Sexual stigma and sympathy: Attitudes toward persons living with HIV in Jamaica

As the number of persons living with HIV continues to increase in Jamaica, attitudes and values become more important. This study aimed to examine the attitudes of university students in Jamaica toward persons living with HIV, including homosexual men, heterosexual men, women sex workers, other women, and children. One thousand two hundred and fifty‐two students were surveyed between June 2001 and February 2002 using a 193‐item questionnaire measuring a variety of HIV‐related knowledge, attitudinal and behavioural items. Less than half of students reported sympathetic attitudes toward homosexual men or women sex workers living with HIV while a majority reported generally sympathetic attitudes toward heterosexual men and non‐sex worker women living with the disease. Predictors of sympathy varied by target group. Male students were significantly less likely to report sympathy for homosexual men than for any other group. Spirituality was associated with sympathy for homosexual men and women sex workers, but not for the remaining two groups. Findings suggest that levels of negative attitudes are high in Jamaica and warrant attention to both individual and societal‐level actions and interventions. In addition, messages and interventions must be targeted, recognizing both the differences in level of sympathy expressed toward different groups and predictors of sympathy across the groups.

Résumé

Alors que le nombre de personnes vivant avec le VIH continue d’augmenter en Jamaïque, les attitudes et les valeurs ont une importance croissante. Cette étude avait pour objectif d’examiner les attitudes d’étudiants en Jamaïque, à l’égard des personnes vivant avec le VIH, parmi lesquelles les hommes homosexuels, les hommes hétérosexuels, les professionnelles du sexe, les autres femmes et les enfants. 1252 étudiants ont été interrogés entre juin 2001 et février 2002, à l’aide d’un questionnaire en 193 points pour évaluer les connaissances, les attitudes et les comportements relatifs au VIH. Moins de la moitié des étudiants a déclaré des attitudes de sympathie à l’égard des hommes homosexuels ou des professionnelles du sexe vivant avec le VIH, alors qu’une majorité d’entre eux a déclaré des attitudes générales de sympathie à l’égard des hommes hétérosexuels et des femmes, autres que les professionnelles du sexe, qui vivent avec le VIH. Les facteurs prédictifs de sympathie varient selon les groupes ciblés. Les étudiants de sexe masculin déclarent significativement avoir moins de sympathie pour les hommes homosexuels que pour les autres groupes. La spiritualité est associée à la sympathie pour les hommes homosexuels et les travailleuses du sexe, mais pas pour les deux autres groupes. Les résultats suggèrent que les niveaux d’attitudes négatives sont élevés en Jamaïque et qu’ils incitent à une attention particulière pour des interventions aussi bien au niveau individuel que sociétal. De plus, les messages et les interventions doivent être ciblés, en reconnaissant à la fois les différences des niveaux de sympathie exprimés vis‐à‐vis des différents groupes et les facteurs prédictifs de sympathie à travers les groupes.

Resumen

Ante el continuo aumento de personas contagiadas con el VIH en Jamaica, las actitudes y los valores de la sociedad adquieren más importancia. El objetivo de este estudio es analizar la actitud de los estudiantes universitarios en Jamaica hacia las personas infectadas con el VIH, entre ellas hombres homosexuales y heterosexuales, trabajadoras sexuales, otras mujeres y niños. Entre junio de 2001 y febrero de 2002, 1252 estudiantes participaron en un estudio en el que completaron un cuestionario de 193 puntos para medir toda una serie de conocimientos, actitudes y conductas en torno al tema del sida. Menos de la mitad de los estudiantes mostraron una actitud de compasión hacia los homosexuales y las trabajadoras sexuales contagiados con el VIH/sida, pero una mayoría mostraron compasión en general hacia los seropositivos como hombres heterosexuales y mujeres no relacionadas con el comercio sexual. Los pronósticos de compasión variaban según el grupo objetivo. Los estudiantes masculinos eran mucho menos propensos a mostrar simpatía hacia los homosexuales que ningún otro grupo. La espiritualidad se relacionaba con la compasión hacia los homosexuales y las trabajadoras sexuales pero no para los otros dos grupos. Los resultados indican que en Jamaica existen actitudes muy negativas y, por tanto, habría que prestar más atención a las intervenciones dirigidas a los individuos y a la sociedad. Asimismo hay que establecer objetivos en los mensajes y las intervenciones reconociendo las diferencias en el nivel de compasión expresada hacia los diferentes grupos y los pronósticos de compasión en todos los grupos.     

