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López DJ, Chandler C, Whitfield DL, Adams B, Burdick J, Friedman MR. "Take It Out on the Floor": Experiences of Violence Among Black LGBT House and Ball Community Youth in a Rust Belt City. JOURNAL OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE 2023; 38:3950-3978. [PMID: 36004529 PMCID: PMC10105583 DOI: 10.1177/08862605221113025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Black, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), individuals experience higher rates of violent victimization compared to their cisgender heterosexual counterparts over their life course. Among Black LGBT people, witnessing and experiencing violence have been related to poor health outcomes, including depression, risky sexual behavior, substance use, and lower engagement in healthcare services. We engaged in research to better understand the effects of violence experienced by the Black LGBT youth community. We conducted a qualitative, phenomenological study focused on the causes of violence occurring in the lives of Black LGBT youth engaged in a recreation-based community health program. The study consisted of four focus groups with Black LGBT youth (N = 24) and in-depth individual interviews with medical and social service providers who work with Black LGBT youth (N = 4). Data analysis presented three themes: (1) causes of violence, (2) the context of intracommunity violence, and (3) solutions to violence. The first theme describes the reasoning, motivation, or explanation for violence experienced by the Black LGBT youth community. The second theme, the context of intracommunity violence, describes how violence occurs specifically within Black LGBT young adult communities. The third theme, solutions to violence, describes the recommendations for addressing, reducing, and/or eliminating violence within the Black LGBT youth community. Our findings highlight the need for safe spaces, culturally-relevant services, and trusted figures for Black LGBT young adults, which can serve as mechanisms for mitigating violence.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jessica Burdick
- Project Silk, Community Health Services, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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Jackman KB. Theoretical Basis for Dance Movement Therapy with Transgender and Nonbinary People. ARTS IN PSYCHOTHERAPY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aip.2022.101910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Arnold EA, Saberi P, Wong JO, Pollack LM, Neilands TB, Benjamin M, Lockett G, Kegeles SM. We are Family: A Feasibility and Acceptability Study of an HIV Prevention Intervention With the House Ball and Gay Family Communities. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2021; 88:S6-S11. [PMID: 34757987 PMCID: PMC8579983 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000002805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black and Latinx sexual minority youth are disproportionately affected by HIV. The House Ball and gay family communities encompass sexual and ethnic minority youth who form chosen families that promote protective HIV-related health behaviors. We conducted a small-scale trial of the We Are Family intervention, leveraging these existing social dynamics to address HIV. METHODS From September 2018 to September 2019, we enrolled N = 118 for baseline and 6-month follow-up assessments. Eligible participants were 18 years or older, San Francisco Bay Area residents, members of a house or gay family or ball attendees in the past year, smartphone users, and sexually active. The intervention included one 2-hour in-person group session, community-level events, a mobile health app, and a dedicated service provider. RESULTS Ninety-seven percent of our participants were people of color, 94% were retained through follow-up. 73% attended at least 1 group session, 100% used the mobile health app, and 56% attended a community-level event. Modest changes were observed baseline to follow-up: among all participants, any condomless anal intercourse past 3 months (74.6%-66.7%, P = 0.064); among HIV-negative participants (N = 82) HIV testing past 6 months (80.7%-87.2%, P = 0.166); among HIV-positive participants (N = 34) receiving HIV primary care past 6 months (64.5%-78.8%, P = 0.139), and adherent to ART past 30 days (22.6%-28.1%, P = 0.712). 86% would be willing to refer a friend to the app, and 65% found the app to be personally relevant. CONCLUSIONS We Are Family reaches and retains its target population, is feasible, acceptable, and shows promise for improving HIV-related health behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily A. Arnold
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA; and
| | - Parya Saberi
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA; and
| | - Jeffrey O. Wong
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA; and
| | - Lance M. Pollack
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA; and
| | - Torsten B. Neilands
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA; and
| | | | | | - Susan M. Kegeles
- Department of Medicine, Center for AIDS Prevention Studies, University of California, San Francisco, CA; and
