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The research literature suggests that the mental health professionals serving lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people may not be prepared to adequately address the unique needs of the population. There is a need to study the factors that influence the degree to which therapists attitudes and behaviors are affirmative toward their gay, lesbian, and bisexual clients. One obstacle to pursuing this research agenda is the lack of valid and reliable instruments available for research with this population. The purpose of this study is to address the concerns in the literature regarding the lack of reliable instruments by establishing adequate psychometric properties for three scales: the Non-heterosexist Mental Health Organizations Scale, the Affirmative Behaviors with GLB Clients Scale, and the Affirmative Behaviors with All Clients Scale. Preliminary information about the instrument development process, factor structure, and the reliability and validity of these scales is presented. (Contains 23 references.) (GCP)

The purpose of a phenomenological study was to understand what impact heteronormativity has on a lesbian teacher's perception of her instructional style, content, and context of curriculum taught. Through taped interviews with nine lesbian educators teaching in the K-12 programs in Florida's Dade, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties, this study examined the personal experiences of lesbian teachers. The framework for the study included theories related to historical, sociocultural, and psychosocial development; while the methodology included a qualitative design using primary elements of a phenomenological study. The themes characterized the coming-out process of a lesbian, which directly paralleled the personal development and influenced the professional development of the lesbian educator: (1) self-acknowledgment; (2) self-identification; (3) coming-out to other lesbians by overcoming fear and establishing relationships; and (4) coming-out to others. The results of this study showed that the acceptance of being a lesbian, shared with the acknowledgment, rather than compliance or defiance, of cultural hegemony allows the lesbian educator to develop a curriculum and a classroom climate that fosters understanding, and generates social change among colleagues, parents, and students, one person at a time. (Contains 15 references, 1 table, and 3 figures.) (Author/BT)

The purpose of this study was to develop and establish psychometric properties of the Sexual Orientation Counselor Scale (SOCS), an instrument assessing the awareness, skills, and knowledge of counselors working with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) populations. The sample consisted of 287 undergraduates, master-level students, doctoral-level students, and counseling psychologists. Factor analysis indicated three distinct factors (awareness, skills, and knowledge). Internal consistency of the SOCS was .91 and one-week test-retest reliability was .84. Criterion validity was demonstrated by the significant relationship found between SOCS scores and participants' education level, sexual orientation, and religious conservatism. The SOCS was minimally correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), establishing discriminant validity. Significantly strong correlations were found between the SOCS and measures of homoprejudice, multicultural counselor competency, and counselor self-efficacy; thus, convergent validity for the SOCS and its three competency subscales (awareness, skills, and knowledge) was established. Results from this study demonstrate that the SOCS is a reliable and valid instrument assessing the awareness, skills, and knowledge of counselors working with LGB clients. Limitations and implications for future research on the construct and measurement of sexual orientation counselor competency are explored. (Contains 21 references and 6 tables.) (Author)

This paper addresses the issues and desirable professional school counselor responses when working with sexual minority youth in the schools, including gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning youth. The issues that are addressed include: developing a context in which to discuss these issues; coming out or the development aspects of sexual identity development; the extent of the problems that sexual minority youth face in the schools and society; the effects of negative attitudes and violence toward these youth; and ethical and legal issues in dealing with sexual minority youth in schools. In addition, school-based interventions are discussed that focus on the role of the parents and schools, separation (e.g. separate schools for sexual minority youth) or culture change, deliberate psycho-affective education, valuing differences, and the power of subtle symbols. (Contains 105 references.) (Author)

This paper reviews the statistical evidence of lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) violence in the United States and in the world. Statistics are from Amnesty International and the New York City Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Project. Reasons why this violence exists and international human rights responses are reviewed. In addition, research on homophobia, homonegativity, and antigay violence is also reviewed. An argument for a greater role in the amelioration of prejudice against LGBT people by the American Psychological Association as the premier psychological organization involved in social justice issues around the world is presented. The paper concludes with recommendations for future directions. (Contains 25 references.) (Author/GCP)

