CHAPTER 1

THE PROBLEM AND ITS SCOPE

RATIONALE

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT) people continue to experience

various forms of oppression and discrimination in North America and throughout the

world, despite the social, legal, and political advances that have been launched in an

attempt to grant LGBT people basic human rights. Even though LGBT people and

communities have been actively engaged in community organizing and social action efforts

since the early twentieth century, research on LGBT issues has been, for the most part,

conspicuously absent within the very field of psychology that is explicitly focused on

community research and action– Community Psychology. The psychological and social

impact of oppression, rejection, discrimination, etc. on LGBT people is reviewed, and

recent advances in the areas of LGBT health, public policy, and research are detailed.

Recent advances within the field of Community Psychology about LGBT research and

action are highlighted, and a call to action is offered to integrate the knowledge and skills

within LGBT communities with Community Psychology's models of intervention,

prevention, and social change to build better theory and intervention for LGBT people and

communities (Harper, 2003).

LGBT youth face the threat of victimization everywhere. One of the most pervasive

threats they face, however, is that of being thrown out of their homes by their families.

Every year thousands of minors are forced into homelessness by their families because of

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their sexual orientation. According to a Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey, one in

four teens who identify as lesbian or gay is homeless. One study suggests that rather than

choosing to leave on their own, these teens are more likely being driven out of their homes

by their parents. While youth homelessness is most often attributed to neglect, family

tragedy, poverty, and addiction, most LGBT youth populations attribute their

homelessness directly to their sexual orientation. Many families, it seems, would rather

have no child than a gay child. The study is to expose a hole in the law allowing parents to

escape the consequences of forcing their LGBT children into homelessness. Child

abandonment is illegal, yet the laws, policies, and resources that are currently in place to

help these children are insufficient to get them the help they need. The study is to give an

overview of LGBT homelessness and discuss why LGBT youth become homeless at a

disproportionate rate to their heterosexual counterpart (Judge, 2015).

Bullying in schools affects many students in harmful ways. The injurious effects

that bullying can have on students cannot be understated, ranging from poor academic

performance and anxiety to depression and suicide. National statistics reflect that those

students who are perceived to be part of the LGBT community experience substantially

higher rates of bullying than their peers. Because of growing information on this topic,

bullying has been elevated from a playground incident to a topic of public policy debated

in the U.S. Congress as well as in state legislatures across the country. However, the

passage of state-level laws has created a patchwork of protections for LGBT students. At

the federal level, the only protections available have come from executive action and

application of Title IX’s prohibition on schools engaging in discrimination against

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students based on sex. Congress, despite widespread recognition of the need for further

protections, has yet to move forward with legislation that would make schools a safer

place for LGBT students. An analysis of U.S. state and federal bullying protections

indicates that while some schools are becoming safer environments for LGBT students,

there is much more progress to be made (Warbelow, 2013).

“Race, gender, religion, sexuality, we are all people and that’s it. We’re all people.

We’re all equal”. That is according to (Franta, 2018). Also your sexual preference does not

define you, it is your personality that aspires you to be who you are in the society where

you belong. Upon doing this research the researchers aim to know the perception of a

family on having an LGBTQ child.

Theoretical Background

Related Theory

In this study, the researchers had used the Functional Attitude Theory (Michener

et al; Myers, 1992) Daniel Katz proposed the theory of attitudes. He takes the view that

attitudes are determined by the functions they serve for us. People hold given attitudes

because these attitudes help them achieve their basic goals. There are 3 components of

attitudes according to Daniel Katz. Cognitive - our thoughts, beliefs, and ideas about

something. When a human being is the object of an attitude, the cognitive component is

frequently a stereotype, e.g. “welfare recipients are lazy”. Affective - feelings or emotions

that something evokes e.g. fear, sympathy, hate. Cognitive, or behavioral - tendency or

disposition to act in certain ways toward something would want to keep welfare recipients

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out of our neighborhood. Emphasis is on the tendency to act, not the actual acting; what

we intend and what we do may be quite different.

