Putting families of origin into the queer picture : introducing this special issue

In undertaking our own separate research projects and in our crosscontinental comparative analyses of those projects, we became aware of the gaps between the richness of research on GLBT lives, including experiences of intimacy and parenthood, and the paucity of research on their relations with their families of origin. Still marginal is, in particular, research on the perspectives of the families of origin themselves: parents, but also siblings, grandparents, and other members of extended families. For the purposes of this special issue, we are deploying the term families of origin to mean heterosexual-identifying family members (at least as they publicly perform and display their sexualities), living within a heteronormative socio-politicocultural system. As we will argue in this introduction, however, there is a need to document and research, and thereby historically situate, family diversity, including the increasing shifting discourses and lived experiences of same-sex and other queer families of origin

An intervention to assist men who have sex with men disclose their serostatus to family members: Results from a pilot study

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of an intervention to assist HIV positive men who have sex with men (MSM) in forming and executing strategies for the disclosure of their serostatus to their families of origin. Results indicate that the intervention was successful in assisting men with the primary outcome of disclosure. Participants reported no regret with disclosures occurring during the intervention and follow-up period. Effects on secondary outcomes including family functioning, depression, loneliness, and perceived social support were inconclusive. Implications, refinements of this intervention, and suggestions for future disclosure research are provided

A systematic review of the research base on sexual reorientation therapies

In the past few years, members of the AAMFT, like members of other professional groups, have engaged in a discourse as to the necessity and effectiveness of sexual reorientation therapies. The purpose of this article is to review, critique, and synthesize the scientific rigor of the literature base underpinning sexual reorientation therapy research. Using a systematic narrative analysis approach, 28 empirically based, peer-reviewed articles meeting eligibility criteria were coded for sample characteristics and demographics as well as numerous methodology descriptors. Results indicate the literature base is full of omissions which threaten the validity of interpreting available data