Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths and Adults : Knowledge for Human Services Practice

As research in the area of same-gender sexual orientation grows, so has visibility of this population and the oppression they often encounter dealing with everyday life. Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youths and Adults provides research-based insights.

A practical guide to developing a deeper understanding of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths and Adults empowers human service professionals to work more comfortably and effectively with these communities. The authors, Ski Hunter, Coleen Shannon, Jo Knox, and James I. Martin, lead readers through the social and historical context of lesbians, gay men, and bisexual men and women. The authors skillfully explore the oppressive responses of the heterosexual world as well as the psychological and social development of lesbians, gay, and bisexual persons across the lifespan. Complex issues such as the challenges encountered in friendships, coupling, and parenting are considered. Sensitive and purposeful, Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths and Adults provides research-based insights and practical applications. Written in a scholarly but accessible style, the authors also include an intervention model to facilitate working with lesbian, bisexual, and gay clients. The book begins with an overview of controversies regarding causation and concludes with a thoughtful overview of the changes from oppressive to affirmative practice. Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youths and Adults is ideal as a main text in courses on stigmatized populations and as a supplement for courses in the applied human services fields. It is a "must read" for practitioners, supervisors, administrators, professors, and trainers working with members of these communities as clients, staff, or students. It is also an excellent venue for the interested lay reader.