The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community - Case Study Example

The Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community According to Lev (2006), lesbian is the term used to describe sexual and romantic desire between females, specifically with reference to women who identify themselves or who are characterized by others as having the primary attribute of female homosexuality. Similarly, the term refers to the characteristics of an activity in reference to female sexual desire. Originally the word "lesbian" is derived from the Greek island named Lesbos which is home to the 6th century BCE poet Sappho. Lesbian as a concept is used to differentiate women with shared sex orientation. Throughout history, women have not had the freedom to pursue homosexual relationships as men have, but neither have they met the harsh punishment in some societies as homosexual men. Instead, lesbian relationships have often been regarded as harmless and incomparable to heterosexual ones unless the participants attempted to assert privileges traditionally enjoyed by men. As a result, little in history has been documented to give an accurate description of how female homosexuality has been expressed (Doan, 2001). When early sexologists in the late 19th century began to categorize and describe homosexuality behavior associated with lack of knowledge about lesbianism or women’s sexuality, they distinguished lesbians as women who did not adhere to female gender roles and designated them mentally ill. Women in homosexual relationships responded to this designation either by hiding their personal lives or accepting the label as outcasts and creating a subculture and an identity that developed in most parts of the world. Following World War II, during a period of social reorientation expression when governments actively persecuted homosexuals, women developed networks to socialize and educate each other. Greater economic and social freedom allowed women to gradually determine how they could form relationships and families. The growth of scholarship with second wave feminism in women’s history and sexuality in the 20th century broadened the definition of lesbian, sparking a debate about sexual desire being the major component to define what a it represents. Unlike their male counterparts, women are known to show greater sexual fluidity, and find it easier to become physically and emotionally intimate with fellow women. Some women who engage in homosexual behavior may entirely reject the lesbianism identity, refusing to identify themselves as being lesbians or bisexuals; although others adopt lesbian identity for political reasons. Greater understanding of womens sexuality has led to three components of identifying lesbians: sexual behavior, sexual desire, or sexual identity. Portrayals of lesbians in the media suggest that the Western society at large has been simultaneously intrigued and threatened by women who challenge feminine gender roles, and fascinated and appalled with women who are romantically involved with other women. In order to form an outlook similar to an ethnic identity, women adopt a lesbian identity share experiences; just like homosexuals, they are unified by the discrimination and potential rejection from their families, friends, and the general public. As women, they face concerns separate from men, and may encounter distinct physical or mental health concerns. The formation of relationships and families among the LGBT community are affected by social attitudes and political conditions. Some of the key social issues affecting the LGBT community as a whole include discrimination and social isolation (Hamer & Budge, 1994). Discrimination Discrimination towards the LGBT community occurs when someone identifies a distinction because of their sexuality and uses this as a basis for prejudice against them or as a cause for unfair treatment. Discrimination can either be direct or indirect and/or explicit and implicit. An example of direct discrimination is the lack of legal recognition of same sex relationships, resulting in their not having access to the same rights as ‘straight’ couples. An example of indirect discrimination is the lack of understanding of lesbians issues by statutory service agencies, resulting in a lack of access to and provision of appropriate services. Lack of legal recognition of same sex relationships is another indication of direct discrimination (Lev, 2006). In a number of areas the impact of a lack of legal recognition of same sex partnerships becomes more acute. LGBT’s rights, have been highlighted in a number of areas where same sex couples do not have access to the same rights as heterosexual couples such as lack of legal recognition of same sex unions, resulting in no legal claim on inheritance of property. For instance, if there is no will, a same-sex partner cannot make a claim under the rules of intestacy. Consequently, the entirety of the deceased partner’s estate would pass to his or her next of kin; rendering the deserving partner penniless. According to Radford (2001), many pension schemes either do not recognize same sex partners as beneficiaries or grant them lesser pension provision than to widows and widowers. Additionally, there are no rights to fatal accident compensation whereby the victim suffers a lot of tax inequities in capital gains tax, inheritance tax and married couples’ allowance. For example, if a lesbian couple jointly own their home, the bereaved partner would still be liable to pay inheritance tax on the