The Importance Of Sexual Identity Development

The LGBT young adults and adolescents were the two populations that were selected in this participatory research. They selected participants who matched their study based on age (21-25), self-identification to ethnicity to LGBT and having a minimal of one parent during the adolescence LGBT life experience. The LGBT young adults that were enlisted was taken sampled of 245 Latino and

Cultural Stigma surrounding mental health is predominantly prevalent in Latinx communities. Correspondingly, queerness is viewed as a social taboo in Latinx communities. Therefore, this social and cultural dynamic creates many mental health issues and disparities within the LGBTQI Latinx community. For instance, “Latinos underutilize mental health services (MHS) in the U.S. due to a number of socio-economic and cultural barriers that decrease their access to these services” (Rastogi, 2012). In fact, the socio-economic barriers are systematic and target marginalized communities due to the social hierarchy and inequities ingrained in our system. LGBTQI Latinx communities are prone to endure the structural inequalities and discrimination because

Have you ever wondered how sexuality is viewed in the eyes of a different culture? Since America is a melting pot specifically with the Latino culture we have and is a very diverse country, it still carries culture identity. When you have a set cultural ideology for example the Latino Culture ideology, it sets the rules and norms for gender and sexual identity. In this essay we will be talking about how religious aspects of the Latino/a culture are affecting how people view sexual orientation. How religion in the Latino culture creates a discrimination against homosexuality and non-gender norms. This topic was chosen because I believe it is interesting how some cultures are used to believing that certain rituals and big events have to be within a man and a woman and cannot be both. I have personally witnessed how sexuality does affect the Latino culture; and has been involved in the rituals that make it so heteronormative. Through evidence of religious cultures, gendered identities and family structures we will see how religion in the Latino culture shapes and forms sexuality. I will be examining how Catholicism shapes cultural norms for sexual orientation and gender identity, how heteronormativity is reinforced as the main stream within the religious Latino culture and how it is insensitive towards homosexuality. How having family and social circles that are used to a culture around are perpetuating gender identity against sexuality.

For my immersion paper I would like to write about the Latino LGBT community. This would be a great opportunity to immerse myself in a group that has had a history of oppression and recently has been involved in major civil movement towards equality. As I have previously mentioned in class, my 18-year-old brother is gay and has had a difficult time finding comfort in his environment. It was as if he had to go through a period of re-socialization to adapt a to a new role as a gay man. Being raised in a culture that shames homosexuality has strained my brother’s relationship with our nuclear family and his community as a whole. I would like to see how the Latino American LGBT community deals with the dichotomy between their culture/ethnicity

In recent years, society has become more accepting towards the LGBTQ community; however, it is of vital importance to explore and understand why different races with differed cultural backgrounds and religious beliefs approach the subject in an adversely manner. Minorities, specifically Latinos and African Americans, tend to have a completely different experience than that of their Caucasian counterparts when it comes to exploring their sexuality and ultimately coming out to their families. It is important to analyze how the reaction of certain races towards the LGBTQ community, specifically transgender individuals, and how it ties back in to their cultural backgrounds. The objective is to explain why different racial groups react differently

Consider the frustrations of bisexual and/or transgender individuals when the LGBTQ community’s experiences are defined largely by the experiences of gay and lesbian individuals (LGBT Advisory Committee, 2011). Self-identified bisexuals make up the largest single population within the LGBTQ community in the U.S. (Egan, Edelman, & Sherrill, 2008; Herbenick et al., 2010; Mosher, Chandra, & Jones, 2005). However, both research on the LGBTQ community and funding for LGBTQ organizations tend to focus exclusively on gay and lesbian individuals, rendering bisexual individuals invisible and sidelining or eclipsing their particular needs (Miller, André, Ebin, & Bessonova, 2007). This invisibility has serious consequences for bisexual individuals’ sense of belonging within the LGBTQ community (LGBT Advisory Committee,

This was noted as an important topic because for racial minorities, strong ethnic identity is an important protective factor in their lives. Simply, for highly marginalized groups, strong ethnic identity may serve as a protective factor by helping racially marginalized groups resist internalizing negative self-images and associated risk behaviors based on their racial membership and minority status (Sellers, Caldwell, Schmeelk-Cone, & Zimmerman, 2003). Researchers felt that this study was important because many studies have previously examined whether ethnic identity is related to self-reported sexual risk behaviors. For instance, among a sample of mostly adult African American, Latino, and Asian/Pacific Islander gay males, no relationship was found between ethnic identity and risky sexual behaviors (Chng & Gelia-Vargas, 2000). Also, prior investigations have determined that higher ethnic identity was associated with a lower number of unsafe sexual acts during the past four months among African American women (Beadnell et al.,