A favorable or unfavorable evaluative reaction toward something or someone

exhibited in one’s beliefs, feelings, or intended behavior. It is a social orientation - an

underlying inclination to respond to something either favorably or unfavorably. Katz

distinguishes four types of psychological functions that attitudes meet. Instrumental - we

develop favorable attitudes towards things that aid or reward us. We want to maximize

rewards and minimize penalties. If an individual was being perceptive like, he/she has

observed that most of the people in the society don’t like folks in the LGBT community,

then, he/she is more favorable to go against the LGBT community. Knowledge - attitudes

provide a meaningful, structured environment. In life, we seek some degree of order,

clarity, and stability in our frame of reference. Attitudes help supply us with standards of

evaluation. Via such attitudes as stereotypes, we can bring order and clarity to the

complexities of human life. Such as gender stereotypes in society. Value-expressive -

Express basic value, reinforce self-image. If you view yourself as a homophobic, you can

reinforce that image by going against the LGBT community. Ego-defensive - Some

attitudes serve to protect us from acknowledging basic truths about ourselves or the harsh

realities of life. They serve as defense mechanisms. Katz says we develop attitudes that

help us meet this goal.

Gay people inevitably differ in characteristics irrelevant to their category

membership. Heterosexuals with multiple contact experiences have increased

opportunities for observing such variation and consequently, individuating outgrow

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members. Such individuation is likely to reduce intergroup prejudice. Close relationships

with gay men or lesbians can provide heterosexuals with intimate, personally relevant

information about gay people. They are likely to foster the personalization of gay people,

which helps to reduce prejudice. Discussions with a friend or relative about the latter’s

homosexuality can help to motivate the heterosexual person both to maintain the

relationship and to change his/her attitudes towards gay people generally. Through this

theory, the researchers can elaborate more on the attitudes of heterosexuality towards

homosexuality. The three (3) components had been considered as a guide for the

researchers to determine the attitudes of the respondent (Michener et al; Myers, 1992).

Related Literature

In this article, we provide two clinical cases to illustrate the process of family

acceptance of transgender youth and a gender-nonconforming youth who was neither a

sexual minority nor transgender. Clinical implications of family acceptance and rejection

of LGBT youth are discussed. Sexual orientation refers to the individual’s object of sexual

or romantic attraction or desire, whether of the same or other sex relative to the

individual’s sex, with sexual minority individuals having a sexual orientation that is partly

or exclusively focused on the same sex. Transgender refers to individuals for whom

current gender identity and sex assigned at birth are not concordant, whereas cisgender

refers to individuals for whom current gender identity is congruent with sex assigned at

birth. Sexual orientation and gender identity are distinct aspects of the self. Transgender

individuals may or may not be sexual minorities and vice versa. Little is known about

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transgender youth, although some of the psychosocial experiences of cisgender sexual

minority youth may generalize to this population.

The Institute of Medicine recently concluded that LGBT youth are at elevated risk

for poor mental and physical health compared with heterosexual and cisgender peers.

Representative samples of youth have found disparities by sexual orientation in health-

related risk behaviors, symptomatology, and diagnoses, with disparities persisting over

time. Furthermore, sexual orientation disparities exist regardless of how sexual

orientation is defined, whether by sexual or romantic attractions; sexual behaviors; self-

identification as heterosexual, bisexual, lesbian/gay or other identities; or, any

combination thereof. Actual or anticipated family acceptance or rejection of LGBT youth

is important in understanding the youth’s experience of minority stress, how the youth is

likely to cope with the stress and consequently, the impact of minority stress on the

youth’s health. This article addresses the role of family, in particular, parental acceptance

and rejection in LGBT youths’ identity and health. The literature reviewed in this article

focuses on the experiences of sexual minority cisgender youth due to a lack of research on

transgender youth. We include findings and implications for transgender youth whenever

possible (Sabra L. Katz-Wise P. M.).

Related Studies

Arts and Social Sciences Journal state that, Stereotyping, gender discrimination,

and oppression still exist in this society. To know the recent views or perspectives of

people towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) a study conducted. The study

investigated attitudes toward LGBT by surveying 86 students from Ilagan City National High

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School and 14 teachers from the senior high school department. There will be more

negative reactions than positive attitudes. Results have shown that the majority of the

respondents have accepted and support the LGBT people and can become one of the allies.

