title: LGB cultural phenomena and the social work research enterprise: toward a strengths-based, culturally anchored methodology.
abstract: Although the lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) community has seen new protections and benefits in the last quarter century, LGB people continue to experience stigmatization throughout American society. Social work research that frames the LBG community and its members as disenfranchised, marginalized, and oppressed tends to support a stigmatizing attitude toward LGB people. Social work research with the LGB community and its members must shift from a focus on pathology to strengths and resources. This article examines the potential application of a strengths perspective and its usefulness in reshaping the discourse on stigmatization of the LGB community and its members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social Work, College at Brockport, State University of New York, Brockport, New York 14420, USA. tgates@brockport.edu
authors.forename: Trevor G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Gates
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Kelly
mesh_terms: D001727:Bisexuality / Q000523:psychology; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D018452:Homosexuality, Female / Q000523:psychology; D018451:Homosexuality, Male / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012107:Research Design; D062487:Social Marginalization; D057545:Social Stigma; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods*