LGBTQ+ Science Students' Experiences, Perceptions, and Feelings of Discrimination in Their Science Departments

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative study is to better understand the climate for LGBTQ+ science major undergraduates in their departments through a transformative queer theory lens with intersectionality. Prior research demonstrates inclusion issues continue to persist for LGBTQ+ individuals in STEM. One such issue is discrimination in the form of microaggressions, which have been demonstrated to cause physical, mental, and academic harm. In the literature, there is limited information on how microaggressions impact students in particular STEM subfields. LGBTQ+ science undergraduates from public colleges and universities in one US Midwestern state were recruited via e-mail to participate in semi-structured interviews to learn about their experiences with and perspectives on microaggressions. Participants completed a first interview to learn more about their experiences, an online training related specifically to LGBTQ+ microaggressions, and a second interview. Emergent coding was utilized to capture the full perspectives of participants to follow themes related to the research questions and that the participants brought to the conversation. The study demonstrated LGBTQ+ science students are aware of potential issues, but many struggle to articulate the issues in ways they find meaningful. This paper explores the experiences LGBTQ+ science students described in their departments and other science spaces.

An Australian Regional Response to Marriage Equality: Newcastle and the Hunter

In Australia same-sex marriage was passed in 2017 following public debates, a postal survey, and legislative reform. This article explores the impact of this process on the rainbow community, with a specific focus on the regional site of Newcastle, New South Wales and the adjacent Hunter Valley. As part of a research project titled "Waiting for Equality," semi-structured interviews with individuals were conducted that focused on the marriage equality debates, the postal survey and current issues pertaining to equality. The analysis found that the debates and survey exposed many members of the rainbow community to stigma, discrimination, and that there were concerns about how their human rights could be legislatively unwound.

Under-Representation of Transgender Identities in Research: The Limitations of Traditional Quantitative Survey Data

Purpose

Research indicates that the portrayal and representation of transgender individuals within society, or lack thereof, impact the way in which they are able to reconcile their gender identity. Quantitative research methodology often requires that participants select one identity label from a limited list for each identity characteristic (e.g., race, sexual orientation, and relationship status). The process of choosing from limited items that do not represent one's identities limits our understanding of the nuances of identity and may create minority stress for the participant.

Methods

This study included 325 diverse transgender adults who participated in a national anonymous online survey as part of a broader study focused on minority stress and mental health. Participants answered questions about gender, sexual orientation, relationship status, race, and religion, and were given the option to select multiple response options and to write in additional identities that were not listed.

Results

Descriptive results indicated that 95 unique gender identities written in were not captured by the 14 gender labels provided, over 43% of participants selected multiple sexual orientations, and participants wrote in additional options for every identity variable.

Conclusion

The nuance of transgender identities may not be adequately captured by standard demographic research methodologies and research would benefit from ongoing revision of demographic response options informed by the literature. Through the process of acknowledging and validating less visible identities, transgender individuals will be better represented and understood by researchers.

Accessing Counseling Services Where the Rainbow Doesn't Shine: A Heterosexism Audit Study

Through a field experiment set among licensed therapists (N = 425), we found nuanced evidence of heterosexist discrimination at the entry point of mental health services for a fictitious White, presumably gay man seeking counseling. We called therapists in LGB-affirming and LGB-hostile states and left voicemails requesting services. To manipulate perceived sexual orientation, a confederate using the name "Jon" recorded one of three conditions (a) heterosexual-presenting Jon, (b) gay-presenting Jon, and (c) gay-sounding Jon. Analyzes comparing the rate of returned calls for each condition within LGB-affirming versus LGB-hostile states against our referent group, gay-presenting Jon calling mental health professionals in an LGB-affirming region, revealed a number of significant effects. Notably, being perceived as gay in LGB-hostile states significantly decreased the rate of returned calls, with the reverse being true in an LGB-affirming state. The use of "gay-sounding" voice, however, did not appreciably affect these relationships.

Pretreatment counseling experiences, stressors, and support differences between transgender and cisgender university students seeking mental healthcare

OBJECTIVES

Our aim was to explore rates of prior counseling experiences as well as pretreatment stressors and supports among transgender university students seeking psychotherapy services in university counseling centers.

METHODS

We used regression models to explore relationships between gender identity and prior mental health experiences, risk-related experiences, traumatic experiences, and support among clients (cisgender: n = 162,305; transgender: n = 545) seeking treatment at 136 university counseling centers.

RESULTS

Results demonstrate more previous mental health service utilization and greater frequency of some prior stressors transgender clients. Findings indicate the odds of transgender clients reporting drug and alcohol concerns are lower than the reference group. Additionally, transgender clients report less familial support but more social support than cisgender clients.

CONCLUSION

We discuss the importance of these findings through a more holistic lens that recognizes both stressors as well as positive factors that may more accurately characterize the experiences of transgender clients.

First Impressions Online: The Inclusion of Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Identities and Services in Mental Healthcare Providers' Online Materials in the USA

BACKGROUND

When accessing mental healthcare services, transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) individuals face systemic barriers to gender-affirmative care. Initial points of contact, like intake forms, may show limited consideration for the heterogeneity of TGNC identities and can lead to negative consequences prior to face-to-face interaction with providers.

AIMS

The first aim was to mimic a likely pathway a TGNC individual may follow to seek mental healthcare services in the USA and to describe the extent to which they may encounter enacted stigma or affirmative messages that may impede or facilitate access to care. The second aim was to determine if a positive State legal climate for TGNC people was associated with more affirmative provider materials.

METHODS

Content analysis was used to examine a national sample of websites and intake forms of mental healthcare providers who advertise online as working with TGNC clients. Intake forms were coded for usage of affirmative language in gender/sex questions and including questions for a client's pronouns and preferred name. Websites were coded for mentioning a variety of services or resources for TGNC clients.