The findings from this study can be used to acquire knowledge to people about societal

attitudes to decrease any oppression or gender discrimination (Pongasi, 2018).

The second study is from Springer Link said that, while there is an extant research

base regarding suicidal ideation to bullying and peer harassment, how findings may be

similar and different for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) and non-LGB youth is less well

understood. To address this gap, we analyzed data from 5,542 13- to 18-year-old youth

who was nationally surveyed online in the United States in 2010. Results suggest that the

relative odds of suicidal ideation are elevated for youth who are victims of bullying (OR =

5.61, 95 % CI, 4.11, 7.64), as well as those who are victims of peer harassment (OR = 2.06,

95 % CI, 1.53, 2.79). Within the context of other important factors, bullying was associated

with odds of suicidal ideation twice that of non-victimized 0youth (aOR = 2.02, 95 % CI,

1.30, 3.13). Within sexual identity, the relation between bullying and suicidal ideation was

particularly strong for gay, lesbian, and queer youth, even after adjusting for other

influential factors (aOR = 6.29, 95 % CI, 2.69, 14.66). Across sexual identities, the odds of

suicidal ideation are higher for bisexual youth (aOR = 1.77, 95 % CI, 1.23, 2.55) but not for

other sexual minority youth when compared with otherwise similar heterosexual youth.

Other factors, including depressive symptomatology and low self-esteem, were also

predictive of recent ideation across all sexual identities. Findings highlight the complexity

of bullying and suicidal ideation. Furthermore, given the relation between bullying and

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suicidal ideation, and the disproportionate level of bullying experienced by LGB youth, our

findings suggest the need for more protective environments for LGB youth (Ybarra, 2015).

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth and young adults were known

to have compromised physical and mental health, and family rejection is an important risk

factor. Yet few studies have examined the positive role that support from parents, friends,

and the community has for LGBT young adults. In a cross-sectional study of 245 LGBT non-

Latino White and Latino young adults (ages 21–25) in the United States, sexuality-related

social support are examined in association with measures of adjustment in young

adulthood. Family, friends, and community support were strong predictors of positive

outcomes, including life situation, self-esteem, and LGBT esteem. However, family

acceptance had the strongest overall influence when other forms of support are

considered. Implications for the unique and concurrent forms of social support for LGBT

youth and young adult adjustment are discussed (Snapp, 2015).

Conceptual Framework

8
 The schematic diagram of the theoretical background of the study, which shows

the conceptual framework, is shown below.

The Functional Attitude Theory of Daniel Katz (1958)

CATADMAN KAMANGGAHAN STO.NIÑO

RESPONDENT OF LGBTQ MEMBERS IN BRY. SABANG, DANAO CITY

CANLINGO CROSSING SABANG CAPUTIN

SENDING OF LETTERS

QUESTIONS

INTERVIEW
(PARENT)
Parents)
RESULT

ANALYSIS
The Families

that have LGBT

FINDINGS
members
CONCLUSIONS
RECOMMENDATION

Fig.1 Schematic Diagram of the Theoretical - Conceptual Framework of the Study.

This Conceptual Framework was based on the; Functional Attitude Theory of Daniel

Katz (1958). The researchers conducted the study to the families on which have LGBT

9
members of Sabang, Danao City, Cebu. The research study went on for two weeks, which

consumed 3 days every week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) and 20 respondents used

to participate in the study. The researchers interviewed the respondents. After 2 weeks

of data gathering, the researcher analyzed the gathered data. Thus, the researcher gave

recommendations for the case study.

The Problem

Statement of the Problem

The researchers want to figure out the perceptions of the family towards LGBT

members.

1. What are parent perceptions towards LGBTQ Community?

2. How do they view their LGBTQ child?

3. What is the different treatment of the parent when they found out that their children

are LGBT?

Significance of the study

The result of this study would provide benefits to the person involved in the

LGBTQ member's needs.

Community – this could help them understand the individuals who are part of the LGBTQ

community.

