturally sensitive psychosocial support for LGBT cancer survivors. Systemic changes promoting equity in LGBT cancer care are more likely to be implemented when an independent prestigious organization advocates such changes and more so when mandated by an accrediting or certifying organization. Furthermore, by instituting collaborations with LGBT advocacy and professional groups, healthcare organizations can establish a lifeline when addressing internal LGBT-related policies, procedures, and patient concerns.

Full article at:   http://goo.gl/2Gl9sl

By:  Jack E. Burkhalter, PhD,1,* Liz Margolies, LCSW,2,* Hrafn Oli Sigurdsson, PhD, NP, PMHNP-BC,3 Jonathan Walland, LLB,4 Asa Radix, MD, MPH,5 David Rice, RN, PhD,6 Francisco O. Buchting, PhD,7 Nelson F. Sanchez, MD,8 Michael G. Bare, MPH,9 Ulrike Boehmer, PhD,10 Sean Cahill, PhD,11 Tomas L. Griebling, MD, MPH,12 Diane Bruessow, PA-C, DFAAPA,13 and Shail Maingi, MD14

¹Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

²National LGBT Cancer Network, New York, New York.

³Nursing Professional Development, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

⁴The Office of General Counsel, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

⁵Callen-Lorde Community Health Center, New York, New York.

⁶City of Hope, Duarte, California.

⁷Buchting Consulting, Oakland, California; Horizons Foundation, San Francisco, California.

⁸Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.

⁹Grassroots Change, Oakland, California.

¹⁰Department of Community Health Sciences, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts.

¹¹The Fenway Institute, Boston, Massachusetts.

¹²Department of Urology, School of Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, Kansas.

¹³Healthy Transitions, LLC, Stirling, New Jersey.

¹⁴St. Peter's Health Partners Cancer Care, Troy, New York.

Corresponding author.

^*Cofirst authors.

Address correspondence to:, Jack E. Burkhalter, PhD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY 10022,

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Barriers to Health Care among Adults Identifying as Sexual Minorities: A US National Study

OBJECTIVES:

To assess the extent to which lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 18 to 64 years experience barriers to health care.

METHODS:

We used 2013 National Health Interview Survey data on 521 gay or lesbian (291 men, 230 women), 215 bisexual (66 men, 149 women), and 25 149 straight (11 525 men, 13 624 women) adults. Five barrier-to-care outcomes were assessed (delayed or did not receive care because of cost, did not receive specific services because of cost, delayed care for noncost reasons, trouble finding a provider, and no usual source of care).

RESULTS:

Relative to straight adults, 

• gay or lesbian and bisexual adults had higher odds of delaying or not receiving care because of cost. 
• Bisexual adults had higher odds of delaying care for noncost reasons, 
• and gay men had higher odds than straight men of reporting trouble finding a provider. 

By contrast, gay or lesbian women had lower odds of delaying care for noncost reasons than straight women. 

• Bisexual women had higher odds than gay or lesbian women of reporting 3 of the 5 barriers investigated.

CONCLUSIONS:

Members of sexual minority groups, especially bisexual women, are more likely to encounter barriers to care than their straight counterparts

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

By:  Dahlhamer JM1, Galinsky AM1, Joestl SS1, Ward BW1.

1The authors are with the National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, MD

Am J Public Health. 2016 Mar 17:e1-e7.

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Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Heavy Drinking and Anxiety and Mood Disorders among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Canadians

OBJECTIVES:

To investigate the prevalence and co-occurrence of heavy drinking, anxiety, and mood disorders among Canadians who self-identified as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or heterosexual.

METHODS:

Pooled data from the 2007 to 2012 cycles of the Canadian Community Health Survey (n = 222 548) were used to fit logistic regression models controlling for sociodemographic characteristics.

RESULTS:

In adjusted logistic regression models, gay or lesbian respondents had greater odds than heterosexual respondents of reporting anxiety disorders, mood disorders, and anxiety-mood disorders. Bisexual respondents had greater odds of reporting anxiety disorders, mood disorders, anxiety-mood disorders, and heavy drinking. Gay or lesbian and bisexual respondents had greater odds than heterosexuals of reporting co-occurring anxiety or mood disorders and heavy drinking. The highest rates of disorders were observed among bisexual respondents, with nearly quadruple the rates of anxiety, mood, and combined anxiety and mood disorders relative to heterosexuals and approximately twice the rates of gay or lesbian respondents.

CONCLUSIONS:

Members of sexual minority groups in Canada, in particular those self-identifying as bisexual, experience disproportionate rates of anxiety and mood disorders, heavy drinking, and co-occurring disorders.

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By:  Pakula B1, Shoveller J1, Ratner PA1, Carpiano R1.

• 1Basia Pakula is a PhD candidate with the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Jean Shoveller is with the School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia and the Epidemiology/Population Health and Drug Treatment Program, BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver. Pamela A. Ratner is with the Faculty of Education and the Enrollment and Academic Facilities, University of British Columbia. Richard Carpiano is with the Department of Sociology, University of British Columbia. 
• Am J Public Health. 2016 Mar 17:e1-e7.

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