Gay Men Living with Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities

From Crisis to Crossroads

Benjamin Lipton

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781317953517
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Anesthesiology & Pain Management

Understand gay men's unique health issues beyond the incomplete focus of HIV to include the concerns of those living with a broad range of chronic illnesses and disabilities

Gay Men Living with Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities: From Crisis to Crossroads is the groundbreaking book that comprehensively examines and forms strategies to respond to the needs of gay men living with non-HIV chronic illnesses and disabilities such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and muscular sclerosis. Bringing together the interdisciplinary expertise and unique perspectives of leaders in the fields of social work, psychology, and rehabilitation counseling, this groundbreaking book helps you understand the key issues from theoretical, clinical, practical, and personal perspectives.

Gay Men Living with Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities: From Crisis to Crossroads conceptualizes and addresses the integration of psychosocial and medical issues faced by the gay men living with both HIV-related and non-HIV chronic illnesses and disabilities. Each chapter delves deeply into the psychosocial impact of their marginalization in daily living while offering strategies for partnership and integration between gay and mainstream health and social service organizations. With extensive, up-to-date bibliographies at the end of each chapter and case studies that illuminate theoretical discussions, this book is essential reading for those involved in health policy and practice with gay men living with chronic illnesses and disabilities.

Gay Men Living with Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities: From Crisis to Crossroads explores:

• the invisibility of gay men living with non-HIV illnesses and disabilities and the need to provide adequate services to them
  
• the impact of sexual orientation on living with a broad range of life-threatening illnesses
  
• the multiple layers of stigma of being gay while living with a chronic illness or disability
  
• how chronic illness can lead to increased body dissatisfaction in gay men
  
• the multidimensional challenge of psychotherapy with HIV positive gay men
  
• the connection between aging, chronic illness, and sexual orientation
  
• living with a non-HIV chronic illness as a gay social service professional

Gay Men Living with Chronic Illnesses and Disabilities: From Crisis to Crossroads is vital reading for social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, physicians, sociologists, public health advocates and experts, community organizers, and everyone engaged in providing medical, social, or psychological services.

Index

Adolescents, gay, coping strategies of, 11–12

ADRESSING model (Hays), 36

Advocacy, social service providers and, 18–19

Aging, 82–83

coping with chronic illness and, 17–18

impact of AIDS, 84–85

loss and, 83–84

oppression of, within gay communities, 86–87

study of gay gerontology and, 83–84

AIDS. See also HIV

impact of, aging and, 84–85

stigma and, 8

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), 30–31

Apathy, HIV positive gay men and, 71–72

Best practices, in mental health, 33–36

Body, sociocultural theories of, 48–53

disability theory, 51–53

feminist theories, 48–49

poststructuralist theories, 49–51

queer theory, 51

Body image disturbance. See also Gay beauty

gay men and, 45–47, 57–60

overview of, 44–45

Change, advocating, 18–19

Chronic illnesses. See also Illnesses; Non-HIV chronic illnesses (NHIVCIs)

adjusting to diagnosis of, 3–4

defining, 3

diagnosis of, 3

effect of, on people, 3

incidence and prevalence of, among gay men, 2–3

psychotherapy interventions for gay men with, 34

social construction of, 6–8

Cognitive deterioration, HIV positive gay men and, 68

Coming out process, 9

Coping strategies

gay adolescents and, 11–12

for gay men living with NHIVCIs, 12–13

social support as, 12–13

Countertransference issues, with HIV positive gay men, 102–104

Cult of masculinity, 55–56

Cultural imperialism, 87–88

Death, therapists and issues of, 77

Disabilities. See also Gay men living with NHIVCIs

vs. handicaps, 32–33

identity development process for persons with, 29

impact of, on sexual functioning, 34–35

social construction approaches to, 30

universal essentialist approach to, 32

Disability identity, development of, 29

Disability Identity Attitude Scale (DIAS), 29–30

Disability theory, 51–53

Discrimination

minority gay men with disabilities and, 28

stigma of, 17

Diseases, describing, 3

...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication
• Table of Contents
• About the Contributors
• Preface
• Gay Men Living with Non-HIV Chronic Illnesses
• Gay Men Living with Chronic Illness or Disability: A Sociocultural, Minority Group Perspective on Mental Health
• The Gay Male Gaze: Body Image Disturbance and Gender Oppression Among Gay Men
• The Multidimensional Challenge of Psychotherapy with HIV Positive Gay Men
• Resistance and Resilience: The Untold Story of Gay Men Aging with Chronic Illnesses
• The Impact of a Non-HIV Chronic Illness on Professional Practice: Personal and Professional Considerations of a Psychotherapist
• Index