RESULTS

While provider websites were found through Google searches for a "gender therapist," only 56.6% of websites stated a provider specialty to work with TGNC clients and 32.1% of websites had no mention of services or resources for TGNC people. Additionally, a significantly larger proportion of intake forms from States with legal protections for TGNC people used affirmative language in gender/sex questions and asked for a client's pronouns than intake forms from States without legal protections.

DISCUSSION

Barriers to affirmative healthcare for TGNC people within patient and provider interactions have been identified in previous research and these data show TGNC individuals may face enacted stigma even in their search for a provider, particularly those TGNC people living in States without legal protections.

Subtle and Severe: Microaggressions Among Racially Diverse Sexual Minorities

In recent years, understanding prejudice and discrimination toward minorities has developed to include the investigation of microaggressions. Microaggressions are brief and commonplace verbal, behavioral, or environmental indignities. They are intentional or unintentional and communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative slights toward racial and sexual minorities. The purpose of this phenomenological study is to chronicle the prevalence and type of microaggressions experienced among a sample of 18 highly educated and racially diverse sexual minorities, 24-65 years of age. The impact of microaggressions on physical and psychological health is central to our investigation. Thematic data analysis was used to analyze 14 interviews and one focus group, which resulted in the following themes of microaggressions: (a) discomfort/disapproval with LGBT experience, (b) assumption of universal experience, (c) traditional gender role stereotyping, (d) denial of personal privacy, (e) exoticization, (f) ascription of intelligence, (g) policing bodies, and (h) assumption of criminality. Research findings may have implications for the development of interventions that can serve clinicians in their therapeutic work with microaggressed sexual minorities across racial diversity.

Development and Evaluation of the Gender Expression Attitudes Towards Transgender Clients Scale

Effective counselors recognize the diversity that exists in gender expression among transgender and gender nonconforming clients. To aid this understanding, we present the development and evaluation of the Gender Expression Attitudes Towards Transgender Clients scale. In Study I ( N = 300 trainees in helping professions), we found evidence of three adequately reliable factors: Emphasis on Assigned Sex Expression, Affirmation of Gender Expression in All Forms, and Generalized Emphasis on Gender Binary Expression. In Study II ( N = 202 trainees and practitioners), only the Affirmation of Gender Expression in All Forms subscale was negatively associated with gender essentialist and gender immutable attitudes, and was positively associated with recent guidelines for clinical care of transgender clients. The Emphasis on Assigned Sex Expression subscale was positively associated with gender immutability and negatively associated with guidelines for clinical care of transgender clients, as was the Generalized Emphasis on Gender Binary Expression subscale.

Contextualising family microaggressions and strategies of resilience among young gay and bisexual men of Latino heritage

Young Latino gay and bisexual men experience discrimination due to heterosexism and racism from within and beyond their communities. Although most research has emphasised overt forms of discrimination, a growing body of research is examining the effects of microaggressions, or indirect forms of discrimination, on racial and sexual minorities. The purpose of this study was to explore the contexts of various types of microaggressions, as well as describe the resilience strategies used by young adult Latino gay and bisexual men living in Los Angeles, California. A sample of 21 young Latino gay and bisexual men aged 18 to 29 years were recruited to complete qualitative, in-depth, semi-structured interviews following a phenomenological approach. Three contextual themes relevant to microaggressions emerged: (1) microassaults, (2) microinsults and (3) microinvalidations. Three themes emerged around the resilience strategies to overcome these experiences: (1) self-discovery, (2) adaptive socialisation and (3) self-advocacy. Family and community-based efforts to reinforce and expand resilience repertoires are needed to help young Latino gay and bisexual men.

The Impact of Social Connectedness and Internalized Transphobic Stigma on Self-Esteem Among Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Adults

The transgender and gender non-conforming (TGNC) community continues to represent a notably marginalized population exposed to pervasive discrimination, microaggressions, and victimization. Congruent with the minority stress model, TGNC individuals persistently experience barriers to wellbeing in contemporary society; however, research uncovering resilience-based pathways to health among this population is sparse. This study aimed to explore the impact and interaction between internalized transphobic stigma and a potential buffer against minority stress-social connectedness-on the self-esteem of TGNC identified adults. Data were collected from 65 TGNC identified adults during a national transgender conference. Multiple regression analysis reveals that self-esteem is negatively impacted by internalized transphobia and positively impacted by social connectedness. Social connectedness did not significantly moderate the relationship between internalized transphobia and self-esteem. Micro and macro interventions aimed at increasing social connectedness and decreasing internalized transphobic stigma may be paramount for enhancing resiliency and wellbeing in the TGNC community.

Lesbian camp: An unearthing

Camp-a sensibility, a style, and a form of artistic self-expression-is an elusive concept said to be in the eye of the beholder. To refute Susan Sontag's ( 1966 ) claims that camp is apolitical and not especially homosexual, a number of recent scholarly works have been geared toward revealing camp's fundamental gayness. With the odd footnote aside, lesbian camp has been collapsed into the category of gay male camp, if not eclipsed entirely. Despite the negligible efforts made to legitimize lesbian camp, there are numerous salient cultural examples one might draw on to illustrate, typify, and substantiate a lesbian camp sensibility. I lay the ground work for this scholarly exercise by outlining various definitions and critiques of camp, and by discussing its history and application to queer theory. Then, to unveil lesbian camp, three non-mutually exclusive categories are discussed: classic, erotic, and radical. By gathering various strands of inquiry, and various textual examples (e.g., photography, artistic performances, and literary tropes), this article attempts to reach a more inclusive and nuanced understanding of lesbian camp.