Gay And Lesbian Students: Understanding Their Needs

192 Pages·2022·19.065 MB·English

by  Hilda F. Besner, Charlotte I. Spungin.

GAY AND LESBIAN
STUDENTS

GAY AND LESBIAN
STUDENTS
Understanding Their Needs
Hilda F. Besner
Clinical Psychologist
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Charlotte I. Spungin
Education Specialist
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
First published 1995 by Taylor & Francis
This edition published 2014 by Routledge
711 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017, USA
27 Church Road, Hove, East Sussex, BN3 2FA
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
GAY AND LESBIAN STUDENTS: Understanding Their Needs
Copyright © 1995 Taylor & Francis. All rights reserved.
Except as permitted under the United States Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may
be reproduced or distributed in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system,
without prior written permission from the publisher.
On pages 33-34, the Heterosexual Questionnaire is from Homophobia: How We All Pay The Price by
Warren J. Blumfield. Copyright © 1992 by Warren J. Blumfield.
On pages 163-165, the first list is from The Book of Lists by David Wallenchinsky, Irving Wallace,
and Amy Wallace. Copyright © 1977 by David Wallenchinsky, Irving Wallace, and Amy Wallace.
This book was set in Times Roman by Christine Winter. The editors were Christine Williams and
Christine Winter. Cover design by Michelle Fleitz.
ISBN 13: 978-1-56032-338-9 (pbk)
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Besner, Hilda, F.
Gay and lesbian students: understanding their needs/Hilda F. Besner and Charlotte I. Spungin.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
1. Homosexuality and education—United States. 2. Gay students—United States. 3. Lesbian
students—United States. I. Spungin, Charlotte, I. II. Title.
LC192.6.B47 1995
370.19'345—dc20 95-12727
CIP
A CIP catalog record for this book is available from the British Library.
For Mark, Adriana, Hanna, Mom, Dad, Adele, Ally son, Jason, Tyler, Eleanor,
in memory of Sharon.

Contents
Preface xi
CHAPTER 1 The Origins of Homosexuality 1
Hormonal Effects 2
Chromosomes 3
Brain 3
Gender Identification 4
Psychological Theories 6
Life History Theorists 7
Boyhood Influences 8
Identity Formation 8
CHAPTER 2 Debunking Myths About Homosexuality 11
Origins of Myths 11
Myths 13
Conclusions 24
CHAPTER 3 Understanding Homophobia 27
Prejudice 27
Scapegoating 28
Violence 30
vii
viii CONTENTS
European Perspective 30
The United States 31
Characteristics of Homophobic Thinking 32
Media Impact 34
CHAPTER 4 Homophobia in Society 37
Education 37
The Workplace 41
The Military 42
Religion 43
The Boy Scouts 46
Conclusion 46
CHAPTER 5 Relevant Issues 47
Kids at Risk 47
Coming Out 51
Bisexuality 57
AIDS 58
Gay Fathers 62
Lesbian Mothers 64
CHAPTER 6 Identifying and Understanding the Needs
of Gay and Lesbian Teenagers 67
Early Developmental Feelings 67
Support Systems 69
Addressing the Needs 72
Peer Pressure 74
Self-Concept 76
Prejudice and Discrimination 77
Parental Reactions 80