The term gay is a term used to describe homosexual people. Gay originally meant bright and cheerful, but it is now used to refer to a person who has a homosexual trait.
Lesbians and gay men
Lesbians and gay men experience a range of prejudices and discrimination. While most studies have focused on North America, there is a paucity of data for Europe. However, the prevalence of anti-lesbian and gay violence is well documented in the literature.
Historically, the term homosexual has been associated with criminal behavior and mental illness. Recent research has focused on addressing internalized homophobia. This is the psychological fear that exists within the gay and lesbian community, which can lead to health complications.
Internalized homophobia has been studied in the context of HIV prevention, coping, and gay men’s health experiences. It can lead to a variety of defense mechanisms such as self-harm. Health professionals should be aware of the risks that exist in this group, including substance misuse.
A recent study assessing the validity of the Attitudes Toward Lesbians-Short Version (ATLG-S) showed a high level of internal consistency. The data was collected in 2008-2009, as part of a larger study. Herek chose five items from each subscale that were highly correlated with the ATLG global score.
Sexual issues in the mass media
The media has a major influence on the development of GLB identities. Traditionally, the GLB identity development process has been conceptualized as a dynamic and contextual process, mediated by historical and cultural factors.
As such, understanding how the news media relates to LGB people is essential. To understand the effects of the media, researchers studied the attitudes and practices of a sample of journalists. They also interviewed 15 LGB individuals.
The results of this study show that the role of media in the GLB identity development process is critical. Specifically, media role models can serve as sources of inspiration and comfort. However, negative depictions of GLB people can also have harmful effects.
Many respondents have indicated that they have felt negatively impacted by negative portrayals of LGB individuals. This can limit their opportunities to live their lives. Some believe the media has failed to support them. Despite this, many LGB individuals still want to use the media to fight social exclusion.
Discrimination in the workplace
If you’re a gay or lesbian, you’ve probably encountered discrimination on the job. That’s bad news, since it diminishes productivity and job satisfaction. And it can lead to depression and anxiety.
The American Civil Rights Act of 1964, commonly referred to as Title VII, prohibits discrimination against gays and lesbians based on sexual orientation. Since then, many state legislatures and cities have adopted nondiscrimination laws, and federal law protects gay men and women from discrimination in employment.
According to the ACLU, more than half of all LGBTQ employees have experienced some form of harassment on the job. This includes being denied a job, being demoted, or being harassed.
In the wake of a recent Supreme Court ruling, employers can now feel confident that they don’t have to worry about discriminating against their employees because of their sexual orientation. But they need to know what to do.
The best way to ensure equal treatment for all is to put a nondiscrimination policy in place. This can include gender policies, a policy to handle sexual harassment, and other measures to eliminate discrimination on the job.
Rights to education
If you’re a parent of a student who is gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, you may want to learn more about the rights of LGBTQ students. Increasing awareness of these issues has led to scholarly research, case law, and policymaking. While many laws are focused on private schools, public schools are also legally required to protect LGBTQ students.
A study from the Duval County school district in Jacksonville, Florida, shows that almost one in three high schoolers who identify as LGBTQ are attempting suicide. Additionally, a survey indicates that nearly 60 percent of LGBTQ students in the district feel sad. Currently, the laws in Florida and other states that have enacted anti-LGBTQ policies have left these students feeling like they’re under siege.
Several new bills have been introduced in the state legislature. Many of these bills limit access to sports teams, restrooms, and medical care for transgender children. Others seek to ban books and lessons that normalize gay and lesbian lifestyles.