This document provides an overview of the LGBTQ community through discussing inter-group and intra-group characteristics, common attitudes and beliefs, customs and practices, key historical events and figures, oppression faced, summaries of documentaries and interviews, and applications to counseling. Some key points include: the AIDS epidemic brought the LGBTQ community closer together; the community is more diverse within itself than other cultures; and the transgender population currently has the greatest needs.

1. Cultural Immersion Experience
LGBTQ Community

2. Inter and Intra-Group Characteristics
Inter-Group Characteristics:
 LGBTQ community are a tight nit group (Wiessman, 2011).
 The AIDS epidemic only grew them closer (Wiessman, 2011).
Intra-Group Characteristics:
 More diverse within itself then other cultures.
 LGBTQ stands for different sub-groups (LGBTQ Terms and Definitions, 2017).
(LGBTQIA+ and Home for the Holidays, 2020)

3. Common Attitudes, Beliefs, and Values
 Justice, equity, representing all voices, and ending current
and historical oppression (Bolan, 2020).
 All of these values are based on the core belief that
everyone should have the right to love who they want
without differential treatment (Bolan, 2020).
(Why Federal Laws Don’t Ban Discrimination Against LGBT, 2019)

4. Customs, Practices, and Behaviors
 More diverse than most cultures since the LGBTQ community all come from
different ethnic backgrounds.
 LGBTQ Americans strive for the same as most Americans (Bolan, 2020).
 Good education, well-paying job, a spouse, and kids (Bolan, 2020).
(LGBTQIA+ and Home for the Holidays, 2020)

5. Key Historical Events and Figures
Key Historical Events:
 AIDS epidemic in the 1990’s (American Experience, 2018).
 Obergefell v. Hodges (American Experience, 2018).
Key Historical Figures:
 Christine Jorgensen the first openly transgender individual (Rose, 2021).
 Barbara Gittings fought the idea that being homosexual was a mental illness
(Rose, 2021).
(Is It Time for the End of “AIDS”?, 2015)

6. Historical and Current Oppression
 Heterosexism (Heterosexism, 2018).
 Oppression on LGBTQ Mental Health.
 Increased Suicide Rates (Kaniuka, et al., 2019).
(Facebook Targeting Young LGBT Users with “gay Cure” Ads, 2018)

7. Summary of Three Documentaries
 A Secret Love – Terry and Pat tell their story of loving each other in the postwar era without the
support of anyone in their lives (Bolan, 2020).
 We Were Here – A story of the perspective of the AIDS crisis from five of the survivors (Wiessman,
2011).
 Paris is Burning – A storytelling from the perspective of the Drag Queens in New York City that
focuses on the life they lived and how they survived the AIDS epidemic (Livingston, 1991).
(Netflix’s A Secret Love: First Look Trailer, Release Date & Heartfelt Documentary. . ., 2020)
(The Performative Documentary: Paris Is Burning, 2020)

8. 3 Key Takeaways
 In the 1940s & 1950s, Chicago lesbians were sorely mistreated (Bolan, 2020).
 19,000 gay men died in San Francisco due to AIDS (Wiessman, 2011).
 The LGBTQ community is a close knit group (Wiessman, 2011).
(We Were Here (DVD, 2011)

9. Summary of Compass Interview
 Ernie Gonzalez – Center Operation’s Director.
 Mission Statement: Engage, empower, and enrich.
 Many services all offered for free.
 Trans population is the sub group with the greatest need.
 Funding is difficult to find.
 Healthcare is the most significant challenge.
(Compass, 2022)

10. Summary of LGBTQ Individual Interview
 Marsha Durosier grew up in South Florida as a Haitian American
in a predominately Christian family.
 Always had feelings for both men and women.
 Haitian and Christian culture looks down upon the LGBTQ
community.
 She hid how she felt her whole life.
 This led to her emotional and spiritual growth being stunted.
 Working in more white dominated areas shifted her perspective.
(American Psychological Association LGBTQ+: Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Visit, 2021)

11. Summary of Personal Experience
 Empathize with Marsha for just wanting to make her family proud.
 Amazed at the community center and all that they offer for free.
 I hope to partner with Compass and other LGBTQ organizations in the
future.
 Research and events project taught me macro information about the
LGBTQ.
 Interviews taught me the micro information and how it connects to the
big picture.
 Shocked to learn that AIDS and HIV are still a huge problem.
 I have a much better understanding of the LGBTQ community and thus
can help better.
(Supreme Court Justices Rule LGBT People Protected from Job Discrimination, 2020)