Student– to change the perception of the LGBTQ in society.

Parents – this could help them understand their children, and they could give more

support to their children and motivate them through their advice.

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Future Researcher- the findings could be their basis to elaborate the topic with broader

ideas. In addition, it can also serve as their reference for their study.

Scope and Delimitation

This study was conducted during the first semester of the school year 2019-2020

and the data gathering had only last for 2 weeks. The respondents of the study are the

family (parent/guardian) of an LGBTQ member. The researchers conducted an interview,

with 20 respondents. This study only focuses on the perception of the family of an LGBTQ

member (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer member).

Definition of terms

LGBTQ- Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer

Gender – refers to the attitudes, feelings, and behaviors that a given culture associates

with a person’s biological sex. Behavior that is compatible with cultural expectations is

referred to as gender-normative; behaviors that are viewed as incompatible with this

expectation constitute gender non-conformity.

Cisgender - refers to individuals for whom current gender identity is congruent with sex

assigned at birth.

Homosexual - denoting or relating to a person whose sense of personal identity and gender

corresponds with their birth sex.

Gender Identity- a person's perception of having a particular gender, which may or may

not correspond with their birth sex.

Sexual Orientation - a person's sexual identity concerning the gender to which they are

attracted; the fact of being heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual.

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Heterosexual - involving or characterized by a sexual attraction between people of the

opposite sex.

CHAPTER 2

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

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 This chapter presents the research design, research environment, research

respondents, research procedure, and research instrument.

RESEARCH DESIGN

The purpose of the research is to determine the perception of the parents on

having lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) members of the family.

The researchers used the convenience sampling method (also known as availability

sampling) is a specific type of non-probability sampling method that relies on data

collection from population members who are conveniently available to participate in the

study. The researchers used the convenience sampling method because it can be applied

by interviewing random parents on having LGBTQ members of the family by asking

questionnaire questions.

The researchers used a descriptive Research Design, a design used by the researchers

to know the feelings, opinions, behavior, experiences, etc. of the family members towards

their LGBTQ members of the family.

RESEARCH ENVIRONMENT

The researchers conducted an interview in Sabang, Danao City, Cebu wherein it is the most

convenient location to access respondents for the researchers. The place has many LGBTQ

members that are still living with their family thus making it a convenient place for the researchers

to conduct their research. The researchers want to know the perception of each parent of an

LGBTQ member. There are a total of thirteen (13) sitio’s in Sabang, but out of the 13 sitio’s the

13
researchers only went to six (6) sitio’s which are the: : Catadman, Kamanggahan, Canlingo, Crossing

Sabang, Caputin, and Sto. Niño.

Figure 3. Location Map of the Research Environment

RESEARCH SUBJECT

The respondents of the study were the family (parent/guardian) members of an

LGBTQ member who are residing in Sabang, Danao City, Cebu. Originally the respondents

are 40 but 20 parents rejected the researcher's request so only 20 respondents have

remained. Out of 13 sitio’s in Sabang Danao city, the researchers only went to 6 sitio’s

which are the: Catadman, Kamanggahan, Canlingo, Crossing Sabang, Caputin, Sto.Nino.

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The number of respondents interviewed in each sitio’s are: 3 respondents in Catadman, 4

in Kamanggahan, 4 in Canlingo, 2 in Crossing Sabang, 2 in Caputin and 5 in Sto. Niño.

The following table below showed the total number of respondents that were

interviewed.

Respondents `No. of Respondents

Parents/ Guardian of an LGBTQ member 20

Table 1.Table of Respondents

Research Procedure

Informed consent was given to the parent/guardian for them to know the purpose

of the said interview and to answer the questions that the interviewer will ask them. The

interview was created using develop questions that were suitable from related research

and individual questions that were formed by the researchers. The interview was made

up of nine (9) questions which were related to the participant’s view, each of the members

was given a task to interview the parent/guardian regarding on how they view their LGBTQ

family member. A total of 20 family members of the different LBGTQ members were

interviewed. The researchers made sure the confidentiality of the interview since

identities are important. The researchers also considered that consciousness can affect

their effectiveness and honesty in answering the interview, and so, the researchers gave

the respondents the option of being anonymous.

