Heteronormative Relationship Education for Same-Gender Couples.

In recent years, same-gender group-based relationship education has emerged as a viable intervention to prevent relationship distress among same-gender couples. However, many of these programs are conducted in metropolitan areas and lack the ability to reach rural populations. The current study sought to investigate whether two wide-reaching web-based heteronormative relationship education programs could positively impact same-gender relationships. In a sample of 49 same-gender couples, heteronormative relationship education had small (Cohen's d = 0.16-0.39) but reliably positive effects on key areas of relationship functioning and perceived stress relative to a waitlist control group. Additionally, when same-gender couples were matched with different-gender individuals with similar baseline characteristics, no reliable differences between the two groups emerged even though the program effects were sometimes half as large for same-gender couples. Finally, same-gender participants were as satisfied with the program as the matched different-gender individuals. Though the results of the present study indicate that heteronormative relationship education can be helpful for same-gender couples, additional tailoring should be undertaken to ensure that same-gender couples experience as much benefit as possible. Estimates from the current study could be used in future studies to detect what might be small-sized differences.

En los últimos años, la capacitación en relaciones grupal y del mismo sexo ha surgido como una intervención viable para prevenir el distrés relacional entre parejas del mismo género. Sin embargo, muchos de estos programas se realizan en áreas metropolitanas y no pueden llegar a las poblaciones rurales. El presente estudio tuvo como finalidad investigar si dos programas de capacitación heteronormativa en relaciones, por Internet y de amplio alcance podrían tener un efecto positivo en las relaciones del mismo género. En una muestra de 49 parejas del mismo género, la capacitación heteronormativa en relaciones tuvo efectos pequeños (d de Cohen = 0.16-0.39) pero fiablemente positivos en áreas clave del funcionamiento relacional y del estrés percibido respecto de un grupo control en lista de espera. Además, cuando las parejas del mismo género se igualaron con personas de diferente género con características iniciales similares, no surgieron diferencias fiables entre los dos grupos, aunque los efectos del programa fueron a veces de la mitad para las parejas del mismo género. Finalmente, los participantes del mismo género estuvieron tan satisfechos con el programa como las personas de diferente género con quienes se las igualó. Aunque los resultados del presente estudio indican que la capacitación heteronormativa en relaciones puede ser útil para parejas del mismo género, deberían realizarse más adaptaciones para garantizar que las parejas del mismo género tengan todos los beneficios posibles. En futuros estudios podrían usarse cálculos del presente estudio para detectar las posibles diferencias pequeñas.

Minority Stress and Same-Sex Relationship Satisfaction: The Role of Concealment Motivation.

Most lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people want a stable, satisfying romantic relationship. Although many of the predictors of relationship outcomes are similar to those of heterosexual couples, same-sex couples face some additional challenges associated with minority stress that also impact upon relationship quality. Here, we investigate the association between minority stressors and relationship quality in a sample of 363 adults (M age = 30.37, SD = 10.78) currently in a same-sex romantic relationship. Internalized homophobia and difficulties accepting one's LGB identity were each negatively associated with relationship satisfaction via heightened concealment motivation. We also examined the protective role of identity affirmation on relationship quality, finding a direct positive relationship between the two variables. Minority stressors were negatively associated with couple relationship satisfaction via heightened concealment motivation. The finding that identity affirmation directly predicted increased couple satisfaction also highlights the important role of protective factors in same-sex couple relationships.

La mayoría de las personas lesbianas, gais y bisexuales (LGB) desean una relación amorosa estable y satisfactoria. Aunque muchos de los predictores de las complicaciones en las relaciones son similares a los de las parejas heterosexuales, las parejas del mismo sexo enfrentan algunas otras dificultades asociadas con el estrés de las minorías que también repercuten en la calidad de la relación. Aquí investigamos la asociación entre los factores desencadenantes de estrés en las minorías y la calidad de la relación en una muestra de 363 adultos (edad promedio = 30.37, desviación estándar = 10.78) que están actualmente en una relación amorosa del mismo sexo. La homofobia internalizada y las dificultades para aceptar la identidad LGB propia estuvieron asociadas negativamente con la satisfacción en la relación mediante un incremento de la motivación por la ocultación. También analizamos el papel protector que desempeña la afirmación de la identidad en la calidad de la relación y encontramos una relación positiva directa entre las dos variables. Los factores desencadentantes de estrés en las minorías estuvieron asociados negativamente con la satisfacción en la relación de pareja mediante un incremento de la motivación por la ocultación. El hallazgo de que la afirmación de la identidad predijo directamente una mayor satisfacción en la pareja también destaca el papel importante que desempeñan los factores protectores de las relaciones de pareja del mismo sexo.

Discrimination, Internalized Homonegativity, and Attitudes Toward Children of Same-Sex Parents: Can Secure Attachment Buffer Against Stigma Internalization?