value of the deceased partner’s half of the house. Other areas where the lack of legal recognition of LGBT relationships impact on their living styles include: When local authorities assess charging for the care of lesbians, may not get the house disregarded when their partner is not able to. Disregards are discretionary and so this will vary according to local authority; there is no legal protection or recourse when confronted with discriminatory actions or attitudes (unlike discrimination based on gender or race). Access One result of discriminating against people’s sexual orientation is a lack of provision of appropriate services for LGBT community in later life, such as housing, health and social care services, which recognize their existence and are responsive to their needs. This discrimination is often indirect with a general lack of provision of mainstream services which meet their daily needs. Similarly, older people’s sexuality is affected by some aspects of general denial. Many service providers and key workers find it difficult to acknowledge and deal with older people as sexual beings due to embarrassment and tend to deny the importance of sexuality among the older LGBT community. Social isolation The LBGT whether they have ‘come out’ or not, may face greater social isolation due to both direct and indirect discrimination. Considered a strong factor in social isolation, the direct discrimination occurs with assumptions of heterosexuality. This case of direct discrimination among gays and lesbian include; living in rural communities, where they are few amenities specific for them, in addition to transport problems that may increase their social isolation from their urban-based counterparts. Often the LGBT are isolated because of their invisibility unlike other minority groups within the population primarily due to policies and practices which do not take into account needs that may compound their invisibility (Doan, 2001). Furthermore, the tendency of the media to focus on partnership issues can make them feel even more socially isolated. It is important to address issues of homophobia in later life, as the increasing physical and sometimes psychological dependency can accompany their lives and make them feel vulnerable. Best practice (Public Policy) Certain policies and initiatives demonstrate the changing societal and governmental attitudes towards homosexuality from a historical perspective. First, the government in the recent past appears to be willing to promote greater cultural diversity, and has in turn promoted policies to tackle discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation. Secondly, through Supporting Inclusive Communities, is whereby these joint guidelines have been produced and designed to address local authorities’ concerns about their relationship with lesbian (Adam, 1987). Thirdly, through service provision and practice which encourages the development of partnership working between policy makers, public service providers, mainstream voluntary organizations and the LGBT community to enable their voices to be heard; to support and promote initiatives and to achieve lasting changes in attitudes and practice. Fourth, to put the case to Government seeking promotion of their recognition and inclusive statutory working practices, through staff training and other initiatives, to ensure that mainstream services are accessible (Castle, 2003). Fourth, to promote the need for specific provision of housing, health and social care services, where demand is expressed; and in ultimately to raise the general public’s awareness and understanding of issues facing LGBT media and campaigning work. Statistical research project: The subject experience of the lesbian mother an exploration of the construction of lesbian maternal identity This study explored the subjective experience of lesbian non-birth mothers as they constructed their identity. A purposive sampling strategy of 7 lesbian non-birth mothers, ranging in age from 35 to 73 years, participated in audio taped interviews. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis of data concentrated on how participants negotiated constitutive binaries of mother/father in the process of socially constructing their role. The study found that non-birth mothers position themselves as the same and different through challenging and sometimes sidestepping either oppositions of mother and father. The family of origin often posed the greatest opposition to their role. Furthermore LGBT associated co-mothers have become the front-runners of a new form of 21st century family through the day-to-day work of discursively creating their maternal identity. According to Hamer and Budge (1994), the 1980s saw the beginnings of an increasingly visible lesbian baby boom in Western industrialized countries including Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom. By the turn of the century there were between 1.5 million and 5 million LGBT couples living with their children as a family unit in the United States alone. In Australia, surveys indicate that 20 per cent of LGBTs have children and a further 40 per cent want to have children in the near future (Perlesz& McNair, 2004). As such, continued research on LGBT-headed families would appear to be both timely and important. The lesbian non-birth mother is frequently positioned within the language of psychological, social, and legal discourses by being either acknowledged as the birth mothers partner, but not as a mother or parent in her own right, or is rendered