My research focuses on LGBTQ health, identities, and experiences. I am both a quantitative and qualitative research, with the bulk of my research focusing on the Southeastern United States and Nebraska. I am an Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. I received my PhD in Medical Sociology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2009. I also upload blog pieces and media pieces here that I am featured in or interviewed for.
Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 2014
are inseparable. Pechlaner masterfully describes the double standards and contradictions in the D... more are inseparable. Pechlaner masterfully describes the double standards and contradictions in the David-versus-Goliath cases. As described in the opening paragraph of this review, Pechlaner seems to be using the Marxian concept of expropriation to describe the capitalist seizure of agricultural seed supplies. However, rather than acknowledge that connection, she instead uses the one reference to Marx in the book to claim a distinction. ‘‘The term ‘expropriationism’ differs from its conventional legal and Marxist usage of expropriation conducted by a public body ostensibly for public good’’ (p. 26). Pechlaner certainly is defining expropriation as something other than the current legal definition of seizing property for the public good. But Marx did not define it that way. Instead, Pechlaner follows in the Marxian tradition of describing the underlying logic of capitalism and the ways that logic manifests in economic and social arrangements. Pechlaner’s decision to engage the debates from the 1980s on how agriculture is different from manufacturing, because of the reliance on natural processes in agriculture, is helpful only to a point. Those debates documented the myriad ways that capital accumulation can occur, even in a non-wagelabor process. However, assuming the uniqueness of smallholder farming in the United States and Canada reifies wage-labor as the measure of industrialism capitalism. Farmers in the United States and Canada have been petty capitalist enterprises at least since the early 1900s. And the demise of small farming as a primary source of family income is not so different from the story of big-box retail eliminating mom-and-pop retail stores or the demise of local banks in the face of the rise of too-big-to-fail banks. Furthermore, portraying farmers as outside of industrial capitalism is simply not accurate. According to a recent analysis by the United States Census of Agriculture, around 12 percent of large farms (annual sales exceeding $250,000) account for 84 percent of the value of agricultural production (Hoppe and Banker 2010:iv). Farm operators may not be wage laborers, but it is misleading to portray them as something other than capitalist firms that supply raw materials to a thoroughly industrialized and capitalistic agricultural system. None of this takes away from the basic narrative and argument of the book, which is very valuable and timely. News headlines regularly alert us to cases of farmers fighting agribusinesses over seed patents. As recently as May 13, 2013, the United States Supreme Court sided again with Monsanto in a case against a farmer who planted soybeans that he had purchased as grain. Pechlaner gives the reader the tools to make sense of the dynamics behind such headlines. In that sense, the book is useful for the general public. It might even suit a course on intellectual property law. The book is also useful for demonstrating how expropriation is occurring in the twenty-first century, over 100 years after Marx explained that process. Therefore, it would be valuable on an agriculture and food sociology syllabus or a classical theory syllabus. In fact, I just recently added it to my classical theory syllabus.
Background: The promotion of monogamous relationships has been recognized as a feasible strategy ... more Background: The promotion of monogamous relationships has been recognized as a feasible strategy reducing the risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI). This strategy presents challenges for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) couples who often lack the option of legally recognized relationships. This study examined differences in perceived risk, testing, and diagnosis of HIV/STI among married, exclusively partnered, and non-partnered LGBT persons. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was utilized to develop an online anonymous survey. Participants (N=770) were recruited via advertisements, press releases, and listserves. Participants represented western Iowa (same-sex partnership recognition) and Nebraska (no same-sex partnership recognition). Results: No differences were found among groups for HIV and STI diagnosis and HIV testing. Testing for STIs other than HIV was significant across all groups, X2 (2, N=748)=13.486, p
Suicide ideation is a sensitive indicator of personal well-being. While ideation occurs in roughl... more Suicide ideation is a sensitive indicator of personal well-being. While ideation occurs in roughly 3 percent of the US population annually, in this study rates are 10 times higher. This article explores the role of social capital in mediating negative life circumstances on ideation for a sample of 161 homeless adults in a mid-sized Southern US metropolitan area. Our results imply that social capital does not function the same way for homeless persons as it does for the general population. This finding supports growing evidence that social capital's much touted benefits for personal well-being may not apply to disadvantaged populations.
