Incites inquiry as to how modern American literature reflects on the problem of identity. Spotlights the contribution to modern American writing by Wallace Thurman's "Harlem" fiction. Endeavors to link a racial imperative to a sexual imperative by means of a current theoretical discourse surrounding notions of city and community life.…

Tested a theoretical model that linked membership in a devalued social group to emotional health. Surveyed white, middle-to-upper-class undergraduate students regarding personal and collective self-esteem (by gender), attitudes and behaviors associated with female socialization, and emotional distress. Results supported the direct effect of each…

Examined relationship of positive lesbian and homosexual identity and psychological adjustment in lesbians (N=50) and homosexual men (N=50) and younger sample of college students (N=131). Two coping strategies (self-labeling as homosexual and self-disclosure of sexual orientation to others) were related to development of positive lesbian or…

Describes the experiences of heterosexual teachers in introducing the topic of sexual preference into a freshman writing course. Expounds on the pitfalls of a writing assignment in which students were asked to describe a conversation with someone about homosexuality. Includes numerous attempts at integrating lesbian and gay experiences into the…

Analysis of 100 AIDS death obituaries indicates imageries reflect much about American society, such as attitudes toward homosexuality, attitudes toward AIDS, and understanding of linkages between sexual practices and AIDS. Analysis suggests construction of AIDS obituaries may be manifestations of sociopolitical structure and a consequence of bias…

Reviews research that examines the role of sexual orientation on human development, and introduces the articles in this special issue. Argues that research on sexual orientation and human development has the potential to make important contributions to both the theory and practice of developmental psychology. (MDM)

Reviews research examining the predictive aspects of childhood sex-typed behavior for sexual orientation. Prospective studies suggest that childhood cross-typed behavior is strongly predictive of adult homosexual orientation for men, whereas retrospective studies are useful in determining how many homosexual individuals displayed cross-sex…

Examined the sexual orientation of 82 adult sons of 55 gay men. Found that more than 90% of the sons whose sexual orientation could be rated were heterosexual. Gay and heterosexual sons did not differ on potentially relevant variables such as length of time they had lived with their fathers. (MDM)

This study with 182 homosexually active adult men of Puerto Rican ancestry in New York City found that men who had been sexually abused by an older sexual partner before the age of 13 were significantly more likely to engage in high-risk sexual behavior without protection than other homosexually active men. (Author/DB)

Individual profiles from an ethnographic study of gay/bisexual male students at Pennsylvania State University are presented, focusing on the experience of coming out while in college. Issues discussed include the relationship of language, culture, and power in shaping experience; overt student actions as political statements; and efforts to open…

Surveyed lesbian, gay, and bisexual student affairs professionals about work experiences related to their sexual orientation. Findings indicate that lesbian, gay, and bisexual professionals who were open to all people at work reported experiencing more discrimination in their careers than those less open. Other findings are discussed. (RJM)

The intergenerational family therapy method of genogram construction may be a useful technique for increasing levels of differentiation in clients with a lesbian sexual orientation. Provides a description, rationale, and illustration of how genogram construction may be used by family counselors to treat lesbian clients. (JBJ)

Reviews research regarding the sexual identity, personal development, and social relationships of children of gay and lesbian parents. To date, there is no evidence that the development of children of gay and lesbian parents is compromised relative to the development of children of heterosexual parents. (BC)

Examined effects of gender, race, religion, and political orientation on 4 sex role measures among 556 first-year college students. Liberals as compared to conservatives and Jews as compared to Protestants were less traditional in their attitudes toward female sexuality, less accepting of male dominance and negative attitudes toward homosexuality,…

Attitudes of 180 registered nurses (graduate students) toward gay and hemophiliac Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) patients and leukemic patients were studied. Results suggest that the mode of AIDS transmission affected certain patient judgment evaluations, and there was some weak evidence of antigay bias. (SLD)