Dataset Information

Family rejection of non-hetero sexuality-Sexual orientation and behavior anonymity among sexual minority men in slum communities-BSGH 001.

ABSTRACT: It can be challenging for sexual minority men (SMM) to decide whether or not to disclose their sexual orientation or behavior. The implications of this decision are significant, especially when considering how their family might react. We interviewed individuals living in slum communities (n = 12) in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Our study found that two factors primarily influenced the decision of SMM to disclose their sexual orientation. Firstly, SMM feared facing harm from their families and, secondly, the close ties of SMM families to religious institutions in their communities, which taught against LGBTQ+ activities in the country. These findings contribute to understanding why SMM in Ghanaian slum communities choose to keep their sexual orientation anonymous. While no single intervention is enough to address the challenges associated with coming out, participants in the study agreed that a social support intervention that provides opportunities to educate and inform their families and community on LGBTQ+ activities could help them assimilate comfortably in their communities.

SUBMITTER: Shamrock OW

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10691700 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Family rejection of non-hetero sexuality-Sexual orientation and behavior anonymity among sexual minority men in slum communities-BSGH 001.

Shamrock Osman Wumpini OW Abu-Ba'are Gamji Rabiu GR Zigah Edem Yaw EY Apreku Amos A Agbemedu George Rudolph Kofi GRK Boyd Donte T DT Adjaka Gideon G Nelson LaRon E LE

PLOS global public health 20231201 12

It can be challenging for sexual minority men (SMM) to decide whether or not to disclose their sexual orientation or behavior. The implications of this decision are significant, especially when considering how their family might react. We interviewed individuals living in slum communities (n = 12) in Accra and Kumasi, Ghana. Our study found that two factors primarily influenced the decision of SMM to disclose their sexual orientation. Firstly, SMM feared facing harm from their families and, seco ...[more]

PMID: 38039264

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Project description:Police contact is increasingly recognized as an adverse childhood experience and determinant of poor mental health. While targeting of LGBTQ sex and community spaces by law enforcement has a long precedent in US history-and while LGBTQ people continue to protest unfair police treatment-little population-level research has examined police contact disparities by sexual orientation or gender identity. We test whether sexual minority (SM) youth have higher risk of police contact through young adulthood. We analyze a nationally representative cohort of >15,000 US young adults who were in middle/high school in the mid-1990s, with police contact histories collected at age 18-25. Using four different, equally reasonable approaches to coding youth-reported sexual orientation, we identified ∼500-1900 SMs. Compared to heterosexual youth, SM youth had 1.86 times the odds of ever being stopped by police (95% CI = 1.56-2.22, p < 0.001), were stopped 1.60 times as often (CI = 1.38-1.86, p < 0.001), and were stopped at younger ages (survival time ratio = 0.91, CI = 0.88-0.93, p < 0.001). Inequities were particularly driven by SM women, among whom disparities were severe (ever stopped OR = 2.18, stop count ratio = 2.44, survival time ratio = 0.87). For men, inequities only emerged once a broad definition of SM was adopted, suggesting that young SM men who do not identify as LGB (or who are reticent to report themselves as such) may be at particular risk. Results were robust to adjustment for race/ethnicity and parental nativity, though small cells meant models stratified by race/ethnicity were underpowered. Given substantially heightened police contact among SM youth (particularly, young SM women), care providers and educators working with them should explicitly combat homophobic and criminal legal system stigma and screen for police contact and its psychological sequelae. More data on LGBTQ communities' criminal legal system contact throughout life is essential for preventing the causes and consequences of related sexual orientation-based health inequities.

Dataset Information

Family rejection of non-hetero sexuality-Sexual orientation and behavior anonymity among sexual minority men in slum communities-BSGH 001.

Publications

Family rejection of non-hetero sexuality-Sexual orientation and behavior anonymity among sexual minority men in slum communities-BSGH 001.

Similar Datasets

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