ABSTRACT Background: Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals experience more discrimina... more ABSTRACT Background: Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals experience more discrimination than their cisgender peers, and this discrimination can be associated with poorer mental health. This study used the gender minority stress model as a framework to examine the relationship among gender-related stressors and resilience factors and mental health outcomes. The study particularly aimed to increase knowledge of the gender-nonconforming population. Methods: A community sample of 83 individuals that identify as a gender different than the sex assigned to them at birth completed an online survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. The Gender Minority Stress and Resilience measure was used to assess distal and proximal stressors and resilience factors. Results: The median CES-D and BAI scores were 16 and 13, respectively. Forty percent had a history of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), 75% had experienced suicidal ideation, and 45% had attempted suicide. Proximal stress was found to be a positive predictor of depressive symptoms. Resilience was a weak negative predictor of anxiety symptoms. Distal stress was a positive predictor of suicide attempts, and resilience factors and hormone use were marginal negative predictors of suicide attempt. Trans women were significantly less likely to have engaged in NSSI, but had a significantly higher proximal stress score than trans men and gender-nonconforming individuals. Conclusion: Our study found high rates of mental health problems in the trans and gender-nonconforming sample. Our findings in part support the gender minority stress model, with gender-related stress predicting certain mental health problems and resilience being a negative predictor. Overall, gender-nonconforming individuals have had similar experiences and mental health findings as transgender individuals.
The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior, and Society, 2014
The health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, including the... more The health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, including their stress experiences, is a growing field of study. This entry defines LGBT identities and summarizes the forms of stress that LGBT people are likely to experience in their lives. Evidence shows that LGBT individuals experience a wide variety of stressors, as well as stressors that are distinct to sexual and gender minority members. These stressors perpetuate LGBT mental and physical health disparities, such as suicidal behaviors, substance abuse, and depression. Limitations of the current research include a lack of inclusion of bisexuals and transgender individuals, as well as a reliance on large metropolitan areas for sample selection. Keywords: gay and lesbian studies; gender; sexuality; stress
Background: HIV/AIDS stigma has been widely studied and well documented in the United States and ... more Background: HIV/AIDS stigma has been widely studied and well documented in the United States and worldwide. Stigma remains a major structural barrier to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, particularly within racial minority populations. The purpose of this study was to measure HIV/AIDS-related comfort and attitudes as indicators of stigma among congregation members in predominately African American faith-based organizations (FBOs) that participated in Project FAITH (Fostering AIDS Initiative that Heal), a statewide stigma reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention project in a southeastern state. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to congregants from FBOs that participated in Project FAITH. Likert-type scales were utilized to measure HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and comfort. Independent variables included gender, age, education level, and frequency of church attendance. Difference of means test, ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc analyses were conducted to determine d...
Background: Sexual orientation may influence the type of specific screenings recommended by healt... more Background: Sexual orientation may influence the type of specific screenings recommended by health care providers (HCP). This study examined gay men and bisexual men and women's disclosure of sexual orientation to their HCP to see if any differences could be seen in HIV and STD testing behaviors. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was utilized to develop an online anonymous survey. Participants (N=500) were recruited via advertisements, press releases, fliers, and e-mail listserves. Participants were individuals who lived, worked, or "played" in Nebraska. Chi-squared analyses were conducted, using PASW 18.0. Results: Gay men who were out to their HCP were more likely to have been tested in the last year for STDs, χ2(1,n=310)=8.22, p≤.00, and ever for HIV, χ2(1,n=316)=25.9, p≤.00. Similar results for bisexual women were found for ever having had an HIV test, χ2(2,n=62)=4.23, p=.04. No significant differences for bisexual men were found. Conclusio...
Background: Many Midwestern states and municipalities do not have employment non-discrimination p... more Background: Many Midwestern states and municipalities do not have employment non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) persons. In February 2012, an ordinance to create job discrimination protections for LGBT persons was re-introduced to a Midwestern city council in the largest city in the state. Program Description: A research collaborative had recently conducted a community-based participatory research project to assess the health of the LGBT community. Utilizing local data, the team prepared an addendum to the original community report generated by the study on experienced employment-related discrimination. Of the 770 respondents, 412 (53.3%) were from the city of interest. Many respondents indicated, due to their LGBT identity, having been discriminated against in a job at least once (n = 132, 32.7%), treated unfairly by an employer, boss or supervisor (n = 121, 30.1%) and being treated unfairly by coworkers (n = 137, 33.9%). Key among ...
