The document discusses definitions of homosexuality and bisexuality, as well as negative stereotypes, impacts, and conflicts faced by LGBTQ individuals. It then outlines the objectives, variables, tools, and results of a survey conducted in Kolkata, India on the relationship between intra-personal and inter-personal conflicts experienced by homosexual and bisexual individuals. The survey found that socioeconomic status, family support, societal awareness and norms significantly influence psychological conflicts. Resilience factors and implications for increasing social support and awareness are discussed.

2. Definitions
Homosexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual
behaviour between members of the same sex or gender. As an orientation,
homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to
experience sexual, affectionate, or romantic attractions" primarily or
exclusively to people of the same sex. "It also refers to an individual's
sense of personal and social identity based on those attractions,
behaviours expressing them, and membership in a community of
others who share them.”
Bisexuality is romantic attraction, sexual attraction or sexual
behaviour toward both males and females. The term is mainly used in the
context of human attraction to denote romantic or sexual feelings toward
both men and women.

3. Negative
Impact
Stereotypes
Homosexual males are often stereotyped as being effeminate.
Lesbians (or gay women) are usually stereotyped as exhibiting
masculine traits ("butch") including having a preference for
short haircuts, tattoos and male attire.
Bisexual men and women are portrayed as being sexually
immoral, manipulative, insincere or undecided.
Association with AIDS
Social psychologists such as Gregory Herek have examined
underlying motivations for homophobia (hostility toward
lesbians and gays), and cultural theorists have noted how
portrayals of homosexuality often center around stigmatized
phenomena such as AIDS, pedophilia, and gender variance.

4. Gay bashing and gay bullying is verbal or physical
abuse against a person who is perceived by the aggressor to
be gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Some victims might feel paralyzed
and withdraw socially as a coping mechanism. Other victims of
queer bullying may begin to live the effects of learned
helplessness.
Prejudice and discrimination have social and personal
impact. On the social level, prejudice and discrimination against
homosexuals are reflected in the everyday stereotypes of
members of these groups. For example, limitations on job
opportunities, parenting, and relationship recognition are often
justified by stereotypic assumptions about lesbian, gay, and
bisexual people.
Negative
Impact

5. Negative
Impact
Conservatism is a term broadly used for people who are
inclined to traditional values.
Whilst conservatism includes people of many views, it has a
significant proportion of adherents who consider homosexuals,
and especially the efforts of homosexuals to achieve equal rights
and recognition, to be a threat to valued traditions, institutions
and freedoms. Such attitudes are generally tied in with
opposition to what some conservatives call the "homosexual
agenda".
Statistics (USA)
A 1998 study in the US by Mental Health America found that
students heard anti-gay slurs such as “homo”, “faggot” and
“sissy” about 26 times a day on average, or once every 14
minutes.
Almost all that had been bullied had experienced verbal attacks,
41 percent had been physically attacked, and 17 percent had
received death threats.

6. India
Religion has played a role in shaping Indian customs and
traditions.
While homosexuality has not been explicitly mentioned in the
religious texts central to Hinduism, the largest religion in India,
Hinduism has taken various positions, ranging from positive to
neutral or antagonistic.
Historical literary evidence indicates that homosexuality has
been prevalent across the Indian subcontinent throughout
history, and that homosexuals were not necessarily considered
inferior in any way.
Religions, influenced by the Abrahamic tradition, have censured
homosexual acts and relationships at various times, in some
cases implementing severe punishments.

7. India
Section 377
On 2 July 2009, the Delhi High Court decriminalised homosexual
intercourse between consenting adults, and this new stand of
decriminalisation is applicable throughout the territory of
India, where Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was adjudged
to violate the fundamental right to life and liberty and the right
to equality as guaranteed by the Constitution of India.
The Planning Commission of India either implicitly, or expressly
came out in support of decriminalising homosexuality in India,
and pushed for tolerance and social equality for lesbian,
gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. India is among
countries with a social element of a third gender.

