PubMed Health⌕ Search

SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “Homosexuals”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1989

Controlled comparison of attitudes of psychiatrists, general practitioners, homosexual doctors and homosexual men to male homosexuality.

A controlled analysis of the attitudes of doctors and homosexual men to male homosexuality is reported. Not surprisingly the homosexual men held the most liberal attitudes which served as a yard-stick against which the doctors' attitudes could be assessed. The implications of these data, collected before the AIDS era, are discussed in terms of the current needs of homosexual patients.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Humoral immune responses in healthy heterosexual, homosexual and vasectomized men and in homosexual men with the acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

In homosexual men, the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is associated with sexual promiscuity and the appearance of circulating immune complexes (CICs) and antibodies to spermatozoa which crossreact with lymphoid cells. A comparative study was initiated to determine whether similar humoral responses existed in 38 heterosexual men lacking sperm antibodies, 13 heterosexuals with sperm antibodies, 42 heterosexual vasectomized men, 22 healthy homosexual men, 26 homosexuals with lymphadenopathy and 16 with AIDS or Kaposi's sarcoma (KS). Sperm antibodies were detected in 12% of the vasectomized heterosexual men, 23% of the healthy homosexuals, 35% of the lymphadenopathy patients and 44% of the men with KS-AIDS. IgG reactive with peripheral blood T lymphocytes was present in only 3% of heterosexuals lacking sperm antibody and 5% of vasectomized men. In contrast, 23% of heterosexuals with sperm antibody, 36% of healthy homosexuals, 31% of men with lymphadenopathy and 62% of KS-AIDS patients were positive in this assay. Antibodies to the neutral glycolipid asialo GM1 were found in none of the vasectomized men, 3% of the heterosexuals without and 8% with sperm antibodies, 17% of healthy homosexuals and 38% and 31% in patients with lymphadenopathy or KS-AIDS, respectively. Lastly, the incidence of CICs, determined by the Raji cell assay, was 0% in vasectomized men, 3% in heterosexuals lacking sperm antibody, 31% in heterosexuals with sperm antibody, 69% in healthy homosexuals, 81% in lymphadenopathy patients and 87% in KS-AIDS. In the homosexuals with lymphadenopathy and KS-AIDS, levels of CICs, T cell-reactive IgG and asialo GM1 antibody were positively correlated (p less than 0.01). Sperm antibody levels were negatively correlated (p less than 0.01) with CICs levels and T cell reactive IgG in heterosexuals and lymphadenopathy and KS-AIDS patients. The results demonstrate that vasectomized men do not manifest at all, and that non-vasectomized heterosexuals with sperm antibodies manifest to a much lesser extent the range of humoral immune responses exhibited by the three homosexual groups. Thus, the route of sperm immunization and/or exposure to autologous vs. heterologous spermatozoa may be of critical importance for eliciting specific immune responses.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1993

Exclusion, toleration, acceptance, integration: the experience of Dutch Reformed churches with homosexuality and homosexuals in the church.

The overwhelming majority of Protestant Christians in The Netherlands are members of denominations in the Reformed tradition (i.e., protestant churches characterized by Calvinist theology and a "presbyterian" church government by elected assemblies of elders). Comparable North American denominations are the Reformed Church in America and the United Presbyterian Church, both of which are facing some degree of internal controversy over homosexuality. In The Netherlands, the four major strands of the Reformed church have taken various positions on homosexuality, ranging from absolute rejection of homosexuality in the church and society, through one denomination which found itself in the curious position of approving the ordination of homosexual clergy while barring homosexuals from the Lord's Table, to creating "life covenants" which re-evaluate heterosexual marriage while also blessing relationships between homosexuals. All call upon the same set of principles for their varied stands. The two major denominational branches, the Netherlands Reformed Church (Hervormde Kerk) and the Reformed Churches in The Netherlands (Gereformeerde Kerken) have taken different approaches to resolving the issue, the former through internal political conflict and the latter through a more authoritarian (though progressive) stand. The article traces the political, theological, and juridical history of the evolution of these positions, and suggests various potential models, and their possibilities and pitfalls, for North American Protestant churches dealing with issues surrounding homosexuality and the church.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Proportion of unmarried siblings of homosexual and non homosexual gender-dysphoric patients.