Purpose: Previous research has documented that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) peo... more Purpose: Previous research has documented that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have a higher proportion of tobacco use when compared to their non-LGBT counterpart. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between tobacco use and the social determinants of health in a sample of self-identifying LGBT people who live, work, or play in Nebraska. Methods: A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and tools were used to develop an online survey to assess the physical, mental, social, and sexual health of LGBT populations who live, work, or play in Nebraska. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses explored the use of tobacco among respondents. Results: Rate of current smoking among 756 respondents was 26.1%. Some LGBT-specific social determinants of health had significant relationships to smoking status. However, after controlling for known risk factors of smoking in logistic regression models, these variables were found to be unrel...
Background: Previous research conducted in the Midwest shows that self-acceptance of sexual/gende... more Background: Previous research conducted in the Midwest shows that self-acceptance of sexual/gender identity (i.e. internalized homophobia) has a significant impact on the mental and physical health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals. This research has taken place in large urban areas; little is known about how self-acceptance affects the health of LGBT individuals living in predominantly rural and socially conservative settings. Using STD diagnosis history and work absenteeism due to mental health reasons as proxies for physical and mental well-being, this study explored how self-acceptance is related to the health of a non-clinical sample of LGBT Nebraskans. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was utilized to develop an anonymous survey. Participants (N=789) were recruited via advertisements and press releases in local media, fliers at LGBT-friendly venues and events, and via e-mail. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were run in PAS...
Contemporary Sociology: A Journal of Reviews, 2014
are inseparable. Pechlaner masterfully describes the double standards and contradictions in the D... more are inseparable. Pechlaner masterfully describes the double standards and contradictions in the David-versus-Goliath cases. As described in the opening paragraph of this review, Pechlaner seems to be using the Marxian concept of expropriation to describe the capitalist seizure of agricultural seed supplies. However, rather than acknowledge that connection, she instead uses the one reference to Marx in the book to claim a distinction. ‘‘The term ‘expropriationism’ differs from its conventional legal and Marxist usage of expropriation conducted by a public body ostensibly for public good’’ (p. 26). Pechlaner certainly is defining expropriation as something other than the current legal definition of seizing property for the public good. But Marx did not define it that way. Instead, Pechlaner follows in the Marxian tradition of describing the underlying logic of capitalism and the ways that logic manifests in economic and social arrangements. Pechlaner’s decision to engage the debates from the 1980s on how agriculture is different from manufacturing, because of the reliance on natural processes in agriculture, is helpful only to a point. Those debates documented the myriad ways that capital accumulation can occur, even in a non-wagelabor process. However, assuming the uniqueness of smallholder farming in the United States and Canada reifies wage-labor as the measure of industrialism capitalism. Farmers in the United States and Canada have been petty capitalist enterprises at least since the early 1900s. And the demise of small farming as a primary source of family income is not so different from the story of big-box retail eliminating mom-and-pop retail stores or the demise of local banks in the face of the rise of too-big-to-fail banks. Furthermore, portraying farmers as outside of industrial capitalism is simply not accurate. According to a recent analysis by the United States Census of Agriculture, around 12 percent of large farms (annual sales exceeding $250,000) account for 84 percent of the value of agricultural production (Hoppe and Banker 2010:iv). Farm operators may not be wage laborers, but it is misleading to portray them as something other than capitalist firms that supply raw materials to a thoroughly industrialized and capitalistic agricultural system. None of this takes away from the basic narrative and argument of the book, which is very valuable and timely. News headlines regularly alert us to cases of farmers fighting agribusinesses over seed patents. As recently as May 13, 2013, the United States Supreme Court sided again with Monsanto in a case against a farmer who planted soybeans that he had purchased as grain. Pechlaner gives the reader the tools to make sense of the dynamics behind such headlines. In that sense, the book is useful for the general public. It might even suit a course on intellectual property law. The book is also useful for demonstrating how expropriation is occurring in the twenty-first century, over 100 years after Marx explained that process. Therefore, it would be valuable on an agriculture and food sociology syllabus or a classical theory syllabus. In fact, I just recently added it to my classical theory syllabus.
