Family Support and successful life of sexual minorities...Smeja Paul

1. FAMILY SUPPORT AND SUCCESSFUL
LIFE OF SEXUAL MINORITIES
Ms. Smeja Paul, IV Sem MSW
Dr. Sheeja Remani B Karalam, Associate Professor,
Department of Social Work, Christ University
Bangalore.

2. Introduction
One of the Challenges in Family Social Work is that attention needs to be
focused on changing the oppressive cultural context in which sexual
minority youth live and so interventions need to address challenging
heterosexism at both the cultural and individual level and to promote
social change towards an inclusive society. Sexual orientation minorities
are vulnerable to poor mental health outcomes, including suicide
attempts. Family plays a major role to leading them to be strong to face
the challenges of life and cope better in the society.

3. Why this Research?
This research attempts to gain a better understanding of the unique
perspectives and experiences of sexual minorities. This knowledge can be
used productively to improve services for sexual minority individuals and
communities. The invisibility and silence which surrounds the existence of
sexuality minority lives and worlds produces its own order of oppression,
creating in many the impression that they are the only ones ‘cursed’ with
such desires in the world. It is important because healthy relationships
within the family are essential to the well-being of children and adults, as
well as society in general.

4. Case study conducted among a transgender,
transsexual, gay and a lesbian at urban Bangalore
• Gender variant behavior - ridiculed by society.
• Parents were ashamed and embarrassed
• Parents want to change their children’s behavior
• Sexual minorities thought parents don’t love them or even hate them.
• Lack of communication and misunderstanding
• Lack of understanding about sexual orientation and gender identity
• Fighting and family disruption
• Sexual minorities were rejected from or forced out of the home.

5. • Education and accurate information to support
• Rejection and depression -stage of confronting
• Homosexual community members have attempted suicide.
• Transgender and transsexual community members experienced
discrimination
• Families got educated or got awareness
• Convinced and accepted
• Mother’s were more supportive than father’s
• Strengthen to face the challenges and to lead a quality life.

6. • Siblings were also ready to accept
• Joined to struggle for sexual minority community rights.
• Higher self esteem and self worth a positive sense of self
• Motivated to live a life with dignity
• Improvement in their mental and physical health.
• Depression and stress was ventilated
• Better coping pattern and positive approach.
• Decision making and problem solving skills improved

7. • Family expressed affection and showed love for them.
• it gave them respect and dignity
• Supported them financially,
• Stood up for their child when their child was mistreated or harassed
• Better family support leads to successful life of sexual minorities same as
heterosexuals.
• Family acceptance is a cause for their healthy development.
• Parental and siblings support is a critical aspect for their successful and
healthy development.

8. • The challenges are how to engage parents who are not accepting of their
children’s sexual identity .
• The researcher found that accepting families have similar economic, and
social class backgrounds, religion, domicile back ground
• The context of educational, religious, and other social institutions
• Social workers need to take into account
• Assessing sexual minorities and their families
• Need to be cognizant of possible long-term consequences of harmful
family relationships