Does Internalized Heterosexism Moderate the Link Between Heterosexist Events and Lesbians' Psychological Distress?

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between heterosexist events and various indices of psychological distress in lesbians. In addition, it examined the potential moderating role of internalized heterosexism in the link between heterosexist events and psychological distress. Furthermore, psychometric support for the Heterosexist Harassment, Rejection, and Discrimination Scale (HHRDS) developed for this study is provided. Consistent with feminist theory and previous research, results indicated that recent perceived heterosexist harassment, rejection, and discrimination correlated positively with several indices of psychological distress. Contrary to research on gay men, internalized heterosexism did not moderate the relationship between external heterosexism and lesbians' psychological distress. Dawn M. Szymanski is in the community counseling program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis.     

When Does Sexuality‐Based Discrimination Motivate Political Participation?

The established consensus in political behavior research is that discrimination by political institutions motivates marginalized groups to vote and protest their conditions. However, existing studies miss a comparison between states with high and low levels of political discrimination, and they miss a comparison between states before and after the development of opportunities for groups to mobilize. In particular, a growing body of research shows that sexual‐minority groups face discrimination to varying degrees across Europe. Sexual minorities in states with high levels of discrimination lack the support of other minority‐group members, which encourages political participation. The analysis is based on surveys of 30 European countries, conducted before and after the 2004 European Union enlargement, which provided a stronger political‐opportunity structure for sexual minorities in Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe and Western Europe provided contexts with relatively high and low levels of sexuality‐based discrimination, respectively. In Western Europe, those who report sexuality‐based discrimination exhibited higher levels of participation, in comparison to those who did not report discrimination. In Eastern Europe, those who report sexuality‐based discrimination exhibited lower levels of participation before the 2004 enlargement, but they did not exhibit these lower levels after the 2004 enlargement.     

Hertzmann,Leezah & Newbigin,Juliet (Eds.). Sexuality and Gender Now: Moving Beyond Heteronormativity. The Tavistock Clinic Series. London: Routledge. 2019. Pp. 358. Pbk. £29.99.

In this paper the author argues that trans-identification and its associated medical treatment can constitute an attempt to evade experiences of psychological distress. This occurs on three levels. Firstly, the trans person themselves may seek to evade dysregulated affects associated with such experiences as attachment trauma, childhood abuse, and ego-alien sexual feelings. Secondly, therapists may attempt to evade feelings, such as fear and hatred, evoked by engaging with these dysregulated affects. Thirdly, we, as a society, may wish to evade acknowledging the reality of such trauma, abuse and sexual distress by hypothesizing that trans-identification is a biological issue, best treated medically. The author argues that the quality of evidence supporting the biomedical approach is extremely poor. This puts young trans people at risk of receiving potentially damaging medical treatment they may later seek to reverse or come to regret, while their underlying psychological issues remain unaddressed.     

年轻男同性恋者内化同性恋嫌恶与主观幸福感的关系：自尊与孤独感的中介效应

通过网络抽样法,采用内化同性恋嫌恶量表、自尊量表、孤独感量表、主观幸福感量表对249名年轻男同性恋者进行调查,考察当代国内年轻男同性恋者内化同性恋嫌恶的现状,并探讨内化同性恋嫌恶与主观幸福感的关系及自尊与孤独感在其间的中介效应。结果表明：（1）总体上,国内年轻男同性恋者内化同性恋嫌恶处于中等偏低水平,且有较大比例年轻男同性恋者不存在内化同性恋嫌恶。（2）内化同性恋嫌恶与积极情感、生活满意度显著负相关,与消极情感显著正相关。（3）自尊与孤独感在内化同性恋嫌恶与主观幸福感间起完全中介作用。（4）内化同性恋嫌恶通过影响自尊间接影响孤独感,又通过影响孤独感作用于主观幸福感。     

‘Coming out’ in therapy? Perceived risks and benefits of self‐disclosure of sexual orientation by gay and lesbian therapists to straight clients

Primary objective: The study's primary objective was to investigate the experiences of gay and lesbian therapists, when considering self‐disclosure of their sexual orientation to straight (i.e. heterosexual) clients. This qualitative study set out to ascertain the key factors gay therapists take into account when considering this decision and to explore the effects this self‐disclosure may have on themselves, their clients and their therapeutic relationships. Research design: The research design was based on the use of semi‐structured interviews, undertaken with a non‐random, purposive sample of counsellors and psychotherapists (n=8) in current practice. The rationale for this method was to aid exploration of therapists' experiences of the process of self‐disclosure. Methods and procedures: Inclusion criteria were for therapists who self‐identified as being gay or lesbian, and who were experienced in clinical work with straight clients. Transcribed data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Main outcomes and results: Some therapists reported being confident with self‐disclosure relating to their own sexual orientation. However, a common theme related to the reportedly high levels of anxiety and vulnerability, which therapists identified. Key themes emerged around: respondents' fears of client judgement; a need for therapist self‐protection; self‐awareness of the potential impact of their own fears and prejudices on the therapeutic relationship; and the potential relevance of internalised homophobia, as an overall constraining factor. Conclusions: Self‐disclosure of their sexual orientation to straight clients is constructed, in this initial survey, as being potentially problematic and risky for some gay therapists.