Background: The promotion of monogamous relationships has been recognized as a feasible strategy ... more Background: The promotion of monogamous relationships has been recognized as a feasible strategy reducing the risk for HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI). This strategy presents challenges for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) couples who often lack the option of legally recognized relationships. This study examined differences in perceived risk, testing, and diagnosis of HIV/STI among married, exclusively partnered, and non-partnered LGBT persons. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was utilized to develop an online anonymous survey. Participants (N=770) were recruited via advertisements, press releases, and listserves. Participants represented western Iowa (same-sex partnership recognition) and Nebraska (no same-sex partnership recognition). Results: No differences were found among groups for HIV and STI diagnosis and HIV testing. Testing for STIs other than HIV was significant across all groups, X2 (2, N=748)=13.486, p
Suicide ideation is a sensitive indicator of personal well-being. While ideation occurs in roughl... more Suicide ideation is a sensitive indicator of personal well-being. While ideation occurs in roughly 3 percent of the US population annually, in this study rates are 10 times higher. This article explores the role of social capital in mediating negative life circumstances on ideation for a sample of 161 homeless adults in a mid-sized Southern US metropolitan area. Our results imply that social capital does not function the same way for homeless persons as it does for the general population. This finding supports growing evidence that social capital's much touted benefits for personal well-being may not apply to disadvantaged populations.
ABSTRACT Background: Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals experience more discrimina... more ABSTRACT Background: Transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals experience more discrimination than their cisgender peers, and this discrimination can be associated with poorer mental health. This study used the gender minority stress model as a framework to examine the relationship among gender-related stressors and resilience factors and mental health outcomes. The study particularly aimed to increase knowledge of the gender-nonconforming population. Methods: A community sample of 83 individuals that identify as a gender different than the sex assigned to them at birth completed an online survey. Depression and anxiety were assessed using the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), respectively. The Gender Minority Stress and Resilience measure was used to assess distal and proximal stressors and resilience factors. Results: The median CES-D and BAI scores were 16 and 13, respectively. Forty percent had a history of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), 75% had experienced suicidal ideation, and 45% had attempted suicide. Proximal stress was found to be a positive predictor of depressive symptoms. Resilience was a weak negative predictor of anxiety symptoms. Distal stress was a positive predictor of suicide attempts, and resilience factors and hormone use were marginal negative predictors of suicide attempt. Trans women were significantly less likely to have engaged in NSSI, but had a significantly higher proximal stress score than trans men and gender-nonconforming individuals. Conclusion: Our study found high rates of mental health problems in the trans and gender-nonconforming sample. Our findings in part support the gender minority stress model, with gender-related stress predicting certain mental health problems and resilience being a negative predictor. Overall, gender-nonconforming individuals have had similar experiences and mental health findings as transgender individuals.
The Wiley Blackwell Encyclopedia of Health, Illness, Behavior, and Society, 2014
The health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, including the... more The health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, including their stress experiences, is a growing field of study. This entry defines LGBT identities and summarizes the forms of stress that LGBT people are likely to experience in their lives. Evidence shows that LGBT individuals experience a wide variety of stressors, as well as stressors that are distinct to sexual and gender minority members. These stressors perpetuate LGBT mental and physical health disparities, such as suicidal behaviors, substance abuse, and depression. Limitations of the current research include a lack of inclusion of bisexuals and transgender individuals, as well as a reliance on large metropolitan areas for sample selection. Keywords: gay and lesbian studies; gender; sexuality; stress
Background: HIV/AIDS stigma has been widely studied and well documented in the United States and ... more Background: HIV/AIDS stigma has been widely studied and well documented in the United States and worldwide. Stigma remains a major structural barrier to addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the United States, particularly within racial minority populations. The purpose of this study was to measure HIV/AIDS-related comfort and attitudes as indicators of stigma among congregation members in predominately African American faith-based organizations (FBOs) that participated in Project FAITH (Fostering AIDS Initiative that Heal), a statewide stigma reduction and HIV/AIDS prevention project in a southeastern state. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to congregants from FBOs that participated in Project FAITH. Likert-type scales were utilized to measure HIV/AIDS-related attitudes and comfort. Independent variables included gender, age, education level, and frequency of church attendance. Difference of means test, ANOVA and Tukey post-hoc analyses were conducted to determine d...
Background: Sexual orientation may influence the type of specific screenings recommended by healt... more Background: Sexual orientation may influence the type of specific screenings recommended by health care providers (HCP). This study examined gay men and bisexual men and women's disclosure of sexual orientation to their HCP to see if any differences could be seen in HIV and STD testing behaviors. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was utilized to develop an online anonymous survey. Participants (N=500) were recruited via advertisements, press releases, fliers, and e-mail listserves. Participants were individuals who lived, worked, or "played" in Nebraska. Chi-squared analyses were conducted, using PASW 18.0. Results: Gay men who were out to their HCP were more likely to have been tested in the last year for STDs, χ2(1,n=310)=8.22, p≤.00, and ever for HIV, χ2(1,n=316)=25.9, p≤.00. Similar results for bisexual women were found for ever having had an HIV test, χ2(2,n=62)=4.23, p=.04. No significant differences for bisexual men were found. Conclusio...