12. Application to Counseling
 Learning outcomes have shown me that the LGBTQ need specific support.
 Groups with LGBTQ individuals are a necessity since they don’t get support
anywhere else.
 Access to healthcare designed for their specific needs and problems.
 Access to employment opportunities with supportive employers.
 Never assume you understand a client’s background.
 Relating to a minority group never happens by accident or on autopilot
(Anderson, 2019).
 Deliberation of a client’s racial and cultural backgrounds can only enhance the
positive outcomes from counseling (Day-Vines et al., 2018).
 Instead of blanket empathy, I have informed empathy and can better serve this
culture.
(Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology: What’s the Difference?, 2021)

13. References
 American Experience. (2018). Milestones in the American Gay Rights Movement. American Experience | PBS.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/stonewall-milestones-american-gay-rights-movement/
 American Psychological Association LGBTQ+: Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity Visit. (2021). [Photograph]. APA Publishing.
https://www.apa.org/pubs/highlights/lgbtq
 Anderson, D. A. (2010). Gracism: The art of inclusion. Ivp Books.
 Bolan, C. (Director). (2020). A Secret Love [Film]. Beech Hill Films & Blumhouse Productions.
 Clinical vs. Counseling Psychology: What’s the Difference? (2021). [Photograph]. Northeastern University. https://www.northeastern.edu/graduate/blog/clinical-vs-
counseling-psychology/
 Compass. (2022). [Logo]. Compass LGBTQ Community Center. https://compassglcc.com/
 Day-Vines, N. L., Booker Ammah, B., Steen, S., & Arnold, K. M. (2018). Getting Comfortable with Discomfort: Preparing Counselor Trainees to Broach Racial, Ethnic,
and Cultural Factors with Clients during Counseling. International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 40(2), 89–104. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-017-
9308-9
 Facebook targeting young LGBT users with “gay cure” ads. (2018). [Photograph]. Attitude. https://attitude.co.uk/article/facebook-reportedly-targeting-young-lgbt-
users-with-gay-cure-adverts/18908/
 Heterosexism. (2018). Pennsylvania College of Technology. https://www.pct.edu/student-life/student-activities/glbt-services/heterosexism
 Is It Time for the End of “AIDS”? (2015). [Photograph]. POZ Magazine. https://www.poz.com/article/AIDS-terminology-27461-9306
 Kaniuka, A., Pugh, K. C., Jordan, M., Brooks, B., Dodd, J., Mann, A. K., Williams, S. L., & Hirsch, J. K. (2019). Stigma and suicide risk among the LGBTQ population: Are
anxiety and depression to blame and can connectedness to the LGBTQ community help? Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health, 23(2), 205–220.
https://doi.org/10.1080/19359705.2018.1560385

14. References
 LGBTQIA+ and Home for the Holidays. (2020). [Illustration]. Trauma Counseling Center of Los Angeles. https://traumacounseling.com/trauma-therapy-
blog/lgbtqia-and-home-for-the-holidays/
 LGBTQ Terms and Definitions. (2017). University of Florida. https://lgbtq.multicultural.ufl.edu/programs/speakersbureau/lgbtq-terms-definitions/
 Livingston, J. (Director). (1991). Paris is burning [Film]. Academy Entertainment & Off White Productions.
 Netflix’s A Secret Love: First Look Trailer, Release Date & Heartfelt Documentary. . . (2020). [Poster]. Capital FM. https://www.capitalfm.com/news/tv-film/netflix/a-
secret-love-first-look-trailer-release-date/
 Rose, R. (2021). 4 Women in LGBTQ+ History We Can Learn From in 2020. Medium. https://aninjusticemag.com/4-women-in-lgbtq-history-we-can-learn-from-in-
2020-21ed5ad690e2
 Supreme Court justices rule LGBT people protected from job discrimination. (2020). [Photograph]. WETM. https://www.mytwintiers.com/news-cat/national/justices-
rule-gay-workers-protected-from-job-discrimination/
 The performative documentary: Paris is burning. (2020). [Poster]. Diggit Magazine. https://www.diggitmagazine.com/blog/performative-documentary-paris-
burning
 Travelling With Your LGBT Family - Gay & Lesbian Travel Visit. (2019). [Photograph]. Out Adventures. https://www.outadventures.com/gay-travel-blog/travelling-
with-your-lgbt-family/
 We Were Here (DVD. (2011). [Poster]. Big Gay Picture Show. https://www.biggaypictureshow.com/bgps/2011/12/we-were-here-dvd/
 Why Federal Laws Don’t Ban Discrimination Against LGBT. (2019). [Photograph]. Time. https://time.com/5554531/equality-act-lgbt-rights-trump/
 Weissman, D. & Weber, B. (Director). (2011). We were here [Film]. Weissman Projects.