Mate Retention Behavior of Men and Women in Heterosexual and Homosexual Relationships

Comparing the behavior of heterosexual and homosexual persons can provide insight into the origins of heterosexual sex differences in psychology. Evidence indicates that, aside from sexual partner preference, the mating psychology of homosexual men is sex-typical whereas that of homosexual women tends to be more sex-atypical. The current study examined one aspect of mating psychology, mate retention behavior, and tested whether homosexual men and women were sex-typical or sex-atypical for those mate retention tactics where heterosexual men and women differed. Men and women in heterosexual and homosexual relationships were asked to provide information regarding their partners' mate retention behavior by using the Mate Retention Inventory Questionnaire. Heterosexual men and women differed significantly for six of the 19 mate retention tactics considered. With respect to the six mate retention tactics where heterosexual sex differences existed, homosexual men behaved in a sex-typical manner for five of the tactics, whereas homosexual women behaved in a sex-atypical manner for all six tactics. We discuss the significance of these findings for explaining the origins of the mate retention behavior of heterosexual men and women. In addition, we consider what the pattern of sex-typical and sex-atypical mating psychology among homosexual men and women, respectively, suggests in regard to sex differences in the development of mating psychology and the development of homosexual persons.     

Interactions between persons at risk for AIDS and the general population in Denmark.

A nationwide study of sexual behavior was undertaken among 4,680 randomly selected Danes aged 18-59 years. The median number of sexual partners (lifetime) was highest for men aged 30-34 years (eight partners) and for women aged 25-29 years (seven partners). After adjustment for age and sex, having had greater than or equal to 5 sexual partners in the past year was strongly associated with living in larger cities, intravenous drug use, and having sex with a prostitute, a bisexual man, an intravenous drug user, or a resident of sub-Saharan Africa. The frequency of ever having had anal intercourse was highest among women aged 20-34 years (range, 27%-36%) and was independently associated only with increasing number of sexual partners (lifetime). Overall, 2.7% of men reported any homosexual experience, among whom most (88%) had also had heterosexual intercourse. Prostitute contact (ever) was reported by 13% of all men and was associated with a high educational level, a history of travel, a greater number of sexual partners, and intravenous drug use. Overall, sexual contact with someone considered at high risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (a homosexual/bisexual man, intravenous drug user, prostitute, or sub-Saharan African resident) was reported by 15.9% of men and 4.8% of women. Among active blood donors (past year), 12.5% of men and 4.0% of women had engaged in potentially risky behavior. HIV testing was deliberately sought more often by respondents exposed to someone at increased risk of HIV infection (10.6%) than by those unexposed (6.5%, p less than 0.01). Exposure to persons at risk of HIV infection is considerable in Denmark. The majority of persons who have had potential exposure to HIV have not yet been tested for HIV.     

Sexual Partner Age Preferences of Homosexual and Heterosexual Men and Women

The sexual age preferences of 192 adults (equal groups of heterosexual men, heterosexual women, homosexual men, and homosexual women) were examined. Participants rated the sexual attractiveness of pictures of 15 male and 15 female faces arranged into five apparent average age categories ranging from 18 to 60 years. It was predicted that homosexual and heterosexual men would prefer younger partners of their preferred sex than would homosexual and heterosexual women and that age preference would not vary with participant age. Both predictions were supported, although homosexual women preferred older partners than expected. Results suggest that age and sex preferences develop independently.     

Older-sibling and younger-sibling sex ratios in Frisch and Hviid's (2006) national cohort study of two million Danes