8. India
Coming Out
In 2005, Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil, who hails
from Rajpipla in the Gujarat, publicly came out as gay.
On 29 June 2008, five Indian cities
Delhi, Bangalore, Kolkata, Indore and Pondicherry celebrated
gay pride parades.
Mumbai has one of its biggest pride events - Kashish Mumbai
Queer Film Festival which was first held in 2010 in April. It is the
first queer film festival that is held in a mainstream multiplex
theater and screens LGBT films from all over the world.
Kolkata Rainbow Pride festival held on 15 July 2012 was
attended by more than 1500.

9. Why this
Survey?
Kolkata
Since the decriminalization of Homosexuality in India, numerous
talks, conferences, parades have been held in our own city.
Many people around us have since then mustered up the
courage to come out.
Advertising & Social Media
'Come out of the closet… Move On'.
Millions of Facebook ‘likes’ on the above link of a TV commercial
for a watch brand, irrespective of the sexual orientation, shows
that the country is slowly but surely opening up to diversity. The
changing face of the Indian society and the vulnerability of the
homophile inspired us to search further into their lives.
The aim of the present survey is to find out the relationship
between the sexuality and the experienced intra psyche and
inter personal conflicts in homosexuals/bisexuals.

10. Objectives
Relationship between Intra Personal and Inter Personal Conflict
To see whether there is any relationship between the intra personal
and inter personal (including the area, family, friends, society,
workplace) conflicts face by homophiles.
Age
To see whether there is a relationship between the age and
psychological (intra and inter personal) conflicts of the homophiles.

11. Objectives
Family
To see whether there is a relationship between the family type
and the psychological conflicts (intra and inter personal) faced
by the homophiles.
Social Awareness
To see whether there is a relationship between the societal
awareness and the sexual orientation of the homophiles.

12. Objectives
Peer Group
To see whether there is a relationship between the peer group
interaction and the sexual orientation of the homophiles.
Romantic Relationships
To see whether there is a relationship between romantic
relationship and intra personal conflict of the homophiles.

13. Schematic
Plan
POPULATION:
Homophiles of Kolkata
and its adjoining
districts and
suburban areas.
CRITERIA
FOR
SAMPLE
Age : 18 – 54 yrs.
Minimum qualification :
higher secondary.
Physical status :
free from any reported
disease or any
disabilities.
Psychological status :
free from any reported
mental disease or any
disabilities.
Exposure to DV
measures : no previous
exposure.
9 male and
18 female
subjects.
ORGANISMIC
VARIABLE
Homosexuality /
Bisexuality

14. Variables
Quassi
Independent
Variable.
Sample :
N = 27
Dependent
Variable :
Psychological
conflict (intra and
inter personal).
Organismic
variable :
Homosexua
lity/Bisexua
lity
Situational variable :
Family
Peer group
Romantic relations
Society
Upper class/high
middle class and
low middle class
Work place

15. Conflicts
Operating Definitions
Intra psychic conflict:
It is a situation where two or more mutually opposing values,
belief or desires are present in a person simultaneously such
that choosing or acting or tending to choose or act according to
any one of them and consequently abandoning any one or more
of the other causes or tend to cause distress within that
individual.
Interpersonal conflict:
It is a type of conflict where two or more mutually opposing
value, belief or desire are present in a person and also in his or
her significant other in a particular situation such that choosing
or acting or tending to choose or act according to any one of
them and consequently abandoning the other causes or tends
to cause distress within that person.

16. Tools
A questionnaire is constructed to assess the attitude/behavior/
thoughts as pro conflict producing or anti conflict producing, of the
subjects on their experiences of being homophile. Though the
questionnaire is not standardized as per rule, it is only constructed for
the purpose of the present survey.
Six domains are chosen for the survey, such as, self, family,
peer group, romantic relationships, society, and work place situations.
Subjects are ask to give the opinion on a 1 – 5 point scale, where one
denotes totally disagree and 5 denotes total agree through a neutral
point as 3.
Besides these rating items the questionnaire also has a descriptive
open ended question, asking the subjects’ personal or subjective
experiences of psychological conflicts faced on the above mentioned
domains.

