An emerging body of research suggests that those who reside in socially and economically marginal... more An emerging body of research suggests that those who reside in socially and economically marginalized places may be marked by a stigma of place, referred to as spatial stigma, which influences their sense of self, their daily experiences, and their relations with outsiders. Researchers conducted 60 semistructured interviews at partnering community-based organizations during summer 2011 with African American and Latina/o, structurally disadvantaged youth of diverse gender and sexual identities who were between 18 and 26 years of age residing in Detroit, Michigan. The disadvantaged structural conditions and dilapidated built environment were common themes in participants' narratives. Beyond these descriptions, participants' framings and expressions of their experiences in and perceptions of these spaces alluded to reputational qualities of their city and particular areas of their city that appear related to spatial stigma. Young Detroit residents articulated the ways that they experience and navigate the symbolic degradation of their city.
Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burd... more Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the mental health status of this population in an attempt to shed light on potential influencing and determinant factors. Twenty-two self-identified black, or multi-racial including black, MSM residing in Atlanta, Georgia participated in two focus groups--11 subjects each, respectively. Categories that emerged from data analysis include: knowledge/experiences, attitudes/beliefs, societal action/behavior, identity development, relationship functionality, and mental health status. Overarching themes for each category were delineated.
Sexual rights broadly refer to the freedoms, opportunities, and protections for individuals, grou... more Sexual rights broadly refer to the freedoms, opportunities, and protections for individuals, groups, and communities to engage in sexual self-expression, develop healthy sexualities, and have those diverse sexualities accepted by society. Marginalized populations are groups or communities that lack some representation, rights, or resources that are typically afforded other populations. Though researched and practiced long before in various forms, the idea and movement of sexual rights in the U.S. can be traced back at least to the “sexual revolution” of the 1960s, second-wave feminism, and the beginnings of the gay rights movement. Though many researchers, policy makers, activists, and organizers have used the language of sexual rights to describe the subject of their inquiry, advocacy, and efforts, there are different conceptualizations, sometimes competing, of what exactly constitutes sexual rights or lack thereof. Sociocultural norms, political opportunities and framings of right...
ABSTRACT This project increased awareness about issues of violence to youth, their communi-ties, ... more ABSTRACT This project increased awareness about issues of violence to youth, their communi-ties, and policy makers through the technique of photovoice and its translation into photo exhibitions and other community events. Youth participants learned photogra-phy skills, engaged in critical communal discussions about important issues affecting their health, wrote reflective stories about their photos, and engaged in policy change efforts. Their photos depict the need to address economic devastation and built envi-ronment degradation to prevent violence in their communities. Youth presented pol-icy makers and community leaders with an "insider's perspective" of the issues facing their communities, with the hope of promoting policy change. Detroit Youth Passages (DYP) strives to amplify voices, promote understanding, and create change by working with Latino youth and young African-American cisgender and transgender women (Lopez et al.). Using a praxis-based approach, DYP seeks to examine and positively transform the structural conditions that contribute to sexu-al vulnerabilities. The project is a partnership between the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC), Alternatives For Girls (AFG), and the Ruth Ellis Center (REC). DYP leaders invited young people to participate on the DYP steering committee at the project's inception. Project leadership recognized the importance of a youth-driven space from which young people could help shape the project's direction and lead activities with great-er autonomy, outside of the project's steering committee, which is led by researchers. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was established in the spring of 2011, and com-prised nine representatives between 18-24 years of age from communities served by the Detroit-based partner organizations: DHDC, AFG, and REC (Table 1). The partner organizations were engaged as community stakeholders from the beginning of the DYP project. DHDC creates opportunities for Latino youth and their families by providing high-quality, innovative and culturally appropriate pro-grams and services that focus on employment, education, and violence prevention. AFG serves homeless and high-risk girls and young women by providing safe shelter, street outreach, and educational support, among other critical services. REC provides residential and drop-in programs for LGBTQ youth and helps young people find pathways to safety and independence. In the summer of 2011, DYP leaders secured funding from the Detroit Com-munity-Academic Urban Research Center's (URC) planning grant initiative to
ABSTRACT Social support has been shown to play a key role in overcoming adversities associated wi... more ABSTRACT Social support has been shown to play a key role in overcoming adversities associated with marginalized identities, yet there is a dearth of information regarding the role of social networks in the gender transition process, particularly in ethnic minority transgender communities. This study uses life history narratives, and a modified grounded theory analysis, to explore the impact of interpersonal relationships on the gender transition process of Black transgender women in Detroit, Michigan. The following interpersonal interactions were significant: family reactions to self-recognition of femininity, coming out as gay prior to transgender identity disclosure, contact with an out transwoman, emotional and physical distancing from existing social networks, building relationships in transgender communities and reinitiating contact with biological family. Findings highlight familial and peer relationship dynamics that featured prominently during gender transition.
