Social Work with People Practicing Same-Sex ... - ILGA Europe

As for my homosexuality, I“ve
been lucky in my life. My story is
among those encouraging ones.
Covert homosexuals believe that
they will lose all if they disclose
their orientation. In my case it
was the other way round: all was
repaid me a thousandfold.
Melissa Etheridge
1 See Glossary of Terms.
2 Brooks, V. R., Minority Stress and
Lesbian Women, Lexington, MA:
D.C. Heath, 1981.
3 See Glossary of Terms.
4 DiPlacido, Joanne, “Minority
Stress Among Lesbians, Gay Men,
and Bisexuals”, in: A Consequence
of Heterosexism, Homophobia, and
Stigmatization, in: Herek, G. (ed.),
Stigma and Sexual Orientation:
Understanding Prejudice Against
Lesbians, Gay Men, and Bisexuals,
London: SAGE Publications, 1998,
pp. 138—159.
24
3. Psychological Health and Counselling
3.1. Minority Stress
Natalia Nagornaya,
International HIV/AIDS Alliance in Ukraine
Talking of homophobia and heterosexism 1 that prevail in the society one can hardly
neglect the “minority stress“, which represents one of the consequences resulting from
these phenomena. The term gained currency due to research conducted by Virginia
Brooks among U.S. lesbians in 1981 2 . Having examined factors that cause stress, stressinducing
conditions and its consequences among homosexual women, the researcher
has described the phenomena under observation as minority stress, as most of the
research participants have demonstrated its characteristic causes and traits. In the
following years, similar studies have been conducted among gays, lesbians, bisexuals
and transgender persons. Findings of these studies play an important role in planning
and performing social work, counselling and various research projects targeting
homosexual audiences.
What is it — this mysterious minority stress? What role does it play in the behavioural
practices in the context of HIV/AIDS?
According to the original definition of the author of the term, the main cause of this
condition is the attribution of the status of a backward and inferior to a certain group
of people based on race, ethnic origins, disease, limited physical abilities, sociosexual
preferences and so forth, which negatively affects the life and health of an individual.
An individual who appears to have been attributed to the “outcast“ category has no
power over the process of social labelling and unexpected obstacles and life challenges.
In that sense, HIV-positive people, persons with special physical needs, homosexuals,
African Ukrainians, and Gypsies as well as other categories of “different“ people may
experience as perceived pressure, rights infringement and discrimination on the
part of the society. Reasons of such attitude include failure to meet various socially
constructed standards deeply rooted in one's culture.
In the case of homosexual people the problem stems from sexism, heterosexism 3 and
homophobia, deeply rooted in the society's culture. The history of these “isms“ and
“phobias“ goes back to times when agriculture had been the main occupation of people
and their main problem were frequent wars during the time when the patriarchal values
were being established, largely sanctioned by monotheistic religions, reproductive
standards, gender inequality and, eventually, a negative attitude toward those who fails
to meet these requirements. Dogmas sprouted ... complex combinations of standards
defined the ideals… People would increasingly divide themselves into “right“ and
“wrong“ ones while forgetting that they all are human at the first place... While
living in a homophobic society, the homosexual people are faced with psychological
and physical violence, discrimination in all spheres of life and at various stages of
realization of their orientation. They more frequently feel lonely and isolated 4 .