I am pleased to introduce a regular column I will be writing for Gay Calgary Magazine, which I have entitled Queer Quest – a column that will focus on the questions, issues, and concerns that affect sexual minorities and others who are defined as queer. As some of you know, the word queer was once used – and sometimes still is – as a derogatory term against gay men particularly. But recently the term has been reclaimed by many sexual-minority individuals to reflect a positive connotation to the entire group of people who either do not define their sexuality or to those who use a label (i.e., gay, lesbian, bisexual, bi-curious, transgendered, transsexual, or questioning). Consequently, queer is the most inclusive term we have for sexual minorities, those who are questioning their sexuality, and those who either avoid or negate labelling it.
I am a professor at the University of Calgary, who specializes in gay and lesbian studies, and I am also a licensed psychologist who does some private practice work. Besides writing journal articles, I have also had three books published that speak to some of our issues: Same-sex marriage: The personal and the political (2004), Breaking out: The complete guide to building and enhancing a positive gay identity for men and women (2002), and Beyond coming out: Experiences of positive gay identity (2000).
In this column, I intend to provide you the latest and most informative executive summary of what we know in psychology about the topic covered. So as not to bore you with details, I will simply get to the point and provide a form of referencing that does not distract the reader who simply wants the information. Whenever I state my opinion, I will make it clear that that is what you are reading.
Here are a few ideas for upcoming topics:
Friendships
How important are gay friendships?
How do you make friends when you’re gay?
Why do so many straight women love gay men?
Coming Out
What does it mean to “come out” today? What does it mean to be gay? What defines us?
What awaits us after we come out?
What are the gay roles or scripts that one needs to learn after coming out?
Gay Youth
Is the media helping gay youth come out, or is it a hindrance? What effect does the media have on how we construct a gay identity?
When, and how, should you disclose your identity to family?
How can gay youth overcome isolation?
Fetish Culture
Are fetishes healthy?
What is leather sex, and what defines a leather man?
What is it like to be a drag queen?
What motivates people to cross dress?
Sex Related
What is cruising, and what are effective ways to do it?
Are gay men really hung up on penis size?
Are bathhouses dirty? What kind of people frequent a bathhouse?
Are there benefits and drawbacks to having casual sex?
What do we know about people who charge for sex?
Is pornography/erotica good for us, or damaging?
Why are so many older gay men attracted to very young gay men?
Is there a link between body image and sexual orientation?
What are effective ways to make out with a man, or a woman?
Barebacking – why do some individuals put themselves at risk for HIV infection?
Internet Topics
Do people who meet over the Internet have as good a chance at establishing sustainable relationships as compared to those who meet through traditional approaches?
When using the Internet, what should you embrace and what should you avoid?
Besides these topics, a few others include HIV/AIDS, Homophobia, Gay Etiquette, Queer Mental Health, Queer History, Queer Relationships, Muscle Talk, Party Talk, Bisexuality, Questioning One’s Sexuality, Sexual Orientation, Transsexual and Transgender Topics, Intersexed Topics, Gay Stereotypes, Special Challenges of Queer Individuals, Cross-Cultural Homosexuality, and Spirituality and Religion.
I encourage you to submit questions that you would like answered in a future column. I can be reached by confidential email at alderson@ucalgary.ca.