ABSTRACT Young transgender women, especially those of col-or, are negatively impacted by suicidal... more ABSTRACT Young transgender women, especially those of col-or, are negatively impacted by suicidality, HIV, residential instability, survival sex work, and other challenges. This study used an oral narrative approach to collect life histories of 10 young black transwomen between 18 and 24 years of age residing in Detroit, Michigan. This study used grounded the-ory analysis to explore institutional violence, discrimination, and harassment (VDH). Participants described their experi-ences navigating three community institutions (schools, the criminal justice system, and churches) and broader society. Results highlight VDH through gender policing at school, sexual victimization in the criminal justice system, and nega-tive judgment of gender variation in faith-based institutions. Participants reference the essential role of support systems, including other transgender individuals, in both their gender identity development and the navigation of institutions. Sig-nificant policy intervention is needed to protect and support transwomen, and prevent VDH perpetuated against them. Across all institutions, policy and practice interventions can focus on use of transgender appropriate and sensitive lan-guage, prevention of physical and sexual assaults, and anti-discrimination measures. Specific policy recommendations and future research directions are outlined.
The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and anxiety, an... more The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and anxiety, and ethnic and sexual identity development, and discrimination and harassment (DH) among Black sexual minority men. Additional aims were to determine whether an interaction effect existed between ethnic and sexual identity and whether coping skills level moderated these relationships. Using an observational cross-sectional design, 54 participants recruited through snowball sampling completed self-administered online surveys. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used. Sixty-four percent of the variance in depression scores and 53% of the variance in anxiety scores were explained by DH and internalized homonegativity together. Thirty percent of the sample had scale scores indicating likelihood of depression and anxiety. Experience of DH and internalized homonegativity explained a large portion of the variability in depression and anxiety among Black sexual minority men. The study showed high prevalence of mental distress among this sample.
Background Latinos comprise 14% of the United States (US) population, and approximately 75% of La... more Background Latinos comprise 14% of the United States (US) population, and approximately 75% of Latinos in the US are immigrants or children of immigrants. Urban Latino men face a distinct set of structural barriers that may influence their health and well-being. The collapse of the automobile industry in Detroit, Michigan, contributed to increased rates of racially stratified unemployment. Method Through semi-structured interviews and ethnography, we present a case study of nine Latino men who face decreasing opportunities for formal ...
The unequal discussion of Black males’ health is a pressing social problem. This study addressed ... more The unequal discussion of Black males’ health is a pressing social problem. This study addressed Black males’ lay perspectives regarding their health, illness, and mortality, with attention to the determinants of men’s health, prevention, lifestyle, and opportunities for health promotion using an exploratory/qualitative research methodology. Participants were 68 Black males aged 15 to 68 years, with an average age of
Research has documented heterosexism and genderism facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, qu... more Research has documented heterosexism and genderism facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) students in schools, especially as it relates to experiencing bullying and harassment. However, little research addresses anti-LGBTQQ bullying interventions, and no research has examined the use of youth-led performance and dialogue in cultivating anti-bullying behaviors among students. The present mixed-methods study assesses one such intervention led by a community-based LGBTQQ and allied youth group. Repeated measures general linear modeling demonstrates a positive impact of this intervention on middle and high school students' likelihood to intervene when witnessing anti-LGBTQQ harassment and confidence to successfully do so, particularly for White students. Qualitative findings demonstrate barriers to intervention and decision-making processes of youth when intervening. Results suggest the importance of these interventions in empowering LGBTQQ youth to effect change in their schools.
An emerging body of research suggests that those who reside in socially and economically marginal... more An emerging body of research suggests that those who reside in socially and economically marginalized places may be marked by a stigma of place, referred to as spatial stigma, which influences their sense of self, their daily experiences, and their relations with outsiders. Researchers conducted 60 semistructured interviews at partnering community-based organizations during summer 2011 with African American and Latina/o, structurally disadvantaged youth of diverse gender and sexual identities who were between 18 and 26 years of age residing in Detroit, Michigan. The disadvantaged structural conditions and dilapidated built environment were common themes in participants' narratives. Beyond these descriptions, participants' framings and expressions of their experiences in and perceptions of these spaces alluded to reputational qualities of their city and particular areas of their city that appear related to spatial stigma. Young Detroit residents articulated the ways that they experience and navigate the symbolic degradation of their city.
Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burd... more Current research indicates that black men who have sex with men (MSM) are disproportionately burdened by depressive distress and anxiety disorders as compared to their white gay and heterosexual counterparts. This study utilizes focus groups to qualitatively explore issues surrounding the mental health status of this population in an attempt to shed light on potential influencing and determinant factors. Twenty-two self-identified black, or multi-racial including black, MSM residing in Atlanta, Georgia participated in two focus groups--11 subjects each, respectively. Categories that emerged from data analysis include: knowledge/experiences, attitudes/beliefs, societal action/behavior, identity development, relationship functionality, and mental health status. Overarching themes for each category were delineated.
Sexual rights broadly refer to the freedoms, opportunities, and protections for individuals, grou... more Sexual rights broadly refer to the freedoms, opportunities, and protections for individuals, groups, and communities to engage in sexual self-expression, develop healthy sexualities, and have those diverse sexualities accepted by society. Marginalized populations are groups or communities that lack some representation, rights, or resources that are typically afforded other populations. Though researched and practiced long before in various forms, the idea and movement of sexual rights in the U.S. can be traced back at least to the “sexual revolution” of the 1960s, second-wave feminism, and the beginnings of the gay rights movement. Though many researchers, policy makers, activists, and organizers have used the language of sexual rights to describe the subject of their inquiry, advocacy, and efforts, there are different conceptualizations, sometimes competing, of what exactly constitutes sexual rights or lack thereof. Sociocultural norms, political opportunities and framings of right...
ABSTRACT This project increased awareness about issues of violence to youth, their communi-ties, ... more ABSTRACT This project increased awareness about issues of violence to youth, their communi-ties, and policy makers through the technique of photovoice and its translation into photo exhibitions and other community events. Youth participants learned photogra-phy skills, engaged in critical communal discussions about important issues affecting their health, wrote reflective stories about their photos, and engaged in policy change efforts. Their photos depict the need to address economic devastation and built envi-ronment degradation to prevent violence in their communities. Youth presented pol-icy makers and community leaders with an "insider's perspective" of the issues facing their communities, with the hope of promoting policy change. Detroit Youth Passages (DYP) strives to amplify voices, promote understanding, and create change by working with Latino youth and young African-American cisgender and transgender women (Lopez et al.). Using a praxis-based approach, DYP seeks to examine and positively transform the structural conditions that contribute to sexu-al vulnerabilities. The project is a partnership between the University of Michigan School of Public Health, the Detroit Hispanic Development Corporation (DHDC), Alternatives For Girls (AFG), and the Ruth Ellis Center (REC). DYP leaders invited young people to participate on the DYP steering committee at the project's inception. Project leadership recognized the importance of a youth-driven space from which young people could help shape the project's direction and lead activities with great-er autonomy, outside of the project's steering committee, which is led by researchers. The Youth Advisory Board (YAB) was established in the spring of 2011, and com-prised nine representatives between 18-24 years of age from communities served by the Detroit-based partner organizations: DHDC, AFG, and REC (Table 1). The partner organizations were engaged as community stakeholders from the beginning of the DYP project. DHDC creates opportunities for Latino youth and their families by providing high-quality, innovative and culturally appropriate pro-grams and services that focus on employment, education, and violence prevention. AFG serves homeless and high-risk girls and young women by providing safe shelter, street outreach, and educational support, among other critical services. REC provides residential and drop-in programs for LGBTQ youth and helps young people find pathways to safety and independence. In the summer of 2011, DYP leaders secured funding from the Detroit Com-munity-Academic Urban Research Center's (URC) planning grant initiative to
ABSTRACT Social support has been shown to play a key role in overcoming adversities associated wi... more ABSTRACT Social support has been shown to play a key role in overcoming adversities associated with marginalized identities, yet there is a dearth of information regarding the role of social networks in the gender transition process, particularly in ethnic minority transgender communities. This study uses life history narratives, and a modified grounded theory analysis, to explore the impact of interpersonal relationships on the gender transition process of Black transgender women in Detroit, Michigan. The following interpersonal interactions were significant: family reactions to self-recognition of femininity, coming out as gay prior to transgender identity disclosure, contact with an out transwoman, emotional and physical distancing from existing social networks, building relationships in transgender communities and reinitiating contact with biological family. Findings highlight familial and peer relationship dynamics that featured prominently during gender transition.