This paper focuses on counseling clients a part of the “sexual minority” (Yarhouse, Kays, and Jones, 2013). The information regarding sexual minorities and the techniques to counsel these clients are summarized from Yarhouse et al.’s “The Sexual Minority Client” (2013). The basis for counseling the sexual minority is competence. This shift to competence is primarily from the “multicultural movement” (Yarhouse, et. al., 2013). Two supporting therapies of this movement are and “affirmative approach” and “sexual identity therapy” (Yarhouse, et. al., 2013). Counselors’ beliefs and values are inevitable in therapy. Practicing in an area with similar beliefs and values minimizes ethical issues. Personal reflection shows acceptance of information provided in the chapter except statements from the ACA and APA in which Christian counselors seem discouraged to provide therapy for the sexual minority. Interest exists in the areas of percentages concerning sexual minority, as well as, these individuals claiming an identity. The primary form of therapy to be administered for a sexual minority client is sexual identity therapy. This therapy provides the least risk in regards to ethics. The client chooses the goal and the counselor acts as a support for the client to obtain the goal. Though beliefs differ, the client will be supported even if the homosexual

Fassinger’s Model is influenced by racial and ethnic identity development models as well as gender identity development models. The theory offers a more inclusive perspective of various individuals in their sexual orientation identity formation (McCarn & Fassinger, 1996). Fassinger’s Model was developed in an attempt to address the critiques of previously existing models. Fassinger’s model differs from other preexisting models in that the authors clearly distinguish between the two processes of personal development and group membership of same-sex sexual orientation (Evans et. al, 2010). In contrast to other models, this model uses phases versus stages, in order to provide flexibility and to demonstrate that

Frequently, the lives of LGBTQ+ people are worsened by stigma, and when one has HIV and/or is considered a minority one will encounter greater public prejudice, discrimination, loss of self-worth, and negative implications for one’s health and well-being. The Orlando Immunology Center (OIC) served as a venue for this presentation sponsored by Dialogo and Two Spirit Health Centers, and was facilitated by Robert Katz who examined stigma in its various guises and how it impacted people’s mental health and physical illness. To date, the literature on stigma and health outcomes has focused primarily on harmful health-related behaviors that are associated with perceived discrimination. This presentation suggested that when people experience discrimination,

Sexual orientationism is best described as discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the dominant, or normal, sexual orientation. Within society there are many barriers, assumptions, and stigmas placed upon the queer community, numerous of which steam from this heterosexist stance that has become the dominant ideology. This stance has historical significance in trauma, and oppression of those within the sexual minority, and how this can play on representation.

The researchers believed oppressive experiences against gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals might be able to predict symptoms of PTSD. Some studies linked experiences of negative psychosocial outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation to PTSD symptoms. One study found that sexual minorities are actually at a higher risk than their heterosexual counterparts to experience traumatic events in their life. The findings supported past research which brought up sexual origination-based hate crime victimization and heterosexist discrimination as unique predictors of PTSD symptoms (Bandermann & Szymanski, 2014). Individuals belonging to the LGBTQ community are facing their own kind of trauma because of the discrimination that they have to face every day. They are assaulted, called vulgar names, and killed because they love someone of the same-sex. Just because their trauma does not fit a certain criteria does not mean they are not suffering. Many of these people are facing traumatic experiences by the hand of someone they love such as a family member or friend. Many individuals are dealing with traumatic issues because they are oppressed, but do not fit the criteria for PTSD. These articles could sway individuals to include oppression into the categories of traumatic event individuals with PTSD

In the ‘Journal Of Family Theory & Review’, It states that “Bisexual individuals are often erased, as many lesbian and gay individuals believe that their sexuality is not ‘‘real’’ or ‘‘authentic.’’” (Russell, & Pollitt, (2013) pg. 241). Many individuals of the LGBTQ community have faced these problems and think that there is no way not. That no one will see them as a normal human being. Problems that have aroused within the LGBTQ

The most important piece of information that must be taken away from this chapter, is the Counselor’s understanding of their own limits in counseling a client struggling with sexual identity. The clients in this chapter are referred to as sexual minorities, which Sanders defines as “individuals with same sex attractions, or behavior, regardless or self-identifications.” (Sanders, 2013, p.252) A Counselor will want to understand most clients are not seeking help for the reasons of changing their sexual identity, but seeking help for issues that have arisen because of their struggle in understanding their sexual identity. In order to understand the issue itself, the Counselor will want to dive into the history of homosexuality and sexual identity. Etiology play an important role in understanding ones sexual identity, according to Sanders, research shows biological and environmental factors can contribute to homosexuality. (p.253,

Inside the homeless youth population, youth who are lesbian, gay, cross-sexual, transgender or addressing (LGBTQ) are at significantly expanded hazard for building up a psychological wellness disorder (Forge, 2014). Reports in discrete studies that adolescent who are According to Hirsch, homeless and LGBTQ youth are at the most astounding danger and in basic need of wellbeing and emotional wellness administrations (Forge, 2014). A connection has been recognized between family dismissal and negative emotional wellness results for youth who are LGBTQ with more than 40 percent of white and Latino lesbian, gay and bi-sexual youth endeavoring suicide at any rate once in their lifetime (Hirsch, 2014). While family dismissal is one connection to psychological