Research Instrument

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 This study used an interview in gathering and comparing the data. The

researchers used an interview to explain, better understand, and explore research

subjects' opinions, behavior, experiences, phenomenon, etc. Often the researcher

develops a topic list before the start of the interview, which can be used flexibly. As the

interview is a product of the interaction between the researcher and the interviewer, the

setting and skills of the researcher are of importance (e.g. the ability to build a sense of

trust (developing rapport), the way of phrasing questions, give the interviewee room to

tell a story, body language). Furthermore, it is important to think about the type of

transcription of audiotapes.

CHAPTER 3

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 PRESENTATION, ANALYSIS, AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA

This chapter presents the gathered data and analyses of the study in Sabang, Danao

City. The researcher whose main objective is to gather the perception of the parents on

having an LGBTQ member of the family.

The three main themes where chosen that came up from the respondent’s

answers: “Perception of the family towards LGBTQ Community”, “Treatment of the

parent towards their LGBT child”, and “Acceptance of parents towards LGBT”.

Perception of the family towards LGBTQ Community

The researchers wanted to know the different perceptions of the different parents

towards the LGBTQ community. The researchers observed that the parents answered

each question very honestly and most of them are okay with the LGBTQ community.

Treatment of the parent towards their LGBT child

The researchers wanted to know the different treatments of the parent towards

their LGBTQ children. The researchers observed that most of the answers of the parents

are the same as supporting activities regarding the LGBTQ community, respect individual

rights and accepting each identity.

The researchers find out that no problem with the parent’s perception of the

LGBTQ community and give respect to the individual who is part of the LGBTQ community.

Acceptance of parents towards LGBT

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 The researchers observed that many individuals are abandoned in terms of their

gender preferences. But some of the LGBTQ members are very talented in cosmetics,

dancing, and comedy that can be the source of income that can sustain the needs of their

family. In this matter, the researcher figures out that most of the parents answer that

talent and respect are the keys to acceptance.

Chapter 4

SUMMARY, CONCLUSION, AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter presents the summary of the research work undertaken, the

conclusions drawn and the recommendation made as an outgrowth of this study.

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Summary

This present study was intended to achieve the views and perceptions of

heterosexuality towards lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender in society. The

researchers have seen a lot of changes in the LGBT community. It was observed that many

individuals bullied in terms of their gender preferences. We all know that we live in a

society with a group of different people that has different perceptions. LGBTQ are human

as well. Respect the individual rights and accepting each identity to build themselves in

society just for them to be accepted.

The purpose of the study is to know:

1. What are parent perceptions towards LGBTQ Community?

2. How do they view the LGBTQ Community?

3. What is the different treatment of the parent when they found out that their children

are LGBT?

Findings

The findings based on the results of the survey. The researcher creates instruments

like conducting a survey of the respondent to know the value and different treatment of

each member of LGBTQ. Most of the parents interviewed had no problem with the LGBTQ

community. The LGBTQ members deserved to respected, deserved to be love and

deserved to be accepted. If the researchers put into a statistical graph the percentage

result of the survey is almost 80 percent are accept the gender preferences of their child

and said that no problem with it. Majority of the respondents says that learning to carry

respect of ourselves will teach respect from the others.

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Conclusion

The researcher concludes that no problem with the gender preferences of each

individual. It is better to show the real gender that you feel than keeping it until someone

will discover and it goes to bully. Based on the result of our survey the researcher

encountered a lot of positivity outcomes and support of the parents. With the support of

beset three main objectives: To explore current views and perceptions of heterosexuality

towards homosexuality. To discover how people, deal and how they interact with

homosexuality. To examine their basis on how they come up with such an attitude towards

homosexuality. It is easy to get the perceptions of the parents in LGBTQ members.

Recommendation

This chapter presents the recommendations prepared by researchers based on the

findings from the researcher survey.

In recommendation, parents should teach how to accept, love and respect their LGBTQ

members of the family. Also, they should not try to change their child’s gender

preferences.