ABSTRACT Young transgender women, especially those of col-or, are negatively impacted by suicidal... more ABSTRACT Young transgender women, especially those of col-or, are negatively impacted by suicidality, HIV, residential instability, survival sex work, and other challenges. This study used an oral narrative approach to collect life histories of 10 young black transwomen between 18 and 24 years of age residing in Detroit, Michigan. This study used grounded the-ory analysis to explore institutional violence, discrimination, and harassment (VDH). Participants described their experi-ences navigating three community institutions (schools, the criminal justice system, and churches) and broader society. Results highlight VDH through gender policing at school, sexual victimization in the criminal justice system, and nega-tive judgment of gender variation in faith-based institutions. Participants reference the essential role of support systems, including other transgender individuals, in both their gender identity development and the navigation of institutions. Sig-nificant policy intervention is needed to protect and support transwomen, and prevent VDH perpetuated against them. Across all institutions, policy and practice interventions can focus on use of transgender appropriate and sensitive lan-guage, prevention of physical and sexual assaults, and anti-discrimination measures. Specific policy recommendations and future research directions are outlined.
The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and anxiety, an... more The primary aim of this study was to examine the relationships between depression and anxiety, and ethnic and sexual identity development, and discrimination and harassment (DH) among Black sexual minority men. Additional aims were to determine whether an interaction effect existed between ethnic and sexual identity and whether coping skills level moderated these relationships. Using an observational cross-sectional design, 54 participants recruited through snowball sampling completed self-administered online surveys. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used. Sixty-four percent of the variance in depression scores and 53% of the variance in anxiety scores were explained by DH and internalized homonegativity together. Thirty percent of the sample had scale scores indicating likelihood of depression and anxiety. Experience of DH and internalized homonegativity explained a large portion of the variability in depression and anxiety among Black sexual minority men. The study showed high prevalence of mental distress among this sample.
Background Latinos comprise 14% of the United States (US) population, and approximately 75% of La... more Background Latinos comprise 14% of the United States (US) population, and approximately 75% of Latinos in the US are immigrants or children of immigrants. Urban Latino men face a distinct set of structural barriers that may influence their health and well-being. The collapse of the automobile industry in Detroit, Michigan, contributed to increased rates of racially stratified unemployment. Method Through semi-structured interviews and ethnography, we present a case study of nine Latino men who face decreasing opportunities for formal ...
The unequal discussion of Black males’ health is a pressing social problem. This study addressed ... more The unequal discussion of Black males’ health is a pressing social problem. This study addressed Black males’ lay perspectives regarding their health, illness, and mortality, with attention to the determinants of men’s health, prevention, lifestyle, and opportunities for health promotion using an exploratory/qualitative research methodology. Participants were 68 Black males aged 15 to 68 years, with an average age of
Research has documented heterosexism and genderism facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, qu... more Research has documented heterosexism and genderism facing lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQQ) students in schools, especially as it relates to experiencing bullying and harassment. However, little research addresses anti-LGBTQQ bullying interventions, and no research has examined the use of youth-led performance and dialogue in cultivating anti-bullying behaviors among students. The present mixed-methods study assesses one such intervention led by a community-based LGBTQQ and allied youth group. Repeated measures general linear modeling demonstrates a positive impact of this intervention on middle and high school students' likelihood to intervene when witnessing anti-LGBTQQ harassment and confidence to successfully do so, particularly for White students. Qualitative findings demonstrate barriers to intervention and decision-making processes of youth when intervening. Results suggest the importance of these interventions in empowering LGBTQQ youth to effect change in their schools.
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Papers by Louis F. Graham
mixed-methods study assesses one such intervention led by a community-based LGBTQQ and allied youth group. Repeated measures general linear modeling demonstrates a positive impact of this intervention on middle and high school students' likelihood to intervene when witnessing anti-LGBTQQ harassment and confidence to successfully do so, particularly for White students. Qualitative findings demonstrate barriers
to intervention and decision-making processes of youth when intervening. Results suggest the importance of these interventions in empowering LGBTQQ youth to effect change in their schools.
mixed-methods study assesses one such intervention led by a community-based LGBTQQ and allied youth group. Repeated measures general linear modeling demonstrates a positive impact of this intervention on middle and high school students' likelihood to intervene when witnessing anti-LGBTQQ harassment and confidence to successfully do so, particularly for White students. Qualitative findings demonstrate barriers
to intervention and decision-making processes of youth when intervening. Results suggest the importance of these interventions in empowering LGBTQQ youth to effect change in their schools.