Empirical evidence suggests that client gender, client sexual orientation, counselor gender, and counselor sexual orientation are factors that influence counselors attitudes and treatment practices with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients. However, it is unclear how these factors may interact to affect attitudes and treatment practices. Moreover, no recent studies have examined attitudes and treatment practices among licensed psychologists, who may engage in both clinical and training responsibilities (thereby affecting both clients and trainees). This study compared licensed psychologists attitudes and clinical evaluations for clients of differing sexual orientations. After reading a vignette describing a lesbian female, gay male, bisexual female, bisexual male, heterosexual female, or heterosexual male client, 303 licensed psychologists completed a Semantic Differential, a Self-Attribution Scale, the Global Assessment of Functioning, a Treatment Process and Outcomes Expectations Questionnaire, and a demographic questionnaire. Results indicated that female participants held more positive attitudes and expected greater improvement in clients problems than did male participants. A significant interaction effect was found for client sexual orientation and participant gender. Results of content analyses supplemented quantitative findings suggested that participants did not consider sexual orientation to be an appealing issue. (Contains 58 references.) (GCP)

This document contains three papers from a symposium on different ways of learning. "How Engineers Learn in the Face of Organizational Change" (Robert Reardon) reports on a qualitative study during which nine engineers described how they learned to perform their altered roles after a major reorganization. The study findings supported current theory related to informal learning in the workplace and expanded on that theory by providing a new conceptualization of informal learning and the impact of organization structure on informal learning used by the engineers. "How Lesbians Have Learned to Negotiate the Heterosexism of Corporate America" (Julie Gedro, Ronald M. Cervero, Juanita Johnson-Bailey) examines the informal and incidental learning that 10 self-identified practicing lesbians experienced when dealing with human resource departments, during committee and group work, and at social/corporate events. "Internationalization: Learning Processes in a Greek Manufacturing Group" (Patricia S. Sherrer) discusses a qualitative study of the following topics: ways individuals learn cultures that are not their own; ways actual versus expected career path influences members of an organization that is undergoing internationalization; ways organizations undergoing internationalization use the learning of their own members for competitive advantage; and factors that align all elements of an organization with its international environment. All three papers include substantial bibliographies. (MN)

This report presents findings from the 2001 National School Climate Survey related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) students' experiences and feelings of safety in school. A total of 904 LGBT students from 48 states and the District of Columbia participated. Results indicated that the overwhelming majority of students heard homophobic remarks, and faculty and staff contributed to the problem by making comments or failing to intervene when necessary. A large percentage of LGBT students (83.2) reported name calling, threats, and other forms of verbal abuse. Verbal, sexual, and physical harassment were common experiences for LGBT students of color and for female students, and the abuse was often compounded by racism and sexism. The majority of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school, and they were likely to skip classes or even days of school out of fear for personal safety. Transgender students were the least likely to feel their school communities were places of safety. Many schools failed to recognize the abuse faced by LGBT students, and as a result, resources and supportive personnel were rare. However, where resources and support were available (e.g., gay-straight alliances), a statistically significant number of LGBT students felt a greater sense of belonging at school. A copy of the survey is attached. (SM)

The goal of this research was to explore how filial piety and interpersonal contact with gay persons relates to attitudes toward lesbians and gay men in a Chinese sample from Taiwan. Sex differences of respondents and the intensity differences of attitudes toward lesbians and gay men were also investigated. The participants were 187 undergraduates (68 males, 119 females) from a major university in Taiwan. The Filial Piety Scale and the Attitudes Towards Lesbians and Gay Men Scale were employed. The results indicated that respondents' attitudes toward lesbians and gay men were correlated with filial piety and interpersonal contact. However, the contact effect only holds for men, not for women. In addition, men hold more intolerant attitudes toward lesbians and gay men than do women. These findings support the notion that internalized filial piety relates to Chinese people's intolerant attitudes toward lesbians and gay men. Thus, negative attitudes toward gay persons serve a functional purpose. (Contains 10 references.) (Author/JDM)

