Gay women, men, and families in rural settings: Toward the development of helping communities

Abstract

The urban biases of empirical research on gay men, women, and families have resulted in minimal knowledge about gay people in rural settings. The diversity of lives of rural gay women and men and the variety of patterns of meeting the challenges of rural living are described. Processes of help-seeking and help-giving are discussed and the need for a helping community of family, friends, and caring others is affirmed. Collaboration between rural gay people and rural community psychologists is suggested to promote the development of helping communities for gay people and thereby initiate a process of change in rural settings.

Stress, coping, HIV status, psychosocial resources, and depressive mood in African American gay, bisexual, and heterosexual men

“…These interventions need to help identify, encourage, and sustain the use of gay-sensitive informal social networks from peers as well as family members. These interventions may provide assistance in establishing support systems, such as self-help and support groups, through individuals who are members of these men's subculture (D'Augelli, 1990;D'Augelli & Hart, 1987;Kenkel, 1986). Also, these interventions could provide opportunities for family members to become better informed about HIV-related concerns and gay issues of these men.…”

Coming out and coming back: Rural gay migration and the city

“…Even though rural spaces have been represented in an idealized sexual and erotic way in the homosexual literary tradition, narratives about the experience of gay men growing up in these areas do not necessarily portray rural spaces as the idealized Arcadia. Existing literature about rural male homosexuality (Bell and Valentine, 1995;D'Augelli and Hart, 1987;Kramer, 1995;Loffreda, 2000;Moses and Hawkins, 1980) shows negative aspects associated with life in the country for gay individuals. In fact, rural areas in Western societies remain highly hetero-normative spaces emphasizing nuclear (heterosexual) family lives and stereotypical gender roles and interactions which remain unquestioned (Little, 2003;Little and Panelli, 2007).…”

“…The first studies on rural homosexuality, which appeared in the 1980s in the fields of psychology and community development (D'Augelli and Hart, 1987;Moses and Hawkins,1980), emphasized negative impacts associated with rural life. Next to omnipresent homophobia and a pervasive ideology of heterosexism, isolation appeared as a major component of gay individuals' lives in the country.…”

Preventing mental health problems among lesbian and gay college students

“…In other urban areas, youth can access telephone help/counseling systems anonymously, if they are aware of these systems and can overcome their fears. In many areas, especially rural areas, however, such resources do not exist and the sense of isolation and lack of support can be profound (D'Augelli & Hart, 1987;Rounds, 1988). Sadly, even when there are helping resources available, only a slight percentage of lesbian and gay youth overcome hesitancies and seek help.…”