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Farnsworth, Susan, Larisa Filippov

Querying the Past: LGBTQ Maine Oral History Project Collection

Susan Farnsworth is a 75 year old lesbian who has lived in Maine for over 50 years. She currently resides in Hallowell, ME, but has lived all over Maine and other places in New England. Farnsworth is an attorney and has her own law practice where she helps a variety of clients with their legal problems. She realized she was a lesbian while she was in law school during her marriage to a man. Farnsworth attended Bates College for her undergraduate degree before going to the University of Maine School of Law in Portland. The multiple political organizations she has …

Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Adults’ Experiences With Supportive Religious Groups, Rachel Grossman

Antioch University Full-Text Dissertations & Theses

This qualitative research study was designed to explore lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) young adults’ views about how being a member of supportive and affirming religious places of worship and social groups influenced their self-acceptance, as well as their ability to integrate their religious and sexual minority identities. In this study, six in-person interviews were completed with participants who (a) were 18-24 years old; (b) identified as lesbian, gay, or bisexual; (c) were members of supportive Jewish and Christian religious groups; and (d) identified as cisgender. The data from the interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis to tell cohesive stories …

Coming Out Late:The Impact On Individuals' Social Networks, Russell Elliott Spornberger Ma

Gerontology Theses

Social support is a key factor influencing older adults’ health and well-being. Disclosing one’s lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity at any age has great potential for altering, if not destroying, existing relationships with family, friends, and others. With long-established social roles and personal relationships, the potential risks may be accentuated for those who come out in mid- or later-life. Yet, researchers have paid scant attention to this phenomenon. This exploratory qualitative study examines the impact of coming out “late” on older adults’ social networks. In-depth interviews were conducted with a sample of fourteen older adults who disclosed their non-heterosexual identity …

The Lived Experiences Of Lesbian Clergy In Four Protestant Mainline Denominations : The Formation Of Their Religious, Spiritual, And Sexual Identities, Pamela Jeanne Pater-Ennis

Legacy Theses & Dissertations (2009 - 2024)

This study explores the multiplicity of challenging issues that lesbian clergy face today from a social work perspective, utilizing the intersecting concepts found in social work and theology as an interpretive framework. From the social work perspective, the theoretical constructs of social identity theory, ecological theory, and anti-oppressive theory inform the qualitative questions of this study. Answers flow from the data extracted from interviews with the sample, utilizing modified grounded theory and listening guide methodologies to give “voice” to the lesbian clergy and the challenges that they faced due to their religious, spiritual, and sexual identities. Specifically, this is a …

The Silences Between: Are Lesbians Irrelevant? World Social Forum, Mumbai, India, 16-21 January, Susan Hawthorne

Journal of International Women's Studies

In this essay, I reflect on my experience at the Mumbai World Social Forum in 2004. I begin with a discussion of silence as methodology in research with, by and about lesbians. I examine the silence around lesbian politics as well as the silences between lesbian activists and those they encounter in discussion, political activism and research settings. I explore some of the differences and similarities between Australia and India both within the mainstream culture and in the freedoms or otherwise of lesbians. I then go on to describe the workshop I organized for the Mumbai World Social Forum on …

Perspectives On Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender (Lgbt) Older Adults' Decision To Disclose Their Sexual Orientation Or Gender Identity To Healthcare And Social Service Providers, Mary M. Stanton

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This qualitative study explored LGBT older adults' individual decisions to disclose sexual orientation or gender identification when seeking services from health care and social service providers. Participants were recruited through local senior centers. Thirteen lesbian females and four gay males participated in qualitative interviews. All participants identified racially as white and resided in the Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts; ages ranged from 55 to 73 years old. Employment status varied: 35% were retired; 29% worked fulltime; 23% were disabled and 11% were semi-retired. Professions spanned business, educational, legal, media and medical fields. Thirty eight percent earned over $90,000; 12% over …

Voices From The Parents Of Lesbian, Gay Or Bisexual Children : How Do Parents Adjust To Their Child's Lesbian, Gay Or Bisexuality?, Jillian Love Goldstein

Theses, Dissertations, and Projects

This study explored the following question: How do parents adjust to the disclosure of their child's lesbian, gay, or bisexual identity? The purpose of this study was to focus on the parent of a LGB child in order to understand their reactions to their child's sexuality, their process of adjusting to their child's LGB identity, and to determine the impact it may have on the parents' relationship with their child. The study included two methodology components: an online anonymous survey and an in-person interview. The sample pool was comprised of sixty-one parents through the online survey and three parents who …

Equality News (Spring 2007), Matthew R. Dubois

Equality news / EqualityMaine (2004-2008)

No abstract provided.

Equality News (Winter 2007), Matthew R. Dubois

Equality news / EqualityMaine (2004-2008)

No abstract provided.

Equality News (Autumn 2006), Matthew R. Dubois

Equality news / EqualityMaine (2004-2008)

No abstract provided.

A Queer Miracle In Georgia: The Origins Of Gay-Affirming Religion In The South, Jodie Talley

History Theses

The intersection of homosexuality and faith values, a very controversial topic in the United States, has generated both social accommodation as well as “culture war.” In the past forty years this nation has witnessed the establishment of predominantly gay congregations, gay “welcoming” and “affirming” mainstream congregations, as well as virulently anti-gay religious organizations. This study investigates the origins and evolving history of gay and gay-affirming religious traditions in America with an emphasis on Atlanta and Georgia. Primarily an oral history, this project draws from eighty-two interviews as well as primary and secondary documents to construct this history. Several conclusions unfold: …

Coming Out For Kids: Recognizing, Respecting, And Representing Lgbtq Youth, Barbara Fedders

Nevada Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Liberating Visions: Religion And The Challenge Of Change In Maine,1820 To The Present, University Of Southern Maine, Susie Boch, Joseph S. Wood, Maureen Elgersman Lee, Howard M. Solomon, Abraham J. Peck

Publications (Annual Event Catalog)

Liberating Visions: Religion and the Challenge of Change in Maine, 1820 to the Present. Each of the Sampson Center’s three scholars has crafted an original essay related to one of the Sampson Center collections—African-American, Judaic, and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender—thereby reflecting on how religious institutions have fostered minority identity and have framed social and cultural transformation.

Table of Contents:

Religion and Transformation (Joseph S. Wood, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs)

Jean Byers Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine Programming (Susie Bock, Director, Sampson Center for Diversity in Maine and Head, USM Special Collections)

The African American …

Equality News (Spring 2005), Rodney Mondor

Equality news / EqualityMaine (2004-2008)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (Fall 2002), Maggie Allen

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (December 2001), Mark Sullivan

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (September 2001), David Garrity

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (October 2000), David Garrity

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (September 2000), David Garrity

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

The Pride Reporter, Special Issue (July 2000), N/A N/A

Pride reporter (2000)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (May 2000), David Garrity

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (April 2000), David Garrity

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (February 2000), David Garrity

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Community Pride Reporter, 08/1999, Community Pride Reporter

Community Pride Reporter (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Community Pride Reporter, 05/1999, Community Pride Reporter

Community Pride Reporter (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (April 1999), Betsy Smith

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Community Pride Reporter, 04/1999, Community Pride Reporter

Community Pride Reporter (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Mlgpa News (March 1999), Betsy Smith

MLGPA news (1996-2004)

No abstract provided.

Community Pride Reporter, 02/1999, Community Pride Reporter

Community Pride Reporter (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.

Community Pride Reporter, 11/1998, Community Pride Reporter

Community Pride Reporter (1993-1999)

No abstract provided.