This study attempted to develop psychometric properties of the Sexual Orientation Counselor Competency Scale (SOCCS), an instrument used to assess the awareness, skills, and knowledge of counselors working with the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) population. A sample of 287 undergraduates, master-level and doctoral-level students, and counseling psychologists were surveyed. Four distinct factors were indicated: awareness; skills; knowledge; and social desirability. Criterion validity was demonstrated by the significant relationships found between SOCCS scores and participants' education level, sexual orientation, and religious conservatism. It was minimally correlated with the Beck Depression Inventory. Strong correlations were found between the SOCCS and measures of homoprejudice, multicultural counselor competency, and counselor self-efficacy, thus establishing convergent validity for the subscales of awareness, skills, and knowledge. The results of the survey demonstrated that the SOCCS is a reliable and valid instrument to assess the awareness, skills, and knowledge of counselors working with LGB clients. (Contains 5 tables, 1 appendix, and 21 references.) (Author/JDM)

Identity formation involves the development of self esteem, social skills, and a sense of self. Many gay and lesbian adults have noted that they were aware of their attraction to members of the same sex as early as five- and six-years-old. Reactions they received from parents and others often added to their stress. Following a description of the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV diagnosis of Gender Identity Disorder, this paper offers helping professionals information on counseling families and adults about Gender Identity Disorder. Therapeutic strategies used for treating children can include family therapy, psychotherapy, parental counseling, and behavior therapy. Being a caring and nonjudgmental helping professional can aid in building a support system for the child or adolescent, which is desperately needed during the time they are trying to figure out who they are. Sensitivity and awareness are the two greatest assets the counselor can have when working with these clients. (JDM)

The first-ever study of its kind, this report chronicles the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) youth in the New York juvenile justice system. This report combines existing social science research and personal interviews with juvenile justice professionals and LGBT youth and reveals that the system is plagued by discrimination and bias against LGBT youth. A major goal of this report is to bring attention to an otherwise largely invisible segment of the juvenile justice population. The research identified six major issues that LGBT youth confront once in the system: a lack of awareness about the existence of LGBT youth and their needs; a lack of appropriate sentencing options appropriate; the safety of detained LGBT youth; professionals who lack expertise and training on how to meet the needs of this population; a lack of specific policies relating to LGBT youth; and a lack of services that are sensitive to the needs of LGBT youth. This report concludes with further recommendations on moving forward, including the formulation of task forces by the city and state juvenile justice agencies. It is suggested that advocates in the juvenile justice and LGBT communities use this report to raise their own awareness and attention to LGBT youth in the system as well as lobby for policy changes to improve the system overall. (Contains 56 references.) (GCP)

The American Psychological Association's adoption of the Guidelines for Psychotherapy with Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Clients has the potential to change the education and training approaches in psychology graduate programs and internship settings. Current research suggests that many graduate students do not receive adequate information about sexual orientation issues. The Guidelines provide clear suggestions for exemplary practice with this population and may be used as a model curriculum for the development of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) courses. The Guidelines may also be used as a framework for graduate programs and internships to evaluate the existence or depth of their current training experiences in LGB psychology. This may lead to formal criteria and impact accreditation issues. By endorsing the Guidelines, the APA suggests or recommends that their use is an important step in helping to provide a high level of professional practice by psychologists. The three guidelines related to the education and training of psychologists are discussed in detail. (Contains 12 references.) (MKA)

This roundtable offered a springboard for discussion on homophobia in the workplace in four major areas: education, industry, mental health, and public service. In the discussion on education, gay, lesbian, and bisexual (GLB) college students explored ingrained attitudes and beliefs that impact their college life. Other issues explored in academia were job safety, curricula, coming out, and the impact of institutional homophobia. Homophobia in the corporate world considered strategies to help GLBs throughout their careers. Gay professional athletes explored the obstacles in professional sports for gay men to come out, the employment obstacles for gay men (such as coaching jobs), and their thoughts about being constrained to the closet. Homophobia in the helping professions examined the prejudicial attitudes of mental health professionals regarding GLBs and the impact on service delivery. It also addressed the issues GLB ethnic minority therapists face including training and supervision needs, countertransference, and boundary concerns. In the public service field, a discussion was held on the effects that police force homophobia can have on both the force and the public. Sexual minorities discussed their experiences working for religious organizations and the strategies for coping with discrimination. (Lists 22 web sites and 103 references.) (JDM)

