LGBT YOUTH,

HOMOPHOBIA AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOURS

LGBT YOUTH,
HOMOPHOBIA AND SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOURS
Homophobia can contribute people
feeling bad about their own sexuality
and developing low self esteem
which trigger self-destructive cycles
of behaviour (drinking, drug taking,
self-harm, etc)
Young LGBT people encounter in the
process of becoming adults, these
include: homelessness, bullying,
family rejection, and etc
LGBT people can have rates of sui-
cide attempts at least four times
those of their heterosexual counter-
parts.
4
Fact
Fact
Based on study, 19% had attempted
self-destructive behaviour once
and 8% had attempted self-destruc-
tive behaviour more than once due
to sexual orientation difficulties,
with 30% in multiple self-destruc-
tive attempts due to having been
bullied at school.
LGBT identity is formed though the
shame/pride binary .based on
research, it became evident that
shame was the unspoken emotion
of the young LGBT people.
These strategies of shame-avoid-
ance might lead young LGBT people
to manage homophobia individually,
without expectation of support, and
as such may make them vulnerable-
toself-destructive behaviours.
13 Interviews 11 focus groups
Young people aged 16-25 yo in North West of
England and South Wales, with 69 people par-
ticipating.
INVOLVED
RESULT
TARGET
at least half had
themselves attempt
suicide or self-harmed.
Reearc Metho
Reearc Metho
Homophobiis a range of negativeattitudesand feelings towardhomosexuality
or people who are identified or perceived as being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender
(LGBT). It can be expressed as antipathy, contempt, prejudice, aversion, or hatred, may be
based on irrationalfear, and is sometimes related toreligious beliefs. Homophobia is observ-
able in critical and hostile behaviour such as discrimination and violence on the basis of
sexual orientationsthat arenon-heterosexual.
Christian:
Romans 1:27
Moslem:
Al-'A`rf 7:81
Indeed, you approach men with desire, instead of women. Rather, you are a
transgressing people.
In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women
and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts
with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
This dalil from Al Quran refers to the act of homosexuals back during
Prophet Luths time. Their actions are misguided and they finally receive
punishment from Allah for deviating His commands.
Religiou View
Religiou View
Buddhist:
Steps of the Buddha: by trying to understand them (LGBT) on the
basis of compassion and understanding are always taught in
Buddhism, and try to understand that the homosexual life is cur-
rently very hard, especially in certain places where they do not
understand, that they are viewed with an eye full fear and dis-
gust. Buddhist compassion should be able to accept them as they
are (according to Buddhism) and try to advise them, if they are
homosexual, homosexual be loving, good and moral.
In this paper, the researcher interviewed two Welsh gay men; who talked about the con-
nection between homophobia, suicide, and being gay. The two important points are
1. They present an implicit understanding that being labeled gay is a term of abuse
which potentially can caused an individual considerable distressed which may lead to
suicidal behavior .
2. People judge a person gay based on voice tone (feminine), appearance, and the
gender of sexual partner (girlfriends).
HOMO
PHOBIA
Ca
Ca
Homophobia is discursively constructed by the research participants as punishment
for the transgression of heterosexual norms. In response to homophobia, there are
two possibilities for action which are suicide, a result of extreme distressed and a
shamed-subject position; defiance, a subject position that refuses the shaming
of homophobia.
In this research homophobia can be minimized, although hard. The participants may be
hesitant to seek help, because they did not expect support either from education and
welfare surfaces or their families. Young LGBT feels that as young adult they must
take individual responsibility for negotiating homophobia. And they may be reluc-
tant to seek support. Their ways of managing homophobia include being mature,
responsible (caring for others), and proud (accept being LGBT) to position them-
selves with a positive gay identity that is unashamed with their sexuality
Do not Seek Help
Individually
mature
responsible
proud
This research demonstrates the difficulties of young LGBT people may face and how to
overcome it by the right support (Stonewall 2007). The researches concern about the
effects of homophobia on the mental health of young LGBT people is deepened by
these findings, which suggest that young LGBT people may employ individualistic
shame-avoidance strategies to negotiate homophobia which closes down the opportu-
nities for taking action beyond the individual level.
Difculties of Young LGBT People
Do not Seek Help Individually Avoiding Shame Mental Health
Conclusio
Conclusio