Transcript Chapter 8

Chapter 8
Same-Sex Couples and
Families
Chapter 8: Same-Sex Couples and Families
Chapter Outline
• Introduction
• Identifying and Classifying Sexual Orientation
• Heterosexism, Homonegativity, Homophobia,
and Biphobia
• Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and MixedOrientation Relationships
• Relationships of Bisexuals
• Coming Out to a Partner and Same-Sex
Marriage
• The Future of Same-Sex Relationships
Chapter 8: Same-Sex Couples and Families
Introduction
• Quote: “If homosexuality is a disease,
let’s all call in queer to work: ‘Hello.
Can’t work today, still queer.’”
• Discussion: What are some of the
problems that same-sex couples
experience in contemporary U.S. society?
Will some of these improve or get worse in
the future?
Chapter 8: Same-Sex Couples and Families
Introduction
• True or False:
1. Homosexuals are more likely to keep a
secret from a romantic partner than
heterosexuals.
2. Children reared in lesbian families are more
likely to feel that they are gay than children
reared in heterosexual families.
3. Homosexuals are far more likely than any
other minority group in the United States to
be victimized by violent hate crime.
Chapter 8: Same-Sex Couples and Families
Introduction
• True or False Answers:
1. True (pg. 227) – Because gays are used to
keeping their identities secret, research
suggests that it has an effect on their
interpersonal relationships. Brackett et al.
(2010) found that gays were more likely to
keep a secret from romantic partners than
straights.
2. False
3. True
Same-Sex Couples and Families
• In this chapter, we discuss same-sex couple and family
relationships, that are, in many ways similar to heterosexual
ones.
• Sexual Orientation: classification of individuals as
heterosexual, bisexual, or homosexual, based on their
emotional, cognitive, sexual attractions and self-identity
(Sexual Identity is a term used here as well.)
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Heterosexuality
Homosexuality
Bisexuality
Lesbian
Gay
Queer Theory
LGBT, GLBT, LGBITQ, or GLBITQ
Identifying and Classifying Sexual Orientation
• The classification of individuals into
orientation categories is problematic for a
number of reasons:
– Social stigma is associated with non-heterosexual
identities.
– Not all people who are sexually attracted or have
had sexual relations with individuals of the samesex view themselves as homosexual or bisexual.
– Sexual-orientation classification is complicated by
the fact that sexual behavior, attraction, love,
desire, and sexual-orientation identity do not
always match.
Identifying and Classifying Sexual Orientation
• Prevalence of Homosexuality,
Heterosexuality, and Bisexuality
– Despite the difficulties inherent in categorizing
individuals’ sexual orientation, considerable data
reveal the prevalence of individuals in the United
States who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual.
• Prevalence of Same-Sex
Couples/Households
– In 2009, there were 565,000 unmarried same-sex
couple households.
Identifying and Classifying Sexual Orientation
Gay Male Singlehood
• Approximately 50% of gay men describe
themselves as single (i.e., without a committed
relationship).
• Many (one-fifth) of gay men who participated in a
study indicated that they chose to remain single.
Reasons include:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Personal Past
Collective Past
Previous Relationship
Particular Tastes
Still Searching
Loner
Origins of Sexual-Orientation Diversity
• Much of the biomedical and psychological
research on sexual orientation attempts to
identify one or more “causes” of sexualorientation diversity.
• What are the beliefs about what “causes”
homosexuality?
• Can homosexuals change Their sexual
orientation?
Heterosexism, Homonegativity,
Homophobia, and Biphobia
• Heterosexism refers to “the institutional
and social reinforcement of
heterosexuality as the privileged and
powerful norm.”
• “Don’t Ask Don’t Tell” Military Policy
Heterosexism, Homonegativity, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Attitudes toward Homosexuality, Homonegativity, and Homophobia
• Adolfsen et al. (2010) noted that there are multiple
dimensions of attitudes about homosexuality and
identified five:
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General Attitude
Equal Rights
Close Quarters
Public Display
Modern Homonegativity
• Homophobia is negative attitudes and emotions
toward homosexuality and those who engage in
homosexual behavior.
• Homonegativity is attaching negative connotations to
homosexuality.
Heterosexism, Homonegativity, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Attitudes toward Homosexuality, Homonegativity, and Homophobia
• Internalized homophobia is a sense of
personal failure and self-hatred among
lesbians and gay men resulting from social
rejection and stigmatization of being gay.
– Has been linked to increased risk of depression,
substance abuse and addiction, anxiety, and
suicidal thoughts
• Biphobia (also referred to as binegativity)
refers to a parallel set of negative attitudes
toward bisexuality and those identified as
bisexual.
Heterosexism, Homonegativity, Homophobia, and Biphobia
Effects of Antigay Bias and Discrimination on Heterosexuals
• The anti-gay and heterosexist social climate
of our society is often viewed in terms of how
it victimizes the gay population.
