NewsLetter

Subscribe to our monthly newsletter

   

UNSUBSCRIBE

Clark [6] stipulates important aspects that the professional working with homosexuals/bisexuals/transgenders should bear in mind as well as basic ground rules:

Important Aspects:

The homosexual/bisexual/transgender person-

  1. Has learned to feel different
  2. Has learned to distrust her or his own feelings
  3. Has a higher degree of self-consciousness
  4. Has decreased awareness of feelings – the feelings are so extreme that it is almost unbearable to allow him/herself to feel it and then gets suppressed to the sub-conscious
  5. Often invisible as such to others, is daily assaulted with attacks on character and ability – anti-gay jokes, prejudices statements, etc
  6. Feels alone, wrong and fears further loss of support and affection if revealing true thoughts, feelings and identity
  7. Is more likely to fall victim to depression
  8. Is tempted to dull the pain that surfaces by the misuse of alcohol and other drugs
  9. Is at high risk for suicide – being loved while true identity is hidden and fearing what will be lost once his/her true identity is revealed often result in suicide rather than to take that risk
  10. Has lived in two worlds simultaneously.

Basic Ground Rules:

  1. Help can be offered but not forced
  2. The primary objective should be to help people to become more truly themselves, through the development of conscious self-appreciation and integrity that includes the full integration of homosexual/bisexual/transgender thoughts and feelings
  3. Find whatever anti-gay/bisexual/transgender feelings you as helper has – prevent sabotaging the process from the helper’s side
  4. Be willing to admit own feelings towards the same gender that might be present in you – self-disclosure.
  5. Do not “out” people – every person has a choice in when, where and whether he/she wants to come out.

next

THE SPONSORS

Copyright Reserved © 2005. Southern African Sexual Health Association.