Background: Many Midwestern states and municipalities do not have employment non-discrimination p... more Background: Many Midwestern states and municipalities do not have employment non-discrimination protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and/or transgender (LGBT) persons. In February 2012, an ordinance to create job discrimination protections for LGBT persons was re-introduced to a Midwestern city council in the largest city in the state. Program Description: A research collaborative had recently conducted a community-based participatory research project to assess the health of the LGBT community. Utilizing local data, the team prepared an addendum to the original community report generated by the study on experienced employment-related discrimination. Of the 770 respondents, 412 (53.3%) were from the city of interest. Many respondents indicated, due to their LGBT identity, having been discriminated against in a job at least once (n = 132, 32.7%), treated unfairly by an employer, boss or supervisor (n = 121, 30.1%) and being treated unfairly by coworkers (n = 137, 33.9%). Key among ...
Purpose: Previous research has documented that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) peo... more Purpose: Previous research has documented that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people have a higher proportion of tobacco use when compared to their non-LGBT counterpart. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between tobacco use and the social determinants of health in a sample of self-identifying LGBT people who live, work, or play in Nebraska. Methods: A community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach and tools were used to develop an online survey to assess the physical, mental, social, and sexual health of LGBT populations who live, work, or play in Nebraska. Chi-square and logistic regression analyses explored the use of tobacco among respondents. Results: Rate of current smoking among 756 respondents was 26.1%. Some LGBT-specific social determinants of health had significant relationships to smoking status. However, after controlling for known risk factors of smoking in logistic regression models, these variables were found to be unrel...
Background: Previous research conducted in the Midwest shows that self-acceptance of sexual/gende... more Background: Previous research conducted in the Midwest shows that self-acceptance of sexual/gender identity (i.e. internalized homophobia) has a significant impact on the mental and physical health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) individuals. This research has taken place in large urban areas; little is known about how self-acceptance affects the health of LGBT individuals living in predominantly rural and socially conservative settings. Using STD diagnosis history and work absenteeism due to mental health reasons as proxies for physical and mental well-being, this study explored how self-acceptance is related to the health of a non-clinical sample of LGBT Nebraskans. Methods: A community-based participatory research approach was utilized to develop an anonymous survey. Participants (N=789) were recruited via advertisements and press releases in local media, fliers at LGBT-friendly venues and events, and via e-mail. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney tests were run in PAS...
Judging from mainstream meadia and culture, transgender issues are gaining traction. Yet for many... more Judging from mainstream meadia and culture, transgender issues are gaining traction. Yet for many Americans, everything they know about trans people they learned from Caitlyn Jenner. Or Laverne Cox of Orange is the New Black. Or the show Transparent. Even with a Time magazine cover trumpeting "The Transgender Tipping point" and Vice President Joe Biden calling transgender discrimination "the civil rights issue of our time," there's much ore to understand about trans issues than popular culture or mainstream media teaches. Luckily for Omahan's, that's where professor Jay Irwin comes in.
In a recent NYT piece, a discussion was presented regarding the potential for the World Health Or... more In a recent NYT piece, a discussion was presented regarding the potential for the World Health Organization (W.H.O.), to declassify transgender identities as mental disorders in the ICD (International Classification of Diseases). This topic has been hotly debated within the transgender community for years, particularly during the update from the DSM IV-TR to the DSM-V. The DSM, or the Diagnostic Statistical Manual is the American Psychiatric Association's version of the ICD, but the U.S. version only focuses on mental disorders, while the ICD classifies all diseases and conditions. Similar to the debate during the update to the DSM V, the conversation around changes to the ICD focuses on weighing the pros and cons of dropping classifications related to " transsexualism " or " GID " (gender identity disorder), the common codes related to trans people in the current ICD 10.
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Papers by Jay Irwin
Even with a Time magazine cover trumpeting "The Transgender Tipping point" and Vice President Joe Biden calling transgender discrimination "the civil rights issue of our time," there's much ore to understand about trans issues than popular culture or mainstream media teaches.
Luckily for Omahan's, that's where professor Jay Irwin comes in.