17. Sample
Sample
Male Female
Economic Group
High Low
Male
High
Male
Low
Female
High
Female
Low
Divisions

18. Result
23%
77%
Male Upper
Pro Anti
Self
50%50%
Male Lower
Pro Anti
25%
75%
Female Upper
Pro Anti
44%
56%
Female Lower
Pro Anti

19. Result
Self
Male
This result shows that the socio economic status and the societal
awareness influence in producing psychological conflicts. It is seen
that for upper class group the proportion of inclination towards
conflict is much less (23%) than the lower class group (50%) due to
self oriented factors such as, personality, attitude, belief, values and
self concepts.
Female
Same as the male data type, this result also shows that the socio
economic status and the societal awareness influence in producing
psychological conflicts. It is seen that for upper class group the
proportion of inclination towards conflict is much less (25%) than
the lower class group (44%) due to self oriented factors such as,
personality, attitude, belief, values and self concepts.

20. Result
Family
41%
59%
Male Upper
Pro Anti
81%
19%
Male Lower
Pro Anti
46%54%
Female Upper
Pro Anti
44%
56%
Female Lower
Pro Anti

21. Result
Family
Male
In family dimension it is seen that the socio economical status and
awareness plays again an important role. Here also the inclination
towards conflict is high in case of lower class group (81%). The awareness
of the family members also depends on the social structure in which they
belong. The family support depends on their awareness. These factors
influence the subjects to face more conflict and also help to handle
conflicts.
Female
Unlike the data for male it is seen that the socio economic factor do not
much influence in producing conflict inclination for the female subject in
case of family interaction is considered.
The result also shows another important finding regarding the society is
the gender biasness for the less enlightened society.

22. Result
Making Friends
65%
35%
Male Upper
Pro Anti
58%
42%
Male Lower
Pro Anti
39%
61%
Female Upper
Pro Anti
25%
75%
Female Lower
Pro Anti

23. Result
Making Friends
Males
The result shows that while their existing friends have been
supportive, they do hesitate to make new friends and social
groups. It can be of many factors such as status, esteem and over
self consciousness, which act as an important role in peer group
interaction for male subjects.
Females
Like male samples, inclination towards conflict is more for upper
class group than lower class group.
But when data of male and female groups are compared it can be
seen that potential peer group interaction leads to less conflict in
females than in male for both the socio economic and aware
groups.

24. Result
Society
79%
21%
Male Upper
Pro Anti
95%
5%
Male Lower
Pro Anti
57%
43%
Female Upper
Pro Anti
65%
35%
Female Lower
Pro Anti

25. Result
Society
Males
The societal interaction is a very important factor in interpersonal
conflict. Result for male group suggests that socio economic structure
and awareness of the society significantly influences the interpersonal
conflicts faced by male subjects while interacting with the society. The
proportion of the inclination towards the conflict in lower class group of
male in far greater (95%) than any other area of conflict.
Females
The proportion of inclination towards the conflict is grater in lower class
group (65%) than in upper class group (57%).
But inclination towards conflict is markedly different for male and
female group. Because the societal norm, taboos and interactions in our
Indian culture also largely differ for male and females.

26. Result
Work Place
37%
63%
Male Upper
Pro Anti
87%
13%
Male Lower
Pro Anti
37%
63%
Female Upper
Pro Anti
50%50%
Female Lower
Pro Anti

27. Result
Work Place
Males
Like in societal interaction, result in work place dimension for male
group suggests that socio economic structure and awareness of the
society, world and their own rights, significantly influence in
interpersonal conflicts faced by male subjects in job situations. The
proportion of the inclination towards the conflict in lower class group of
male is greater (87%) than the upper class group (37%) due to the less
dependency on societal norm for upper class group.
Females
In case of female subject the societal difference leads the upper class
group to face less inclined to conflict ( 37%) than the lower class group
(50%) in work place interactions. For the lower class group though the
proportion of inclination toward both the side of producing conflict and
not producing conflict are found to be equal (50% each).