Frisch and Hviid (2006) recently reported a study of variables that predicted heterosexual and homosexual marriage in a national cohort of Danish men and women. They found no evidence that older brothers increase the probability that a man will legally marry another man. They concluded that their data raise questions about the universality of the widely confirmed finding that older brothers increase the probability that a man will be sexually oriented towards other men (the fraternal birth order effect). In the present article, Frisch and Hviid's data were reanalyzed using one of the procedures that have been used in prior studies of fraternal birth order. The results showed that the sex ratio of older brothers to older sisters was significantly higher than the expected value of 106 in all four of their study groups (heterosexually married men, homosexually married men, heterosexually married women, and homosexually married women). In contrast, the sex ratio of younger brothers to younger sisters approximated 106 in all four groups. According to this analysis, the only group whose data resembled data from previous studies was the homosexually married males. The writer concluded that one cannot interpret findings about the correlates of heterosexual and homosexual marriage as if they were findings about the correlates of heterosexual and homosexual orientation, and that this is underscored by comparing the markedly different older-sibling sex ratios obtained from heterosexually married persons (in the Danish study) and those obtained from heterosexually oriented persons (in previous studies). It is unclear what implications, if any, Frisch and Hviid's findings have for the study of sexual orientation in general.     

Older-Sibling and Younger-Sibling Sex Ratios in Frisch and Hviid’s (2006) National Cohort Study of Two Million Danes

Frisch and Hviid (2006) recently reported a study of variables that predicted heterosexual and homosexual marriage in a national cohort of Danish men and women. They found no evidence that older brothers increase the probability that a man will legally marry another man. They concluded that their data raise questions about the universality of the widely confirmed finding that older brothers increase the probability that a man will be sexually oriented towards other men (the fraternal birth order effect). In the present article, Frisch and Hviid’s data were reanalyzed using one of the procedures that have been used in prior studies of fraternal birth order. The results showed that the sex ratio of older brothers to older sisters was significantly higher than the expected value of 106 in all four of their study groups (heterosexually married men, homosexually married men, heterosexually married women, and homosexually married women). In contrast, the sex ratio of younger brothers to younger sisters approximated 106 in all four groups. According to this analysis, the only group whose data resembled data from previous studies was the homosexually married males. The writer concluded that one cannot interpret findings about the correlates of heterosexual and homosexual marriage as if they were findings about the correlates of heterosexual and homosexual orientation, and that this is underscored by comparing the markedly different older-sibling sex ratios obtained from heterosexually married persons (in the Danish study) and those obtained from heterosexually oriented persons (in previous studies). It is unclear what implications, if any, Frisch and Hviid’s findings have for the study of sexual orientation in general.     

洪雅县艾滋病流行现状

目的 分析洪雅县艾滋病流行现况.方法 对洪雅县1996 - 2011年艾滋病控制工作相关数据和资料,进行汇总分析.结果 洪雅从1996年发现首例艾滋病感染者,截至2011年底已确诊艾滋病感染者76例,1997 - 2004年无病例报告,2005 - 2011年分别报告13、9、18、9、4、5和17例.2009年以前以注射吸毒为主要传播途径,占77.36％,2009后以异性和同性性传播为主要途径,占90.91％.2010年以前未发现外来妇女艾滋病感染者,2010年和2011年分别在外来妇女中发现艾滋病感染者2人和3人.结论 洪雅县艾滋病疫情呈逐年上升趋势,注射吸毒传播逐年下降,性传播已成主要途径,外来妇女艾滋病感染者升高,需加强性工作者人群及外来妇女艾滋病防治.     

Sex in Australia: homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters

OBJECTIVE: To describe the prevalence and features of homosexual experience and recent homosexual encounters among a representative sample of Australian adults. METHODS: Computer-assisted telephone interviews were completed by a representative sample of 10,173 men and 9,134 women aged 16-59 years from all States and Territories. The overall response rate was 73.1% (69.4% among men and 77.6% among women). RESULTS: Overall, 8.6% of women and 5.9% of men reported some homosexual sexual experience in their lives (p<0.001); these figures fell to 5.7% and 5.0% respectively (p=0.106) when non-genital sexual experience was excluded. 1.9% of men and 1.5% of women reported homosexual experience in the past year. Men who reported homosexual experience reported more same-sex partners than did women (means 31.6 and 3.2, p<0.001), and men and women who identified as homosexual or bisexual reported more sexual partners in total than those who identified as heterosexual. Respondents reporting homosexual experience were significantly more likely to be from an English-speaking background, have higher levels of education, live in a major city, and report a white-collar or managerial/professional occupation. Women who reported homosexual experience were less likely to have a middle or high income. In the most recent homosexual encounter, genital touching was the most commonly reported practice, and oral sex was reported much more frequently than in heterosexual encounters. CONCLUSION: Homosexually and bisexually identified men and women had higher total numbers of partners than heterosexuals. Improved societal attitudes towards homosexuality are likely to lead to further increases in estimates of the prevalence of homosexual experience in the community.     