The call for submissions from girls for a book, "Girls Talk," (Finch Publishing, Sydney, 1998) was based on the premise that girls have much to teach about the realities of negotiating ethnicity, gender, and sexuality. Using the published written and visual contributions, and drawing from postcolonial, "mestizaje," and feminist theories, this paper explores the processes of "coming out" and "going home" in the lives of young women and the location of their schools and teachers in the processes of acknowledging, negotiating, and reclaiming their cultural backgrounds and diverse sexualities. The paper illustrates public and private strategies girls and young women are adopting and devising to resist ethnocentric, racist, and heterosexist educational structures and pedagogies. It also recommends pedagogical strategies that can assist all students in the recognition and engagement with difference and with multi-placed persons in schools who are constantly undertaking "coming out/going home" journeys. Contains 18 references. (Author/BT)

This paper discusses the role of counselors as advocates for lesbian, bisexual, gay, and transgendered (LBGT) individuals as encouraged by the American Counseling Association's Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Definitions are offered for the following terms: sexual orientation, sexual preference, gender identity, heterosexism, and transgenderism. This paper offers that there are many ways for a professional counselor to be an advocate for LBGT individuals. One way for heterosexual and traditionally gendered persons to challenge heterosexism and transgenderism is to develop awareness and knowledge about the privileges that they enjoy as heterosexual and traditionally gendered people in society. A list is provided that identifies a portion of the privileges enjoyed by heterosexual and traditionally gendered persons. It is also important for professional counselors interested in LBGT advocacy to have direct experiences with LBGT persons in a variety of professional and personal situations. This interaction provides a chance for heterosexual and traditionally gendered advocates to hone their awareness, knowledge, and skills so that LBGT persons do not always assume the lead in challenging heterosexism and transgenderism. LBGT individuals are oppressed in many ways. Because of the additive nature of multiple oppressions, people with additional nondominant cultural identities may be targets of multiple forms of persecution. Culturally competent advocates in counseling take all of a person's cultural identities into account when collaborating on advocacy strategies. A list of advocacy strategies related to internalized and externalized oppression is also provided. A list if LBGT advocacy web sites is included as well. (Contains 12 references.) MKA)

The prevalence of suicidality among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth is considerably higher than the reported rates for heterosexual youth. The strongest predictors for suicidality among all youth are substance abuse; victimization; social isolation; and exposure to suicide attempts or completion among family members. Homosexual and bisexual youth show significantly elevated rates for these risk factors. In addition, these youth experience other contributing risk factors for suicidality that differentiates them from heterosexual youth. The strongest predictors for suicidality, unique for sexual-minority youth, are gender non-conformity and younger age at time of homosexual identity formation. The population-based studies reviewed provided limited information about the association between religion and suicidality among youths. There is not just one risk factor most predictive of suicidal behavior among gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth, just as there is not for heterosexual youth. More likely it is the experience of multiple risk factors simultaneously in combination with low rates of protective factors that exacerbate suicidality among homosexual youth. It is hoped that the findings in this report might lead to the development of preventive interventions by identifying particular risk factors among these youth. (Contains 2 tables and 53 references.) (JDM)