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Choi SK, Boynton MH, Ennett S, Muessig K, Bauermeister J, LeGrand S, Hightow-Weidman L. Sexual Empowerment Among Young Black Men Who Have Sex with Men. JOURNAL OF SEX RESEARCH 2021; 58:560-572. [PMID: 32897102 PMCID: PMC7937771 DOI: 10.1080/00224499.2020.1809614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Sexual empowerment represents an important HIV intervention strategy, yet limited attention has examined the multidimensional nature of sexual empowerment in prior studies. Using a sample (n = 465) of young Black men who have sex with men (MSM), we used confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to test a multifactorial operationalization of sexual empowerment. CFA indicated that a bifactor model was best suited to characterize the sexual empowerment factor (SEF), suggesting that items for four sub-constructs (self-efficacy to refuse sexual behavior, emotional support, condom use self-efficacy, and social norms on condom use) contributed to their respective constructs, while also contributing to a latent sexual empowerment construct. We then examined the association between SEF and mental health outcomes (anxiety and depression symptoms) and safer sex intentions. SEF was negatively associated with mental health outcomes and positively associated with safer sex intentions. Ultimately, individuals with greater sexual empowerment might be better equipped to develop strategies to buffer their vulnerability to HIV. We discuss the implications of SEF as a bifactor during the design and evaluation of HIV risk-reduction interventions seeking to address sexual empowerment among MSM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seul Ki Choi
- Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Marcella H. Boynton
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Susan Ennett
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Kathryn Muessig
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - José Bauermeister
- Department of Family and Community Health, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sara LeGrand
- Duke Global Health Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Lisa Hightow-Weidman
- Department of Health Behavior, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
- Department of Infectious Disease, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
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Harper GW, LaBoy R, Castillo M, Johnson GL, Hosek SG, Jadwin-Cakmak L. It's a Kiki!: Developmental benefits of the Kiki scene for Black gay/bisexual/transgender adolescents/emerging adults. JOURNAL OF LGBT YOUTH 2020; 19:31-52. [PMID: 35003510 PMCID: PMC8735768 DOI: 10.1080/19361653.2020.1813672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Younger members of the House and Ball Community (HBC) have created an emerging social scene called "Kiki" that has shared elements with the HBC. Given the growing popularity of the Kiki scene in urban communities with large numbers of Black gay, bisexual, and transgender (GBT) adolescents and emerging adults, it is important to understand the developmental benefits of the Kiki scene. We conducted individual in-depth interviews with 30 GBT adolescents and emerging adults (ages 15-24) who attended Kiki-related events and 15 older opinion leaders affiliated with the HBC. Participants described how the Kiki scene provides them with a range of supportive and affirming functions and offers a place where they can achieve important developmental milestones. The results clustered into three primary thematic areas of development: Executive Functioning Development, Social-Emotional Development, and Physical and Emotional Safety during Development. Within each of these thematic areas are sub-themes that further explicate the ways in which these functions are supported. We believe this to be one of the first papers exclusively focused on the positive aspects of the Kiki scene for adolescent and emerging adult development, and we encourage other researchers to further explore this emerging socializing force and its potential benefits to development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary W. Harper
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Richard LaBoy
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marne Castillo
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Gabriel L. Johnson
- University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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Hosek S, Castillo M, Hotton A, Balthazar C, Gwiazdowski B, Laboy R, Davis K, Lemos D, Harper GW, Bell M. Comparison of Two Distinct House Ball Communities Involved in an HIV Prevention Study: Baseline Data from the POSSE Project. JOURNAL OF HIV/AIDS & SOCIAL SERVICES 2019; 18:399-416. [PMID: 33013233 PMCID: PMC7531774 DOI: 10.1080/15381501.2019.1673868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Revised: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
For many Black/African American gay, bisexual, and other young men who have sex with men (B-GBMSM), the House/Ball Community (HBC) offers a social network where they can be free to express diverse sexual and gender identities, but HIV prevalence and stigma are high. The POSSE project is an effectiveness-implementation trial of a popular opinion leader intervention designed to address HIV prevention in the Chicago and Philadelphia HBCs. In June 2016 baseline behavioral data were collected along with HIV, gonorrhea and Chlamydia testing. Eligible participants were sexually-active YMSM or transgender women (TGW), between the ages of 15-24, who self-identified as Black. One-third participants (32.5%) met or exceeded the clinical cut-off for depressive symptoms. Approximately 18% of the participants across both cities reported that they were HIV-positive. Overall, the baseline data establishes the need for HIV and STI prevention interventions across both cities, as well as interventions to address other co-occurring epidemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sybil Hosek