Among the siblings of homosexuals, a lack of sexual and romantic interest in women may be independent of erotic feelings for men. This study investigated the sexual histories of siblings of gender-dysphoric outpatients. The patients were classified into three groups: non homosexual males, homosexual males and homosexual females. Their siblings consisted of 301 brothers and 284 sisters over the age of 25. Logistic regression showed that the brothers of the homosexual male patients were significantly less likely to have been married, either legally or common-law, than the brothers of the other gender-dysphoric groups, even with age and relative birth order taken into account. This finding suggests that the low propensity for long term heterosexual relationships seen in homosexual male gender-dysphoric patients also tends to appear in their brothers.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Effect of reading a summary of research about biological bases of homosexual orientation on attitudes toward homosexuals.

The effect of exposure to information regarding the development of homosexual orientation on attitudes toward homosexuals was investigated. Testing was conducted in five regularly scheduled undergraduate classes. 105 volunteer subjects from college classes were exposed to one of three treatment conditions. Subjects in the experimental group read a summary article of current research emphasizing a biological component of homosexual orientation. Subjects in one control group read a summary article of research focusing on the absence of hormonal differences between homosexual and heterosexual men. Subjects in another control group were not exposed to either article. All subjects completed the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals. As predicted, subjects in the experimental group had significantly lower scores than subjects in the control groups. There was a significant interaction between treatment condition and sex of subject. Scores on the index were significantly lower for women, but only in the experimental group. These results show that exposure to a research summary can significantly affect immediately assessed scores on the Index of Attitudes Toward Homosexuals. Also, the pattern of effects of these experiences was different for women and men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1977

Homosexuality and the ethics of behavioral intervention: Homosexuality, the ethical challenge.

It is suggested that behavior therapists have not attended sufficiently to the factors influencing the desire of some homosexuals to change their sexual orientation. Therapists of all persuasions constantly make decisions for their voluntary clients, encompassing both the goals of therapy and the means to be used to achieve those goals. A perusal of the psychotherapy and behavior therapy literature indicates that therapists generally regard homosexuality as undesirable, if not pathological. Since professionals are unlikely to work on treatment procedures unless they see a problem, it is probable that the very existence of change-of-orientation programs strengthens societal prejudices against homosexuality and contributes to the self-hate and embarrassment that are determinants of the "voluntary" desire by some homosexuals to become heterosexual. It is therefore proposed that we stop offering therapy to help homosexuals change and concentrate instead on improving the quality of their interpersonal relationships. Alternatively, more energy could be devoted to sexual enhancement procedures in general, regardless of the adult gender mix.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1978

Sex-role self-concepts of homosexual men and their attitudes toward both women and male homosexuality.

A nonclinical sample of 88 homosexual males responded to a questionnaire that assessed their sex-role self-concept and their attitudes toward both women and male homosexuality. Results indicated that in terms of socially valued masculine and feminine characteristics, the majority of homosexual males viewed themselves as predominantly androgynous. These respondents also favored equality between the sexes, reflecting positive attitudes toward women. Similarly, those homosexual men who supported equality between the sexes also held more positive attitudes toward male homosexuality.

Adult↗
PubMed1984

Conceptualizations of homosexual behavior which preclude homosexual self-labeling.

Our culture presents people with a problematic pair of messages: engaging in homosexual behavior makes a person a homosexual, and homosexuality is bad. In this context, maintenance of self-esteem, sexual/affectional satisfaction, and coherent identity requires some intricate psychological footwork. This article describes a variety of common conceptualizations of "homosexual behavior" which permit the individual to avoid the stigma of homosexual self-labeling. It is suggested that the "accuracy" of these constructions is less important than the appropriate doubt they cast on our widely held, but psychologically inadequate, concepts of sexual orientation.

Denial, Psychological↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Does homosexuality have a place in psychopathology? III. Behavioral approach and homosexuality].

The behavioral approach does not propose any global explaining theory of homosexuality. It was the subject of many clinical and experimental works. Some questions and hypotheses are raised on the theoretical and therapeutical as well as ethical frames. When the behaviorist speaks of homosexuality, he only refers to the mode of behavior, at the object and not to deep characteristics of the individual. The homosexual behavior is defined as resulting from a sexual excitation in the presence of uncommon stimuli. The sexual preference is not considered as the proof of a psychopathological problem. On the etiological ground, the homosexual behavior is resulting from a social learning with a possibility of biological predisposition. The therapeutic approach is controversial. Some authors feel the behaviorist should refuse to help the patient changing his sexual orientation, even if he asks for it.