Higher education has made great progress in creating open organizational classroom environments for diverse populations. However, little research has been published on the experiences of lesbians and gay men in colleges and universities. A study identified the extent to which higher education is creating an open and comfortable environment for lesbians and gay men. The study examined lesbian and gay organizational and classroom experiences in higher education; it also solicited information on specific strategies that lesbian and gay educators and administrators are using to enhance those experiences. A sample group of 47 subjects responded to the survey (representing a response rate of 84%). A supplemental procedure yielded five participants who were members of a university-wide gay and lesbian caucus; thus, 52 was the total number of survey participants. Strict confidentiality was maintained, and subjects were not asked to identify themselves in any way. The survey revealed that lesbians and gays encounter fairly positive experiences in academic organizations and within the classroom; they are also actively working to enhance those environments through a variety of empowerment strategies. (Contains two tables of data and 64 references.) (Author/NKA)

Initial efforts to study the prevalence of homophobia targeted specific groups such as college students, health care workers, social workers, and others. Some of the specific correlates of homophobia, including gender, previous contact with gay people, the quality of that contact, religious affiliation, and the degree of religious practice are examined in this paper. The subjects, 200 female and 120 male undergraduates enrolled in human sexuality classes at a large university, completed informational surveys and self-report measures of homophobia. Homophobia was measured via self-reports of cognitive, affective, and behavioral aspects of anti-gay and anti-gay prejudice. Results showed that women reported lower levels of homophobia than men in the cognitive, affective, and behavioral measures, and that both men and women indicated lower levels of cognitive homophobia toward lesbians when compared to gay men. Homophobia negatively correlated with (1) previous contact with gay men and lesbians, (2) the degree of positive previous interaction with gay people, and (3) the number of gay and lesbian friends and acquaintances, but not family members. The levels of self-reported anti-gay attitudes positively correlated with church attendance, but not church affiliation. Limitations of the study, along with future directions for research, are offered. (Contains 63 references and 7 tables.) (RJM)

Using ethnographic research methods, semistructured interviews were conducted with three women involved with a gay/lesbian/bisexual student organization. All three individuals were sophomores at an urban university in a large metropolitan area. The students discussed the fluid nature of the definitions of lesbian, gay, and bisexual, noting that they were often overlapping and not as important in detail as in concept. The students noted that they functioned in multiple communities, and that issues of gender were more substantial than issues of sexual orientation. They also commented that campus communities based on sexual orientation usually centered around gay men. The expectations of campus life that the students held before entering college were limited: they wanted to be more"out" and they wanted to find more people like themselves than they found in high school. What they discovered in college, or perhaps created, was a sense of community and family, using their experiences as "outsiders" in the dominant culture to become "insiders" in a community based on sexual orientation and social stigmatization. (Contains 10 references.) (MDM)

Being gay or lesbian has been associated with many risk factors for youth, including the risk of rejection by family and peers. A limited study concerning gay youth at play and the significance of play in identity development of gay youth is reported here. The report has two purposes: to describe the social activities at a gathering specifically for gay youth and to analyze the social activities in terms of play and identity development for those attending. Data were collected employing traditional qualitative techniques. A detailed description of an overnight function held for gay youth is provided. Analysis of the different activities and the stages of play are then offered. It is concluded that making available to gay youth a variety of sanctioned social activities provides them an environment whereby they can develop, through play, their identities as homosexual individuals. In this safe environment the play of gay youth seems to follow certain patterns. It is argued that playing at being gay is essential before an individual can play with others in a gay role and thereby assume a personal identity of a competent gay person. (RJM)

This paper examines narratives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered youth who have not been silenced or disenfranchised and who have not felt powerless in the face of society's resentment and understanding of their lifestyle. Elements in school, at home, with the extended family networks, among peers, and particular interpersonal dynamics of the individual are scrutinized to uncover factors that contribute to their capacity to thrive. Based on this select group of youth, recommendations are offered for undoing homophobia and heterosexism in schools in order to make them inclusive settings where all people thrive. (EH)