- Department of Psychiatry, John Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL USA
| | - Marne Castillo
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Anna Hotton
- Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL USA
| | | | - Bevin Gwiazdowski
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Richard Laboy
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA USA
| | - Kortez Davis
- Department of Psychiatry, John Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL USA
| | | | - Gary W. Harper
- School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
| | - Margo Bell
- Division of Adolescent Medicine, John Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, IL USA
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Zarwell M, Robinson WT. Network Properties Among Gay, Bisexual and Other Men Who Have Sex with Men Vary by Race. AIDS Behav 2019; 23:1315-1325. [PMID: 30725398 DOI: 10.1007/s/10461-019-02416-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The HIV burden among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) may be related to variations in network characteristics of the individual's social and sexual network. This study investigates variations in network properties among 188 Black and 295 White GBM recruited in New Orleans during the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance in 2014. Participants described up to five people who provided social support and five sex partners in the past 3 months. Network properties and network dissimilarity indicators were aggregated to the participant level as means or proportions and examined using PROC GLM. White participants reported larger networks (p = 0.0027), had known network members longer (p = 0.0033), and reported more substance use (p < 0.0001) within networks. Black participants reported networks with fewer men (p = 0.0056) and younger members (p = 0.0110) than those of White GBM. Network properties among GBM differ by race in New Orleans which may inform prevention interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meagan Zarwell
- Center for AIDS Intervention Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, 2071 N Summit Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53202, USA.
- School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA.
| | - William T Robinson
- School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
- Louisiana Office of Public Health STD/HIV Program, New Orleans, LA, USA
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Abstract
The HIV burden among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (GBM) may be related to variations in network characteristics of the individual's social and sexual network. This study investigates variations in network properties among 188 Black and 295 White GBM recruited in New Orleans during the National HIV Behavioral Surveillance in 2014. Participants described up to five people who provided social support and five sex partners in the past 3 months. Network properties and network dissimilarity indicators were aggregated to the participant level as means or proportions and examined using PROC GLM. White participants reported larger networks (p = 0.0027), had known network members longer (p = 0.0033), and reported more substance use (p < 0.0001) within networks. Black participants reported networks with fewer men (p = 0.0056) and younger members (p = 0.0110) than those of White GBM. Network properties among GBM differ by race in New Orleans which may inform prevention interventions.
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Levitt HM. A Psychosocial Genealogy of LGBTQ+ Gender: An Empirically Based Theory of Gender and Gender Identity Cultures. PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN QUARTERLY 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0361684319834641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
In this invited article, I present an inclusive theory of gender that clarifies its interconnections with gender identity, gender expression, and sexuality. To support this functionalist theory, I summarize findings from an extensive body of mixed methods research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other (LGBTQ+) genders in the United States. I use a feminist-intersectional lens to empirically base and historically situate a theory of gender that is grounded in research of LGBTQ+ communities (butch, femme, bear, leathermen, transgender, drag queens, and family/house systems). I define genders as either sets of personal qualities within a culture associated with physiological sex or sets of qualities that evolve in reaction to limitations of existing genders. The evolution of genders functions to meet needs in four domains: (1) psychological: an experience of fit between a core aspect of self and a gender construct; (2) cultural: the creation of an LGBTQ+ culture that asserts sets of gender characteristics, which were denied and stigmatized within preexisting cultural norms; (3) interpersonal: the communicating of affiliation and status to enhance safety; and (4) sexual: an erotic embodiment of signifiers of these needs via an aesthetic that structures sexual attraction. I detail how each function affects identity, security, belonging, and personal and social values. Online slides for instructors who want to use this article for teaching are available on PWQ's website at http://journals.sagepub.com/page/pwq/suppl/index
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Affiliation(s)
- Heidi M. Levitt
- Department of Psychology, University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA, USA
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