Behavior Therapy↗
PubMed1982

An epidemic outbreak of hepatitis A among homosexual men in Stockholm. Hepatitis A, a special hazard for the male homosexual subpopulation in Sweden.

In 1979-1980, a distinct outbreak of hepatitis A occurred among homosexual men in Stockholm, Sweden, city and county area. The epidemic comprised 145 known cases. It began in December 1979 and progressed in waves during the following 10 months, with three distinct peaks separated by about six-week intervals. Actually, the incidence of hepatitis A in the Stockholm area showed a fivefold increase during 1980 as compared to the previous year. Clinical serologic, and social characteristics were studied more closely in 98 of the 145 homosexual men. Verification of hepatitis A was made by a solid-phase radioimmunoassay technique for detection of antibody to hepatitis A virus of the immunoglobulin M class. In addition, 64% of the men showed findings consistent with a prior hepatitis B (antibody to hepatitis B core antigen and/or antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen) and 34% were Treponema pallidum immobilization-positive from a prior or concomitant syphilis. Employment in risk professionals was common; thus, 19% worked in restaurants or otherwise handled food and 20% were engaged in medical care as compared to the 1% occupied in either branch of work among the general population in Sweden. Sexual habits with multiple partners and oral-anal sexual contacts were judged to be of major importance in the spread of this epidemic. Some spread of hepatitis A to the general population probably occurred due to the risk occupations of many homosexual men.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1979

Family psychotherapy with the homosexual family: a community psychiatry approach to homosexuality.

The author points out that homosexual families are not being treated by family psychotherapy despite an indicated need. This situation is inconsistent with good community psychiatry and behooves the mental health workers to become aware of and to work through his unrecognized negative feelings which are interfering with provision of services. Among the main resistances are the lack of familiarity and comfort with the family psychotherapy technique, inability to resist a greater gratification that comes from focusing on sex rather than on a less titillating relationship issue, and judgmental and condemning attitudes toward homosexuality that come from intrapsychic and societal sources.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗
PubMed1990

Homosexual and bisexual men's coping with the AIDS epidemic: qualitative interviews with 10 non-HIV-tested homosexual and bisexual men.

This paper describes how the threat of HIV infection is appraised and coped with by homosexual and bisexual men. Very little is known about men who do not want to be HIV tested, thus non-HIV-tested homosexual and bisexual men have been interviewed in depth about themes concerning their lives during the AIDS epidemic. Men with sexual risk behaviour appeared to be very reluctant to participate, and therefore six men with safe sexual behaviour and four men with unsafe sexual behaviour were interviewed. The results showed that all the men were well informed about AIDS and preventive measures. Reasons for not wanting a test were fear of psychological distress caused by a possible positive test and the fact that no treatment is available. The men who had adopted safe sex appraised their sex lives to have suffered a minor loss but found that sexuality played a subordinate role compared to trust and friendship. The men with risk behaviour considered sexuality to play an important role in their lives. They found condoms a barrier to intimacy and used defensive strategies to manage stress. Most of them were able to exchange social support with their network but had difficulties in setting their own limits. All four men had experienced undertreated traumatic events in their past. The results indicate that knowledge of AIDS and satisfactory social support do not necessarily result in safe sexual behaviour. The role of undertreated traumatic events forming barriers against adopting safe sexual practices should be further studied. Proposals are put forward for future health education programmes.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1992

Educators, homosexuality, and homosexual students: are personal feelings related to professional beliefs?

This study is based on interviews with Southern lesbian and gay young adults and survey data from school counselors and prospective teachers living in the South. The essay explores adolescents' perceptions of the beliefs and abilities of school counselors and teachers with regard to issues of homosexuality and the treatment of gay and lesbian students. As a complement and a contrast, it also presents educators' personal beliefs about homosexuality, and how these attitudes are actualized in the schools. One major conclusion is that while school counselors and, to a lesser extent, classroom teachers often expressed the feeling that they should be more proactive and supportive as professionals committed to the welfare of all of their students, due to countervailing expressions of high levels of personal prejudice, ignorance, and fear, the realities of their professional intervention and support were negligible.

Adult↗