28. Result
Romantic Relationships
67%
33%
Male Upper
Pro Anti
46%
54%
Male Lower
Pro Anti
42%
58%
Female Upper
Pro Anti
54%46%
Female Lower
Pro Anti

29. Result
Romantic Relationships
Males
For male subjects, inclination to conflict is more in upper class
group (67%) than lower class group (46%) where romantic
relationship is considered.
Females
For female subjects, inclination to conflict is less in upper class
group (42%) than lower class group (54%) in romantic relation is
considered.
When the results for male the female are compared on this
dimension of inter personal interaction the individual’s
perception, as well as the societal norms influence the subjects
vulnerability to inter personal conflicts.

30. Resilience
The problems of the present subjects can be handled by giving
them proper support and making them more resilient few
factors must be incorporated or strengthen in their life.
1. Access to material resources
2. Access to supportive relationships
3. Development of a desirable personal identity
4. Experiences of power and control
5. Adherence to cultural traditions
6. Experiences of social justice
7. Experiences of a sense of cohesion with others
Beside these factors the social support and equal right and
opportunities for all also play important role to make these
people feel more comfortable and confident with their sexual
identity.

31. Findings
The intra psychic conflicts, including the values, beliefs and desires and
the self concept of one person changes his subjective reality. Hence
intra personal and inter personal conflicts are inter linked and depend
on each other.
The economic condition and the awareness of the society have an
important impact on the behaviors of the homosexuals/bisexuals.
The peer group is found to be very supportive. However, they do
struggle to make new friends.
The family plays dual role, some are supportive; some are aversive. For
the rest, the family consciously avoids the topic.
Due to lack of knowledge at the beginning of the realization of the
sexuality most of the homosexuals/bisexuals feel confused, guilty,
scared regarding the romantic relationships they desire.
With knowledge and experience they become much clearer regarding
their sexual orientations and their intra personal conflicts also become
less.

32. Limitations
The sample size of the study is quite small, N=27. So a
generalization of the results obtained from the survey is not
possible. As the entire task was very elaborative and the sample
was highly sensitive, it was not possible to do the survey on a large
sample size, due to time constraint.
The language used in the questionnaire was only English for
maintaining the uniformity of the meaning across the society and
culture. But many of the subjects from suburbs faced a difficulty in
understanding the English terms.
The five point scale was not enough to explain the subjective
perception and experiences regarding the homosexuality of the
subjects.
The occupational variations could not be incorporated within the
survey.
Had the survey been in an interview format, the verbal
conversation with the subjects could have revealed much more;
and the analysis of the result could be done more intensively.

33. Implications
The result shows that there is some important role of society,
family and the significant persons in the perception and the
experience of psychological conflicts by the
homosexuals/bisexuals.
The attitude and the subjective report presented in the
beginning throw light on the paradoxical nature of the
constructs; they give a hint as to why it is difficult to deal with
the issues faced by them.
Awareness in many scales and forms must be spread to make
the society in general stop seeing them from hetero normative
lenses.

34. Implications
Homosexuals/Bisexuals are no different from the
heterosexuals in regard of their psychological needs, social
rights and responsibilities. Hence the society and the people
who are very significant to them should take care of those
needs, rights and responsibilities to be fulfilled.
The family and friends are the most important support
system of any individual irrespective of their different sexual
orientations.
Avoidance is not the solution for any problem.
The myth, fantasies, distortion and prejudice are to be
differentiated from the actual reality and the scientific facts.
Most importantly the awareness regarding empathy must
be spread in the society.