Abstract This paper explains that bisexuals have the ability to switch from male to female and to experience all of sexuality. The author points out that bisexual are exposed to high risks such as STDs and AIDS. The paper states that the worst obstacle is a political one, which is the reason that they are not accepted.
From the Paper "The statement that 'most people are bisexual' is important because, if it is correct, then our entire societal structure and especially the institution of marriage have to be reevaluated. First of all, the statement is inaccurate since perhaps one-half the population is bisexual. More important, is the 'matter of degree'. Either bisexuals feel varying types of attraction or else they vary in acting out a dual sexuality. If bisexuality involves equal attraction to both sexes, the outcome would be schizophrenia in personal identity and relationships. "
A discussion on men on the down low, a slang phrase to describe men who have sex with men but do not categorize themselves as homosexuals and bisexuals.
Abstract This paper looks at significant media attention that men who are down low, a term used on closeted gay and bisexual men, have gained due to the increasing rate of HIV infection among black women. Some of these men who have sex with other men have girlfriends and spouses who are unaware of the double lives these men lead. The paper reviews a book written by J.L King, which provides readers with a firsthand account and understanding of the lives and lifestyles of closet black homosexuals. The author explains that men on the down low mask their homosexuality as society and religion frowns upon gays. The paper next discusses the effect of these men living in deception as well as clinical and therapy methods that would aid these individuals to cope with their lives and problems.
Outline:
King's View on Down Low
Professionals, Researchers, and Studies on Down Low
Effect of being on the Down Low
Causes of Homosexuality
The Role of the Church
What the Bible has to say on Homosexuality
Clinical Strategy
Notes
Works Cited
From the Paper "He believes that many of the bisexual men opt not to divulge their sexual preferences for fear of negative consequences that such admittance would likely cause. Numerous people are homophobic. Gays and lesbians are ridiculed by the society and it is not a widely accepted behavior in the prevailing social and religious norms. These factors contribute to men being on the down low. King further stresses that down low men's sense of self is associated with his ability to express masculinity and fulfill the traditional gender expectation assigned to men in general."
Abstract This paper explains that nearly all developmental theories view heterosexual orientations as the default option; whereas, homosexual or bisexual orientations, referred to as LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered and queer), is considered to be the deviant behaviour. The author examines the differences and similarities in the development of LGBTQ youth as compared to heterosexual youth with respect to the development of sexual identities, the availability of positive adult role models and the development of interpersonal peer group and dating skills. The paper concludes that the major difference between LGBTQ adolescent development and heterosexual adolescent development is within society's views of homosexuality and bisexuality. Society should change these attitudes and should equalize same-sex legal rights.
From the Paper "The development of a strong and stable identity, according to many theorists including Erikson, is the single most important developmental task that adolescents face. Failure to successfully develop an identity, or to struggle excessively through identity development, can have psychological and social ramifications that last for the duration of an individual's lifespan. Thus, the study of identity development is a widely popular topic within the social sciences. Recently, the identity development of LGBTQ youth has begun to be more closely scrutinized."
Abstract Sexual practices of all groups of people have been under the microscope since the first discovery of HIV/AIDS. Most of the data has been related to gay and bisexual men and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and HIV/AIDS. This paper argues that there is a group of people that also have a risk of transmitting STDs who have not been studied extensively. This group is the lesbian and bisexual woman.
From the Paper "While the incidence of STDs may not be as great, that, by no means, indicates a low risk factor. The lack of knowledge about the transmission of diseases is a factor in the prevalence of transmission. There seems to be a lack of printed information about the transmission of STDs in the lesbian community. Additionally, the lack of communication in the lesbian community with each other about these increasing risks leads to unsafe sexual practices. As with heterosexual partners, the possibility of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases through oral sex seems to come as a surprise to many people."
Abstract In this article, the writer points out that heterosexual youth rarely are faced with the challenge of labeling their sexuality. The writer maintains that they simply mature along a natural normal course of heterosexuality without typically questioning their feelings their desires. However, the writer discusses that for those whose sexuality falls outside the norm this process is not so easy. Gay or bisexual youths must go through an internal process of defining who they are sexually. The writer shows that this process is typically not an isolated event but is embedded within a progressive series of milestones for gay and bisexual youths.
From the Paper "Heterosexual youth rarely are faced with the challenge of labeling their sexuality. They simply mature along a natural, "normal" course of heterosexuality without typically questioning their feelings, their desires. However, for those whose sexuality lies outside the norm, this process is not so easy. Gay or bisexual youths must go through an internal process of defining who they are sexually. This process is typically not "an isolated event but is embedded within a progressive series of milestones for gay and bisexual youths". This often complicated process is unique for each individual; however, certain themes emerge dependent on the age in which the individual finally labels himself as gay or bisexual. Few gay or bisexual men can pinpoint a specific and identifiable event that was the catalyst for self-identifying as gay or bisexual."
