for Cultural Diversity class

1. ETIOLOGY OF SEXUAL
ORITENTATION
Morgan Hefley

2. TWO
ARGUMENTS
01
Biological Sexual Orientation
and Nurture/Personal Choice
Sexual Orientation
FAMILY
REACTIONS
02
Given their understanding
of each argument
LGBTQ
INDIVIDUALS
03
Their experiences in our
society
THERAPEUTIC
APPROACH
04
With clients in the LGBTQ
population

3. BIOLOGICAL
ARGUMENT
• Brain
• Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
• Anterior Commissure
• Third interstitial nucleus of the
Anterior Hypothalamus
• Hormones
• Organizational Mechanism
• Antinational Mechanism

4. NURTURE AND PERSONAL
CHOICE ARGUMENT
“Sexual orientation identity development is
generally conceptualized as a process of
becoming aware of one’s same sex
attractions, incorporating such experiences
into one’s overall sense of self, and ‘coming
out’ to others” (Harper et al., 2016, pg. 360).

5. POTENTIAL FAMILY REACTIONS
• Suspected it
• Guilt
• Denial
• Ignorance
• Demands

6. LGBTQ EXPERIENCES
• Minority Stress Theory
• Interpersonal Microaggressions
• Microassaults
• Microinsults
• Environmental Microaggressions

7. • Assess
• Intervene
THERAPUETIC APPROACH
• Evaluate
• Repeat

8. REFERENCES
Fisher, A. D., Ristori, J., Morelli, G., & Maggi, M. (2018). The molecular mechanisms of sexual
orientation and gender identity. Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, 467, 3–13. https://doi-
org.acu.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.mce.2017.08.008.
Gehart, D. R. (2017). Mastering Competencies in Family Therapy: A Practical Approach to
Theory and Clinical Case Documentation (3rd Edition). Cengage Learning US.
https://reader2.yuzu.com/books/9781337516181.
Harper, G. W., Serrano, P. A., Bruce, D., & Bauermeister, J. A. (2016). The Internet’s Multiple
Roles in Facilitating the Sexual Orientation Identity Development of Gay and Bisexual Male
Adolescents. American Journal of Men’s Health, 359–376.
https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988314566227.
LaSala, M.C. (2010). Family sensitization. In Coming out, coming home: Helping families
adjust to a gay or lesbian child (pp. 1-48). New York: Columbia University.
Sterzing, P. R., & Gartner, R. E. (2020). LGBTQ Microaggressions and Microaffirmations in
Families: Scale Development and Validation Study. Journal of Homosexuality, 67(5), 600–
619. https://doi-org.acu.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/00918369.2018.1553350.