Homosexuality is being emotionally and sexually attracted to men or women of the same sex. Homosexuality has been defined negatively by various communities for many years, such as sexual perversion, sexual identity disorder, and disease. In 1973, the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV) concluded that homosexuality was not a mental disorder, as evidenced by research, and removed this concept from the disease classification. Despite this, prejudice and marginalization continue today despite sexual identity and orientation.
Conceptually gay; male means homosexuality. Although it originally included both male and female homosexuals, today it is used only to refer to male homosexuals. Lesbian is used to mean female homosexual. Bisexual; It means a man or woman who is emotionally and sexually attracted to both genders. A bisexual person may not be equally attracted to both genders, and the degree of this interest may change over time. Bisexuality, being attracted to both a woman and a man at the same time, does not require being with two individuals of both sexes at the same time. Transsexual; A person who identifies as a member of the opposite sex. It is valid for both men and women. Being a woman even though one is a man; Even though she is a woman, she may want to be a man. Intersex are people born with external genital organs or internal reproductive systems that are not considered normal for men and women. It is a biological condition that covers people with different genital organs, reproductive organs and/or different chromosomes, "like an umbrella in which more than one biological condition is defined."
Despite all the developments in the field of Lesbian Gay Bisexual Intersex and Transsexual studies, Attitudes of discrimination, marginalization and violence continue. When we look at studies in the field of mental health, it is seen that LGBTI individuals experience more psychological and physiological experiences than the general population. The emergence of this difference is due to the fact that the discrimination experienced by individuals due to their LGBTI identity negatively affects their psychological well-being and affects their self-perception. What they suffered from; For this reason, it has been observed that they are more prone to the emergence of psychological disorders in later life.
When we look at childhood studies, children who do not show behaviors specific to their biological gender are criticized by their families, peers and society; They will be seen to be at risk of being exposed to exclusion, abuse and neglect. It is reported that preschool children who display gender-atypical behavior are disliked, ridiculed and subjected to physical violence by their peers. It has been stated that people who identify as LGBT during adulthood are exposed to more discrimination throughout their lives compared to heterosexuals. Therefore, being an LGBT individual may itself be a risk factor for negative life experiences, and this may affect people's well-being.
As Core Psychology, we have created a psychological counseling line to support mental health for trans and LGBTI+ individuals in coping with daily difficulties and discrimination.
As the Core Psychology team, we have created a psychological counseling line. We work on strategies for maintaining good health and coping with stress and anxiety situations of trans and LGBTI+ clients, and our team will provide psychological assistance to cover feelings such as helplessness and hopelessness that seem unresolvable.
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