Abstract This paper is an in-depth study of the topic of identity formation and how a non-traditional sexual orientation, such as being gay or lesbian, changes the development of one's identity. The paper examines the complex process of choosing a non-traditional sexual orientation. This includes the detailing of the many stages that the individual must face, and the many years that are often involved in the search for one's identity. The author looks at many different factors in society that affect the search for identity, including family life, friends, work and employment situations, age, environment and how they can have a negative or positive affect on the individual's lifestyle choice. The role of the social worker in helping the person deal with the problems that the individual faces in both their personal and professional life is also examined in great detail.
From the Paper "Considering general social and cultural attitudes about homosexuality, and the persistent view that the gay or lesbian identity is "abnormal", social workers must always be aware that many parents of homosexual individuals will feel a degree of shame at producing and rearing a "faulty" homosexual child. This is closely linked to the pressure of societal attitudes and concern with how others perceive their parenting, resulting in many parents becoming labeled with a similar socially stigmatized identity to that of their homosexual child. The social worker's role is to understand that many of these parents are likely to be concerned with feelings of guilt and self-blame, such as "Where did I go wrong"? or "If I had done this differently, then ... ", rather than with attempting to understand and empathize with their child's situation (Armesto, 2001). A great deal of this reaction is rooted in the family's racial, ethnic, religious, or cultural backgrounds, which often increase the family's anxiety and stigma with their disapproving and "sinful" view of gays and lesbians and the mythical beliefs that they promote as the causes of homosexuality. On the issue of self-acceptance, many studies indicate that it is the individual's network of friends, rather than the family, that plays the most significant role in gay and lesbian identity formation, indicating that the empathic understanding and support that is offered by members of the same sexual minority group, who have "walked the way", is a particularly influential and valued source of social support."
From the Paper "This paper looks at bisexuality, which is currently undergoing one of its periodic surges in interest both as an identifying label for sexual preference and as a subject for scientific investigation. Difficult to define precisely, the concept of bisexuality nevertheless exerts a fascination for what it reveals about society's changing attitudes about sex, gender, and male-female relationships.
Defining bisexuality is a relatively simple exercise: it is a sexual attraction for members of both the same and the opposite sex. Defining the bisexual individual, however, is a much more difficult matter. Marjorie Garber, in her exhaustive study of the subject, Vice Versa, begins by quoting the two best-known pieces of "common wisdom": "Everyone is bisexual" and "There is no such thing as bisexuality" (1995, p. 16). The difficulty lies ..."
Abstract This paper examines how findings from studies to examine anti-gay violence and harassment on community college campuses indicate that these problems are far more than isolated incidents. It evaluates how the best way to decrease harassment and violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) students, it to combat the way college students view these individuals. It proposes the establishment of a network of advisors that LGBT students can turn to when they are victims of harassment or crime. It analyzes the opinion that the best way to foster acceptance of LGBT students is through direct contact which contributes to positive attitudes towards sexual diversity. It evaluates how the goal is to make LGBT students feel safe enough in their educational environment to be able to disclose their sexual orientation so that other students can be aware of their frequent interactions with LGBT students.
From the Paper "The major risk involved with the LGBT victim's network is that students will still be too afraid of retribution to report incidences of harassment and violence. The goal of the LGBT victim's network is to reduce these fears and to convince them that the best way to stop such behavior from happening again is to report it. It is hoped that the support of a formal network will provide students with the support they need to move forward with their allegations so that justice can be served. And, there's the issue on how to respond if a LGBT victim is further victimized after reporting in incident. There's little that the LGBT can do to stop a perpetrator from causing even more damage. However, the network can help the victim document the incidents in hopes of obtaining a restraining order or dismissal of the individual from the university."
Abstract Explores the relationship between two of the main characters of the film, "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". It examines how the two characters are "male", how they are "female", what makes them so in terms of sex and gender, gender roles, stereotypes, etc. Uses Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (LGBT)/queer theory texts.
From the Paper "I chose to address the relationship between Hedwig and Yitzhak within the film Hedwig and the Angry Inch in terms of sex and gender and, additionally, some aspects of queer theory. The relationship between these two characters is perplexing and one could dwell on issues stemming from it for some time, however I plan to focus on a few central ideas and themes which certainly does not contain the bulk of what could be written about these two interesting characters and their unusual relationship. The central and key idea to keep in mind is the theme that ran throughout the film that has to do with the notion that everyone is simply looking for their other half; sex and gender have nothing to do with that quest for your counterpart."