Sexual Orientation Differences in Cerebral Asymmetry and in the Performance of Sexually Dimorphic Cognitive and Motor Tasks

With each of the tasks in the present studies we expected to find the reported sex difference between heterosexual women and heterosexual men and we predicted a sexual orientation effect with the performance of homosexual men being similar to that of heterosexual women and different from that of heterosexual men. Study I aimed to replicate earlier findings by recording the performance of a group of homosexual men on a visuospatial task, the Vincent Mechanical Diagrams Test (VMDT), a dot detection divided visual field measure of functional cerebral asymmetry, and on five subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS). For each task the profile of scores obtained for the homosexual men was similar to that of heterosexual women in that they scored lower than heterosexual men on the VMDT, they showed less asymmetry, and they recorded a higher Verbal than Performance IQ on the WAIS. In Study 2, a male-biased targeted throwing task favored heterosexual men while, in contrast, on the female-biased Purdue Pegboard single peg condition heterosexual men were outperformed by heterosexual women and homosexual men. On neither of these two tasks did the performances of homosexual men and heterosexual women differ. One task, manual speed, yielded neither sex nor sexual orientation differences. Another, the Purdue Pegboard assemblies condition, revealed a sex difference but no sexual orientation difference. Failure to obtain a sexual orientation difference in the presence of a sex difference suggests that the sexual orientation effect may be restricted to a subset of sexually dimorphic tasks.     

Psychosocial Correlates of Unprotected Sex Without Disclosure of HIV-Positivity among African-American,Latino, and White Men Who Have Sex with Men and Women

African-American, Latino, and White men who have sex with men and women (MSMW) may be a bridge of HIV transmission from men to women. Very little research has directly compared culturally specific correlates of the likelihood of unprotected sex among MSMW. The present study examined psychosocial correlates of unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status with male and female partners among 50 African American, 50 Latino, and 50 White HIV-positive MSMW recruited from AIDS service organizations in Los Angeles County. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to examine relationships of race/ethnicity and psychosocial variables (e.g., condom attitudes, self-efficacy for HIV disclosure, sexual identification) to unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status, for male and female partners separately. For female partners, different effects emerged by race/ethnicity. Among African-Americans, less exclusively homosexual identification and low self-efficacy for disclosure of HIV status to female partners were associated with unprotected sex without disclosure; among Latinos, less exclusively homosexual identification and negative attitudes about condoms were significant. Participants who were more exclusively homosexually identified, who held less positive condom attitudes, and who had low self-efficacy for disclosure to female partners were more likely to have unprotected sex without disclosure of HIV status to male partners. Culturally tailored community-level interventions may help to raise awareness about HIV and bisexuality, and decrease HIV and sexual orientation stigma, thereby increasing African-American and Latino MSMW's comfort in communicating with their female partners about sexuality, HIV and condoms. Addressing norms for condom use and disclosure between male partners is recommended, especially for homosexually identified MSMW.     

How comfortable do first-year medical students expect to be when taking sexual histories?

The authors assessed the expected degree of comfort among first-year students at two California medical schools in taking a sexual history from four types of patients: heterosexual men; heterosexual women; homosexual (men and women combined); and an AIDS patient. Data were from questionnaires administered at two California medical schools (response rate = 87%). Students expected to be significantly more comfortable with heterosexual patients who were the same sex as the student. Students who had previously taken a sexual history anticipated relatively more comfort with heterosexual patients. The lowest expected comfort was for the AIDS patient. Older students expected to be more comfortable with the AIDS patient, independent of the student's personal sexual experience. Students with a homosexual friend anticipated more comfort with both the AIDS patient and the homosexual patients.     