1. Heterosexual Victims of Hate Crimes
2. Concern, fear, and grief over well-being of gay
or lesbian family members and friends
3. Restriction of intimacy and self-expression
4. Dysfunctional sexual behavior
5. School shootings
6. Loss of rights for individuals in unmarried
relationships
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and MixedOrientation Relationships
• Relationship Satisfaction
• Monogamy and Sexuality
• Monogamous Gay Male Sex (with casual
sex on the side)
Relationships of Bisexuals
• Individuals who identify as bisexual have
the ability to form intimate relationships
with both sexes.
• Division of Labor
• Mixed-Orientation Relationships
• Lifetime Sexual Abuse
Coming Out to a Partner and
Same-Sex Marriage
• Food for thought…
– Discussion: What are the risks and
benefits of “coming out?”
Coming Out to a Partner and SameSex Marriage
• “Coming Out” refers to being open about
one’s sexual orientation and identity.
– Ex.: coming out to a partner (of the opposite
sex)
Coming Out to a Partner and
Same-Sex Marriage
Risks of “Coming Out”
Benefits of “Coming Out”
Parental and Family Members’
Reactions
Some report feeling better being open
and honest.
Harassment and Discrimination at
School
Benefits the Entire GLBT Population
because research has shown that, in
general, heterosexuals have more
positive attitudes toward homosexuals
if they have had prior contact.
Discrimination and Harassment in the
Workplace
Hate Crime Victimization
Coming Out to a Partner and Same-Sex Marriage
Same-Sex Marriage
• As of 2010, six states and the District of
Columbia now offer civil marriage licenses
to same-sex couples (Connecticut, Iowa,
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont,
and Maine).
• Antigay Marriage Legislation
– Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA)
Coming Out to a Partner and Same-Sex Marriage
Arguments for Same-Sex Marriage
• Advocates of same-sex marriage argue that banning or refusing
to recognize same-sex marriages granted in other states is a
violation of civil rights that denies same-sex couples the many
legal and financial benefits that are granted to heterosexual
married couples. Rights and benefits that married spouses have
include the following:
– The right to inherit from a spouse who dies without a will
– No inheritance taxes between spouses
– The right to make crucial medical decisions for a partner and
to take care of a seriously ill partner or parent of a partner
under current provisions in the federal Family and Medical
Leave Act
– Social Security survivor benefits
– Health insurance coverage under a spouse’s insurance plan
Coming Out to a Partner and Same-Sex Marriage
Arguments Against Same-Sex Marriage
• Opponents commonly argue that such
marriages would subvert the stability and
integrity of the heterosexual family.
• Many opponents base their opposition on
religious belief.
• Many point to public opinion polls that are
negative.
State Legal Recognition of Same-Sex Couples
• There is no federal recognition of same-sex couples in the United
States. However, a number of U.S. states allow same-sex couples
legal status that entitles them to many of the same rights and
responsibilities as married couples.
GLBT Parenting Issues
• Of the more than 600,000 same-sex
couple households in the 2000 census,
162,000 had one or more children living in
the household. This is thought to be a low
estimate.
• Gay Families – Lesbian Mothers and Gay
Fathers
• Developmental and Well-Being of Children
with Gay or Lesbian Parents
GLBT Parenting Issues
• Discrimination in Child Custody, Visitation, Adoption,
and Foster Care
– Second-parent adoption is a legal procedure that allows
individuals to adopt their partner’s biological or adoptive
child without terminating the first parent’s legal status as
parent.
• Benefits of Second-Parent Adoption for Children
– Placing Legal Responsibility on the Parent
– Allowing the Child to Live with the Legal Parent
– Enabling the Child to Inherit and Receive Social Security
Benefits
– Enabling the Child to Receive Health Insurance Benefits
– Giving the Legal Parent Standing to Petition for Custody or
Visitation
The Future of Same-Sex
Relationships
• Moral acceptance and social
tolerance/acceptance of gays and lesbians
as individuals, spouses, and parents will
come slowly.
• Homonegativity is entrenched in American
society. However, as more states
recognize the legitimacy of same-sex
marriage, acceptance will increase.
Quick Quiz
1. The classification of individuals into sexual
orientation categories is problematic because:
a. of social stigma associated with non-heterosexual
identities
b. not all people who are sexually attracted to the same
sex identify as homosexual
c. not all people who have had sexual experiences with
the same sex identify as homosexual
d. All of the above
Quick Quiz
2. Most gay men think that homosexuality
is:
a. caused by a bad relationship with a man’s
father
b. caused by being too close to a man’s mother
c. an inherited, inborn trait
d. a learned behavior
Quick Quiz
3. The military policy and guideline
concerning gays and lesbians in the
military, from 1993 until recently when
appealed by Obama, was referred to as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT)
“Defense of the Military Act” (DOMA)
“Anti-Homosexual Military Act” (AHMA)
None of the above
Quick Quiz
4. The negative attitude and emotions
toward homosexuality and those who
engage in homosexual behavior is
commonly referred to as:
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
homosexism
homophobia
anti-homoistic
hyper-heteroistic
all of the above
Quick Quiz
5. Which one of the following is considered
a risk of “coming out” to friends or loved
ones?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
Negative parental reaction
Fear of harassment
Discrimination
Hate crime victimization
All of the above