Abstract In the past, heterosexuality was seen as the normal sexual orientation for most people. All other types of sexuality, such as bisexuality, asexuality, and homosexuality were seen as deviant forms of sexual behavior. However, in recent years, these lifestyles have become more accepted by society. This paper illustrates the lifestyles and possible explanations for different sexual orientations for the purpose of comparing and contrasting them with heterosexuality.
From the Paper "Bisexuality is defined as being the "sexual attraction to people of both sexes" (Macionis 2002:202). Kinsey believed that almost everyone, regardless of sexual orientation has had some sort of both heterosexual and homosexual experiences and that there were very few people who were exclusively heterosexual or homosexual. McWhirter (1990) suggests that a person is not attracted to two different sexes at the same time, but goes through phases in which he or she will be attracted to different sexes at different times, depending on what pleases their present mood or sexual desires. So, in theory, bisexualism is neither just homosexual nor heterosexual, but it is both types of sexual orientation, just apparent at different times (McWhirter 1990:255-256)."
Abstract This paper explores the message in "Sex and the City" about heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality and gender and how the show suggests that heterosexual women can engage in equally fluid and commercialized constructions of identity, as do homosexual men.
From the Paper "Are the ladies of "Sex in the City" heterosexual women or homosexual men? Although the answer may seem obvious, the rampant sexual play and obsessive quality regarding sexual performance on the part of the women, their love of shopping and definition of themselves through conspicuous consumerism, and the overall aesthetic of the show's sense of sexual and pop cultural "camp" might suggest that Charlotte, Carrie, Samantha, and Miranda are in fact drag queens rather than actual Manhattan, urban, female apartment dwellers. At one point, in an episode entitled, ?Boy Girl, Boy Girl,? Charlotte is photographed in drag as a man. In another episode Charlotte attempts to enter the lesbian art mafia. Breathless about her new found discovery of her latent, non-heterosexual drives and the ability to be around intelligent women unconcerned with male, she is brutally informed, in far more blunt and anatomical terms than one would like to quote in this paper, that if she does not consume a particular part of the female anatomy, she remains ostracized from homosexual identity."
Abstract This paper defines the GLBTQ (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, and questioning) community by the interests and concerns of a number of different members of this group. The paper contends that, while there are a number of issues of joint concern to members of this community, the community is also divided by the unique experiences of several subsets. These include issues of sexual orientation, civil rights, medical concerns, and gender issues. Many of these issues are also shared with other traditionally oppressed groups, such as African-Americans, but many are largely unique to the GLBTQ community.
From the Paper "Deborah Menkart notes the GLBTQ community shares a commonality with other groups, such as the American Civil Rights Movement. She notes these groups share a desire to "be treated as human beings, to be treated fairly, to enjoy fully the rights articulated in the U.S. Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and to exercise the ensuing responsibilities, such as voting" (p. 4). Certainly, the Civil Rights movement and the Gay Rights movement share several similarities. Both movements desire equal treatment for all individuals. Further, both movements have often faced tremendous resistance from larger American society. Certainly, such resistance remains today against the Gay Rights movement, given the often high levels of homophobia in society in the United States (Menkart)."
Abstract This paper uses Merton's Strain Theory to help explain the homosexual perception of the sub-culture of bisexuals. The author explores theories of deviance and Merton's belief that deviance is related to social structure.
From the Paper "Woody Allen once quipped that being bisexual doubles your chances for a date on Saturday night. Within the homosexual and heterosexual categories of sexuality exists another subgroup of sexuality bisexuality. Bi-sexuals enjoy sex with both partners."
Abstract The paper explains and analyzes the nature of hate crimes against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered people.
From the Paper "The purpose of this report is to provide an analysis of hate crimes that are directed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered individuals. Erich Goode argued that there are any number of groups who are categorized on the basis of certain aspects of their behavior, personality, psychological state or even physical characteristics as deviant, leading in many instances to their devaluation and outright victimization by mainstream society. The purpose of this report is therefore to answer two questions."
Abstract This paper is a policy paper as to why GLBT adoption should take place. The author states that adoption by gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals, which should be a simple matter, is marked by discrimination in favor of straights. The paper explains that the single most effect reason for discrimination that had been used by the legal system is the principle 'the best interests of the child'."
From the Paper "A monolithic and highly distorted view of the family has been perpetrated by the mass media, which has completely obscured the emerging variations and alternatives to the conception of a traditional nuclear family. The context of gay and lesbian adoption has been one of bias and unfairness, haphazard and inconsistent policy, and of myths and assumptions informing policy rather than concrete evidence. Gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transsexuals regularly have encountered discrimination in the legal system, the child welfare system, and in their experiences with adoption agencies."
