Risk and Resilience in Lesbian and Gay Couples: Comment on Solomon, Rothblum, and Balsam (2004).

Abstract

S. E. Solomon, E. D. Rothblum, and K. F. Balsam's (2004) article provides excellent descriptive and comparative data about the first cohort of same-sex couples seeking civil unions in Vermont. In this comment, the author sets their findings in a culture-specific theoretical context. This framework emphasizes three external risk factors faced by lesbian and gay couples in American society and the negative internal consequences when partners are unable to cope with these external challenges successfully. Forming a civil union can be viewed as an outgrowth of successful coping with these risk factors--a sign of individual, couple, and family resilience in the face of adversity.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing in Counseling a Male Couple

“…In illustrating the challenges for coupling that gay men experience, Green (2004) identified both the legal history of discrimination in housing and employment that has existed in the United States, as well as the active social oppression of gay identity and expression. As Green described, these experiences become internalized, inhibiting many gay men in relationships from self-acceptance or from their abilities to come out about their relationship statuses.…”

Parenting, Family Life, and Well-Being Among Sexual Minorities: Nursing Policy and Practice Implications

“…These studies have noted that discriminatory family laws have contributed to a cluster of significant common problems faced by many same-sex couples in areas such as defining the boundaries and nature of their relationships; eliciting support from their extended-families for their new families; valuing relationships as legitimate expressions of love and commitment; and a diminishing sense of social citizenship as the result of legal exclusion (Green, 2004).…”

Resilience in Same-Sex-Parented Families: The Lived Experience of Adults with Gay, Lesbian, or Bisexual Parents

“…However, all participants to varying extents experienced estrangement or difficult relations within their extended family as a result of their parent's sexuality. This ranged from grandparents who tolerated rather than accepted their parents' sexuality (Green, 2004), to complete estrangement from members of their extended family. Some of the participants had siblings who were no longer in contact with their parents as a result of their sexuality and they described the grief that this caused.…”

“…Time to Adjust Participants described needing time to adjust to their parents' sexuality and to the subsequent transitions in their family structure. Green (2004) argues that given the homonegative context in Western society, it is unlikely that people, regardless of their sexuality, can reach adulthood without some sort of internalized homophobia. Many participants believed that should their parent not have been lesbian, gay or bisexual, they would have themselves held homonegative beliefs.…”

“…Given the pervasiveness of negative attitudes towards same-sex relationships, it seems unlikely that anyone could reach adulthood without some element of internalized homophobia and / or fear of discrimination (Green, 2004).…”