invisible, by not being acknowledged at all (Mallett, 2004). Therefore, I argue that it is important, from a constructionist standpoint, to recognize that binaries such as nurturing heterosexual mother versus deviant sexual lesbian are constructions that inform perceptions of reality, and while they are descriptive of a social context wherein heterosexuality is the norm, they also actively contribute to the maintenance of that norm. If the constructive nature of the binary is accepted, it then becomes possible to straddle the opposing sides and move between and beyond them. Issues Raised by Previous Research Empirical research carried out among LGBT families over the last thirty years began in response to legislative and judicial decisions in Europe and America where divorcing biological mothers, who belonged to the LGBT community, were denied custody of their children based on what was considered the best interest of the child. There has been an assumption within the courts that lesbians are mentally ill, that lesbians are less maternal than heterosexual women, and that the nature lesbian relationships leaves little time for child rearing. Until the mid 1970s, the vast majority of lesbian research constructed homosexuals as sick and deviant individuals who were the result of disturbed upbringings (Perlesz& McNair, 2004). Method of data collection Sampling was used to meet the selection parameters participants needed to be lesbian and be in a relationship where, together with their female partner, they had planned to have at least one child that the participant’s partner gave birth to Snowball and purposeful sampling approaches were used. I used a purposeful sampling approach to select participants from a wide geographical area to maximize diversity within the data. Data Collected Participant Age Maternalidentifier Partner Maternalidentifier Child Child’s-Age Residence Linda 35 Mamma Nancy Mummy Caro 2 Sydney Paola 38 Mummy-Paola Margot Mummy-Margot April 6 Coastal-NSW           Jesse 4   Belinda 39 Mama Carmen Mummy Troy 2 Inland-NSW Lily 45 Lily Mellisa Mummy Sophie 3 Coastal-NSW Jane 72 Spare-mum Claire Mum Karla 24 Inland-NSW     or Jane           Rosie 47 Mama Hanna Mummy Pearl 3 Melbourne Anna 36 Mummy-Anna Cate Mummy-Cate Jack 3 Melbourne Demographic Information Participants came from two major urban centers and two major rural centers in Australia. Pseudonyms are used for all interviewees, their partners, their children, and other people mentioned. Results and Discussion Lesbian mothers in this study experienced themselves as both the same as and different to heterosexual mothers and general society. Their interpretation of the ways they are constructed, such as invisible, or deviant, or equal, inform how they negotiate with the world. By questioning what it means to be a mother, or a father, or a parent, these LGBT members negotiate the tensions between these categories and can be seen to challenge and re-work at times utilizing, subverting, transcending, sidestepping and transforming (Radford, 2001). Conclusion In summary, there is no evidence to suggest that lesbian women and LGBT community as a whole are unfit to be parents or that psychosocial development among their children is compromised relative to that among offspring of heterosexual parents. Not a single study has found children of LGBT parents to be disadvantaged in any significant respect relative to children of heterosexual parents. Indeed, the evidence to date suggests that home environments provided by such parents are as likely as those provided by heterosexual parents to support and enable childrens psychosocial growth. It should be acknowledged that research on LGBT parents and their children, though no longer new, is still limited in extent. Although studies of adolescent and young adult offspring of lesbian are available (Mallett, 2004), relatively few studies have focused on the offspring of LGBT parents during adolescence or adulthood. Although more diverse samples have been included in recent studies, many sources of heterogeneity have yet to be systematically investigated. Although two longitudinal studies have been reported, longitudinal studies that follow LGBT parent families over time are still needed. Thus, although a considerable amount of information is available, additional research would further our understanding of LGBT parents and their children (Brodzinsky & Pertman, 2011). References Adam, B. (1987). The Rise of a Gay and Lesbian Movement.  New York: G. K. Hall & Co. Brodzinsky, D. M., & Pertman, A. (2011). Adoption by Lesbians and Gay Men: A New Dimension in Family Diversity. New Zealand: Oxford University Press. Castle, T. (2003). The Literature of Lesbianism: A Historical Anthology from Ariosto to Stonewall. New York: Columbia University Press. Doan, L. (2001). The Origins of a Modern English Lesbian Culture. New York: Columbia University Press. Hamer, D., & Budge, B. (1994). The Good, the Bad and the Gorgeous: Popular Cultures Romance with Lesbianism. London: Pandora. Lev, A. I. (2006). Psychotherapy. GLBTQ: An encyclopedia of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender & queer culture. Chicago: GLBTQ, Inc. Mallett, S. (2004). Understanding home: A critical review of the literature. The Sociological Review, 52, 62-88. Perlesz, A. & McNair, R. (2004). Lesbian parenting: Insiders’ voices. The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Family Therapy, 25, 129-140. Radford, N. A. (2001). Who’s who in contemporary gay & lesbian history? London: Routledge. Read More