Falling into poverty: the intersectionality of meanings of HIV among overseas Filipino workers and their families

Abstract

Many years of labour migration have opened opportunities as well as exposed overseas Filipino workers to health vulnerabilities. In the light of the increasing number of HIV cases in the country, these workers may be conceived as an at-risk group in need of careful attention. This study, which focuses on the experiences of HIV-positive overseas Filipino workers, describes the meanings HIV carries, together with implications for workers’ identities as they return home to their families. Recognising that HIV may affect different groups in different ways, we analysed 13 accounts from heterosexual men and women and gay men from the lens of intersectionality. We found three major storylines, namely: the ‘fallen hero’ and the struggle of losing the body for heterosexual men; ‘children in poverty’ and the struggle of losing the mind for heterosexual women; and the ‘crushed dream’ and the struggle of losing dignity for gay men. Surviving with HIV and poverty in the context of continuing heteronormative familial duties suggests the need for family-centered interventions for HIV-positive overseas Filipino workers.     

Sex-Specificity in the Reward Value of Facial Attractiveness

Studies of the sex-specificity of sexual arousal in adults (i.e., the tendency to respond more strongly to preferred-sex individuals than non-preferred sex individuals) have suggested that heterosexual men, homosexual men, and homosexual women show stronger sex-specific responses than do heterosexual women. Evidence for a similar pattern of results in studies investigating the reward value of faces is equivocal. Consequently, we investigated the effects of (1) sexual orientation (homosexual vs. heterosexual), (2) sex (male vs. female), (3) image sex (preferred-sex vs. non-preferred-sex), and (4) the physical attractiveness of the individual shown in the image on the reward value of faces. Participants were 130 heterosexual men, 130 homosexual men, 130 heterosexual women, and 130 homosexual women. The reward value of faces was assessed using a standard key-press task. Multilevel modeling of responses indicated that images of preferred-sex individuals were more rewarding than images of non-preferred-sex individuals and that this preferred-sex bias was particularly pronounced when more physically attractive faces were presented. These effects were not qualified by interactions involving either the sexual orientation or the sex of our participants, however, suggesting that the preferred-sex bias in the reward value of faces is similar in heterosexual men, homosexual men, heterosexual women, and homosexual women.     

Positive attitudes towards persons living with HIV in North Kosovo: The university students' perspective

HIV-related stigma could delay the identification and treatment of persons living with HIV (PLHIV), particularly in regions affected by ethnic conflicts. The aims of this study were to assess attitudes towards PLHIV and examine factors associated with stronger positive attitudes towards PLHIV among university students in the Serbian province of Kosovo. A cross-sectional study was conducted at the University of Pristina temporarily settled in Kosovska Mitrovica during the academic year 2013–2014. A total of 1,017 first- and fourth-year students completed an anonymous questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, PLHIV, high-risk groups for acquiring HIV and health behaviour. The main outcome measure was the Attitude Score (ATS), calculated as a sum of points awarded for all attitude-related items. The majority of students (84%) expressed positive attitudes towards PLHIV, while others were indecisive. Most students held negative opinions about persons who use drugs (64%), homosexual persons of both genders (50%) and sex workers (42%). Being female (odds ratio [OR] = 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05–2.09) and older (OR = 1.13, 95% CI 1.03–1.24), not doing paid work while studying (OR = 3.35, 95% CI = 1.63–6.84), studying health-related disciplines (β = −0.113, 95% CI = −0.085 to −2.747), having stronger positive attitudes towards homosexual persons of both genders (OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.64–0.94) and not using illicit drugs (β = 2.08, 95% CI = 1.03–4.20) were associated with stronger positive attitudes towards PLHIV. Social inclusion of PLHIV and individuals at high risk for acquiring HIV could help reduce the HIV-related stigma.     

Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS stigma in Jamaica

This paper reports on a study of the relationship of homophobia to HIV/AIDS‐related stigma in Jamaica. Ethnography, key informant interviews and focus groups were used to gather data from a sample of 33 male and female adults during the summer of 2003. The sample included health and social service providers, HIV positive men and women, and men and women with same sex partners in urban and rural Jamaica. A strong and consistent relationship between homophobia and HIV/AIDS‐related stigma was reported, but the relationship varied according to geographic location, social class, gender, and skin colour (complexion)—to the extent that this coincided with class. Stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS and homosexuality was implicated in low levels of use of HIV testing, treatment and care services and the reluctance of HIV positive people to reveal their serostatus to their sexual partners. Data reveal a pressing need for anti‐stigma measures for both homophobia and HIV/AIDS, and for training for health and human service professionals.     