This paper provides a current picture of what is happening to homosexual students in science classrooms, and discusses the necessity of promoting an understanding of what needs to be done to make science classrooms inclusive for gays and lesbians. A summary of a research study that used a survey of homosexual students' attitudes toward school and academic performance provides the framework for the argument that homophobia in classroom environments affects a large enough population of students to warrant serious consideration of remedies. It is suggested that to overcome homophobia we need to confront the issue and not relegate it to health or sex-education classes, and teach units about homosexuality in biology and life science classes as early as fourth grade. A wide range of research dealing with many aspects of homosexuality is cited. The rationale and the advantages to all students of an inclusive science curriculum are explained. Contains 23 references. (DDR)

This essay examines the ways in which health, as a discipline, has been influenced by feminist scholarship in the field. It explains that feminist scientists in the field have recognized and sought to address gender bias in traditional approaches to health research, including the androcentric bias in defining priorities for medical research, the lack of funding for clinical research on women, failure to recognize the effects of gender, and interactions between gender, ethnicity, and class in research. There is growing evidence to support the assertion that access to health care differs in accordance with gender, race, class, and age, and excessive focus on male research subjects and the definition of some diseases as "male" diseases has led to the underdiagnosis and undertreatment of these diseases in older women. It also notes that the exclusion of women of color and lesbians (and their health care needs) from clinical research has often resulted in inadequate or inappropriate theories and conclusions being drawn from the data. (Contains 110 references.) (MDM)

This study examined heterosexual college students attitudes toward gay men and lesbians, and in what types of situations were negative feelings expressed toward gay men and lesbians. A random sample of 224 residence hall students at the University of Maryland College Park completed the Situational Attitude Scale Sexual Orientation Survey, which includes questions based on 10 personal, social, and academically oriented situations. Three versions of the survey were randomly distributed, identical except that questions in Form A referred to "student," Form B referred to "gay male student," and Form C referred to "lesbian student." The study found that heterosexual male and female students reported more negative attitudes toward both gay males and lesbians than toward students whose sexual orientation was not disclosed, with deeper homophobic feelings held by male students than female students toward gay men. The magnitude of discomfort felt by heterosexual students toward gay males and lesbians varied across situations, but all students felt outrage when a gay male, lesbian, or student whose sexual orientation was not specified was physically assaulted. The results indicated that even the simplest of social interactions with gay male or lesbian students might elicit feelings of anxiety and concern among heterosexual students. (Contains 39 references.) (MDM)

The purpose of this study was to provide data on what role organizations for homosexual teachers play in the lives of lesbian, gay and bisexual teachers and to provide these organizations with information on how to strengthen their memberships. Thirteen lesbian and/or gay male teacher organizations assisted by distributing a survey on openness, job stress, and job satisfaction to their members (N=611), who in turn passed surveys along to an additional 289 homosexual or bisexual teachers who were not members of such organizations. Results found that members were more likely to be male, more confident of their civil rights, more likely to be involved in gay civil rights organizations, and less likely to be married or parents. Organization members displayed no significant differences from nonmembers on scales of job satisfaction, but reported significantly less stress at work related to their sexuality. Organization members had somewhat higher scores on measures of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, which, combined with lower scores for sense of personal accomplishment, put them at high risk for teacher burnout. Members were significantly more likely to say they would choose the teaching profession. Results suggest that participation in such organizations helped prevent teacher burnout. Contains 3 tables of data. (PB)

This study analyzed writing in prominent British newspapers concerning homosexuality and lesbianism, focusing on these elements of discourse: discourse themes and assumptions underlying their choice; information treated as given or implied in the text; relationships with other discursive formations and texts; signification about the writer's authority and degree of certainty; the speaker's perception of agency and causality; and lexical choice. Legislation concerning or referring to homosexuality in Great Britain is chronicled, with attention given to specific terminology and its implications. Newspaper reports of one case in which a female school principal was criticized for a comment about heterosexual love are examined for reference to political correctness and lesbian stereotypes. Reportage of the parliamentary vote on raising the age of consent for gay men is also analyzed. It is concluded that collectively, these statements form a pattern of discourse that creates an atmosphere supportive of legitimate censure of the open expression of homosexuality. A revision of public discourse patterns is urged. Contains 21 references. (MSE)