With increasing numbers of same-sex couples raising children in the United States, discriminatory attitudes toward children of same-sex parents (ACSSP) are of increasing concern. As with other forms of stigma and discrimination, lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are at risk for internalizing these societal attitudes, which can negatively affect parenting-related decisions and behaviors and the mental and physical health of their children. Secure attachment is characterized by positive views of the self as loveable and worthy of care that are understood to develop in early relationships with caregivers. Secure attachment has been associated with positive mental and physical health, including among LGB individuals and couples. This study aimed to test the potential buffering role of secure attachment against stigma internalization by examining associations among secure attachment, discrimination, internalized homonegativity (IH), and ACSSP in an online survey study of 209 U.S. adults in same-sex relationships. Bootstrap analyses supported our hypothesized moderated mediation model, with secure attachment being a buffer. Greater discrimination was indirectly associated with more negative ACSSP through greater IH for individuals with mean or lower levels, but not for individuals with higher than average levels of secure attachment, specifically because among those with higher levels of secure attachment, discrimination was not associated with IH. These findings build on and extend past research, with important implications for future research and clinical work with LGB individuals, same-sex couples, and their families, including potential implementation of interventions targeting attachment security.

Gay and lesbian couples in Italy: comparisons with heterosexual couples.

Assessing couple relationships across diverse languages and cultures has important implications for both clinical intervention and prevention. This is especially true for nontraditional relationships potentially subject to various expressions of negative societal evaluation or bias. Few empirically validated measures of relationship functioning have been developed for cross-cultural applications, and none have been examined for their psychometric sufficiency for evaluating same-sex couples across different languages and cultures. The current study examined the psychometric properties of an Italian translation of the Marital Satisfaction Inventory - Revised (MSI-R), a 150-item 13-scale measure of couple relationship functioning, for its use in assessing the intimate relationships of gay and lesbian couples in Italy. Results for these couples were compared to data from heterosexual married and unmarried cohabiting couples from the same geographical region, as well as to previously published data for gay, lesbian, and unmarried heterosexual couples from the United States. Findings suggest that, despite unique societal pressures confronting Italian same-sex couples, these relationships appear resilient and fare well both overall and in specific domains of functioning compared to heterosexual couples both in Italy and the United States.

O amor em tempos de cólera: direitos LGTB na Colômbia / El amor en tiempos de cólera: derechos LGBT en Colombia / Love in the time of cholera: LGBT rights in Colombia

Em uma audiência realizada em novembro de 2009 perante a Comissão Interamericana de Direitos Humanos, ativistas denunciaram a violência que as pessoas lésbicas, gays, bissexuais, travestis, transexuais e transgêneros (LGBT) enfrentam na Colômbia. Entre os fatos denunciados estavam o abuso policial, as violações sexuais nas prisões, os assassinatos motivados pelo ódio, bem como múltiplas formas de discriminação. Isso contrasta com a jurisprudência avançada da Corte Constitucional da qual decorre a proteção da livre opção sexual. A partir de uma descrição tanto da violência como das sentenças, este artigo analisa o papel simbólico do direito e argumenta que os ativistas têm uma relação ambivalente com o direito: ao mesmo tempo em que desconfiam dele, por sua ineficácia, mobilizam-se pela reforma legal e se beneficiam da jurisprudência progressista da Corte.

In a recent hearing before the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights, human rights activists denounced the violence in Colombia besetting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transvestite, transsexual and transgendered individuals (LGBT). Amongst the problems enumerated were abuse of police power, sexual violence in the prisons, murders fueled by hate, as well as several kinds of discrimination. This contrasts with the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court, where there has been advancement in the protection of individuals' sexual rights. This article, which describes both the violence as well as the Court's sentencing, analyzes the symbolic role of the law and argues that these activists have an ambivalent relationship with the law: while wary of it, for its inefficacy, they mobilize for legal reform and benefit from the Court's progressive jurisprudence.

En una audiencia reciente ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos activistas denunciaron la violencia que enfrentan en Colombia las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales, travestis, transexuales y transgeneristas (LGBT). Entre los hechos denunciados estaban el abuso policial, las violaciones sexuales en las cárceles, los asesinatos motivados por el odio, así como múltiples formas de discriminación. Ello contrasta con la jurisprudencia de avanzada de la Corte Constitucional que ha desarrollado la protección de la libre opción sexual. Este artículo a partir de una descripción tanto de la violencia como de las sentencias la Corte Constitucional analiza el papel simbólico del derecho y argumenta que los activistas tienen una relación ambivalente con el derecho: al mismo tiempo que recelan de este, por su ineficacia, se movilizan por la reforma legal y gozan con la jurisprudencia progresista de la Corte.