Homosexuality and HIV/AIDS stigma in Jamaica

This paper reports on a study of the relationship of homophobia to HIV/AIDS-related stigma in Jamaica. Ethnography, key informant interviews and focus groups were used to gather data from a sample of 33 male and female adults during the summer of 2003. The sample included health and social service providers, HIV positive men and women, and men and women with same sex partners in urban and rural Jamaica. A strong and consistent relationship between homophobia and HIV/AIDS-related stigma was reported, but the relationship varied according to geographic location, social class, gender, and skin colour (complexion)-to the extent that this coincided with class. Stigma against people living with HIV/AIDS and homosexuality was implicated in low levels of use of HIV testing, treatment and care services and the reluctance of HIV positive people to reveal their serostatus to their sexual partners. Data reveal a pressing need for anti-stigma measures for both homophobia and HIV/AIDS, and for training for health and human service professionals.     

Body Image Satisfaction in Heterosexual,Gay, and Lesbian Adults

Does the prevalence and degree of body dissatisfaction differ among heterosexual and homosexual men and women? Some theorists have suggested that, compared to their heterosexual peers, gay men are at greater risk for body dissatisfaction and lesbians at lower risk. Past studies examining this issue have generally relied on small samples recruited from gay or lesbian groups. Further, these studies have sometimes produced conflicting results, particularly for comparisons of lesbian and heterosexual women. In the present research, we compared body satisfaction and comfort with one’s body during sexual activity among lesbian women, gay men, heterosexual women, and heterosexual men through two large online studies (Ns = 2,512 and 54,865). Compared to all other groups, heterosexual men reported more positive evaluations of their appearance, less preoccupation with their weight, more positive effects of their body image on their quality of life and the quality of their sex life, more comfort wearing a swimsuit in public, and greater willingness to reveal aspects of their body to their partner during sexual activity. Few significant differences were found among gay men, lesbian women, and heterosexual women. Many gay men (42%) reported that their feelings about their body had negative effects on the quality of their sex life, as did some lesbian women (27%), heterosexual women (30%), and heterosexual men (22%). Overall, the findings supported the hypothesis that gay men are at greater risk than heterosexual men for experiencing body dissatisfaction. There was little evidence that lesbian women experience greater body satisfaction than heterosexual women.     

The search for social validation and the sexual behavior of people living with HIV in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: understanding the role of treatment optimism in context

The primary aim of this qualitative study was to explore the influence of HIV treatment optimism on the sexual behavior of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART) at public health clinics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We also explored the psycho-social dynamics of participants' sexual relationships in order to understand more broadly how these factors influence the sexual behavior of PLWHA and how they shape HAART-related beliefs. Twenty-three semi-structured, in-depth interviews were conducted with three groups: heterosexual women, heterosexual men and men who have sex with men living with HIV who reported being sexually active in the last year and were currently receiving HAART. We found that the availability of HAART was conceptualized as a rationale for unsafe sex among a minority of study participants and that this was more common among men than among women. Specific examples of treatment optimism appeared to be employed as a means to avoid acknowledging how deeper psychosocial issues may have been influencing participant's sexual behavior. Most participants' sexual behavior appeared largely to be a product of their desire for social validation and linked to feelings of shame and denial, including but not limited to HIV. Participants from all three groups expressed a considerable amount of fear and/or anxiety regarding behaviors such as disclosure and condom use as a result of the unexplored conflict between implementing these behaviors and continuing with their strategies for social validation within the context of their sexual relationships. We conclude that short-term information, education and communication interventions surrounding treatment optimism, disclosure and condom use are appropriate and necessary; but that they are not sufficient to address the core challenges to unsafe sex among PLHWA. These deep-rooted psychosocial issues may be better addressed by longer-term individual and group-level opportunities for exploration and critical reflection regarding sense of self and its relationship to social solidarity among PLWHA.     

Comparative data of childhood and adolescence molestation in heterosexual and homosexual persons

In research with 942 nonclinical adult participants, gay men and lesbian women reported a significantly higher rate of childhood molestation than did heterosexual men and women. Forty-six percent of the homosexual men in contrast to 7% of the heterosexual men reported homosexual molestation. Twenty-two percent of lesbian women in contrast to 1% of heterosexual women reported homosexual molestation. This research is apparently the first survey that has reported substantial homosexual molestation of girls. Suggestions for future research were offered.