For the next researchers of alike topic, the researchers suggest a more detailed

observation about the individual's behavior towards acceptance to the LGBTQ members.

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 APPENDIX A

RESEARCH QUESTION

1. What is your perception of the LGBTQ community?

2. How do you feel that you are having an LGBT child in the family?

3. How can you support your child if she/he is a part of the LGBT member?

4. What did you feel if you child is being Bullied because she/he is gay/lesbian?

21
5. Have you tried to hurt your child because she/he is gay/lesbian?

6. How can you accept your child if she/he is gay/lesbian?

7. How did you find out that your child is gay/ lesbian?

8. How did you treat your child if you know that he/she is an LGBTQ member?

9. What is your reaction that your child telling you he/she is gay/lesbian?

10. What is your feeling towards your child that if you find out she/he is gay/lesbian?

APPENDIX B
RESEARCH TRANSMITTAL LETTER

22
 APPENDIX C

Raw Data

1. What is your perception towards the LGBTQ community?

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P1. It’s okay for me because we cannot control their decisions.

P2. It’s okay at least they do the right thing and they did nothing wrong

P3. We understand them because that is what they want to be

2. How do you feel that you have an LGBT child in the family?

P1. It’s okay for me if I have an LGBT child because he/she is kind and respectful.

P2. If they are happy with who they are, I’m happy also

3. How can you support your child if she/he is a part of an LGBT member?

P1. I will support them by giving and providing them everything they want.

P2. We support our child in whatever activity he or she does.

4. What did you feel if your child is being bullied because she/he is gay/lesbian?

P1. It’s okay for me because I know that he/she can protect themselves.

P2. I feel angry because they don’t have the right to bully them.

P3. Of course, I feel angry because no mother wants their child to be bullied.

5. Have you ever tried to hurt your child of being part of the LGBTQ community?

P1. No, because I accept his/her as a gay/lesbian.

P2. No, because as a parent, we love them of what they are.

P3. Yes, because I can’t accept his/her as an LGBT.

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6. How can you accept your child if she/he is gay/lesbian?

P1. I will accept my child because I have nothing to do with this.

P2. I can’t accept it.

7. How did you find out that your child is gay/ lesbian?

P1. I notice it when he/she was a child.

P2. I did not expect that my child grows up like this.

8. How did you treat your child if you know that he/she is an LGBTQ member?

P1. I will treat my child as normal.

P2. I treated him/her just like the rest of my kids

9. What is your reaction that your child telling you he/she is gay/lesbian?

P1. I don’t have any reaction because I know that he/she is gay/lesbian.

P2. They didn’t tell us that he/she is gay/lesbian but eventually they have been caught.

REFERENCES

(1958)., D. K. (n.d.).

Franta. (2018).

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Harper, G. W. ( 2003, Jjune). Oppression and Discrimination among Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, and Transgendered People and Communities: A Challenge for
Community Psychology.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1023906620085, 31, 243–252.

Judge, C. ". (2015). Thrown Away for Being Gay: The Abandonment of. Indiana Journal.

Michener et al; Myers. (1992). Handbook of Social Psychology [The cognitive perspective].
Indiana.

Pongasi, C. S. ( 2018). Attitudes Toward the LGBT: A Research Paper Presented to the
Faculty of the Senior High School Department Iligan City National High School.
Arts and Social Sciences Journal.

Sabra L. Katz-Wise, P. M. (n.d.). LGBT Youth and Family Acceptance.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5127283/?fbclid=IwAR1JgXUyzR
PzQfdrmzvlDaaaEfX5-Z3bl3HBVKHQAdAhiXCZfNybzVSs8Vk.

Snapp, S. D. (2015). Social Support Networks for LGBT Young Adults: Low Cost Strategies
for Positive Adjustment. Wiley Online Library.

Warbelow, S. (2013). Bullying of LGBT Youth in America: Prevalence, Effects, and

Government Responses. SpringerLink.

Ybarra, M. L. ( 2015). Understanding Linkages Between Bullying and Suicidal Ideation in a

National Sample of LGB and Heterosexual Youth in the United States.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11121-014-0510-2.

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