In "God's Work," an episode of the "Miami Vice" television series in which a gay character comes home to reunite with a childhood friend and ex-lover who is dying of AIDS, the show is at odds with itself over the issue of sexuality and AIDS. At one level, that of the "coming-out" story of the main character, it…

A sample of nurses (N=183) enrolled in a School of Nursing's master degree program was randomly assigned to read one of six vignettes about a patient who differed only in terms of diagnosis and lifestyle. Possible diagnoses were Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS acquired by a hemophiliac through blood therapy, and leukemia; possible…

Since 1973, the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association have removed homosexuality as an illness from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (1987). Most religions, however, continue to view homosexual behaviors as abnormal. Student personnel professionals can facilitate changes in religious…

This document contains testimony presented at a briefing on bigotry and violence on college campuses in the United States. Eight witnesses, including college educators and students, presented information about the extent and causes of, and possible solutions to, the apparent increase in the number of incidents. Panelists varied slightly in their…

In this paper, the diverse literature bearing on the topic of homosexuality and psychological adjustment is critically reviewed and synthesized. The first chapter discusses the most crucial methodological issue in this area, the problem of sampling. The kinds of samples used to date are critically examined, and some suggestions for improved…

The use of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory as a psychodiagnostic measure for homosexuality and psychopathology is reviewed and discussed. The MMPI was administered to samples of non-patient homosexuals and heterosexuals enrolled in college. Results are discussed. (Author)

In recent years psychological studies of homosexuality have shifted in focus from homosexually-oriented persons to individuals manifesting homophobia, the irrational fear or intolerance of homosexuals. In a pilot study, 130 college students completed a preliminary questionnaire consisting of attitudes toward homosexuals and homosexuality. Two…

Via a case study, this paper explores the legal question of whether a local school board's inquiry into the fitness of its teachers can extend outside the classroom. This issue is discussed within the framework of two divergent views concerning the absolute nature of First Amendment rights on the one hand and a compelling state interest that may…

This paper examines the adequacy of Bowers and Ochs' theory of social movements as applied to the escalating agitative strategies of a dissident group, the homosexual-rights organization Mattachine Midwest. The group's activities are described chronologically, in terms of the strategies employed: petition, promulgation, polarization,…

Discusses the historical relationship of sexually deviant behavior and religious fanaticism. (EJT)

In a survey of opinion among 100 psychiatrists and 93 trainees in Australia, the majority endorsed the view either that "homosexuality is a developmental anomaly not necessarily or commonly associated with neurotic symptoms" or that "homosexuality is a normal variant like left-handedness." (Author)

Just as traditional student activities, such as speaker series and student newspaper groups, have been considered within the legal mission of colleges and universities, so also must nontraditional groups such as gay students, inasmuch as the institution must treat students and student groups in an egalitarian manner. (Author/MJB)

Questionnaires were administered to 100 males and 168 females, members and non-members of the gay community. Issues pertaining to differences between homosexually behaving males and females cannot be addressed apart from corresponding issues concerning the impact of the gay community as a facilitator of homoerotic sexual aspirations. (Author)

Social skills training was used to alter the socially inappropriate and ineffectual behavior of a 17-year old homosexual male. Six training and six generalization role-played interpersonal scenes were used. Results indicated significant improvement on trained social skills components with generalization to nontrained scenes as well. (Author)

Evaluates validity of the Freudian theory of paranoia which states that delusional thinking arises as a result of the reaction-formation and projection of threatening unconscious homosexual wishes. It is concluded that a positive association between paranoid and homosexual tendencies has been found, but only for male paranoid patients. (Author)