The LGBT Community
A Case Study of a Gay Jamaican Man
SOWK 1001 | S1 |Group Assignment | March 20, 2021
by: Paul Sarran, Monique Francis, Kristen Deo, Brenton Henry, Akisha John & Rishanda Ellis
Scenario
Struggling with an identity crisis, Mark is faced with the decision of leaving his home, family, great job, and friends in Jamaica to move to the USA to seek solace, is the best option as he identifies as a gay man who is tired of pretending to like women due to the buggery laws, negative attitude and intolerance towards gay men in Jamaica. Mark fears coming out will bring harm to his life and his family as they hail from an intercity community where masculinity is praised and the members of his community are already suspecting his sexuality may be different. These issues are sending Mark into depression and he is having suicidal thoughts. Mark then decides to seek professional help to work through these decisions he will need to make.
Issues Facing the Client Population
Identity Crisis
Theorist Erikson coined the term identity crisis and believed that it was one of the most important conflicts people face in development. According to Erikson, an identity crisis is a time of intensive analysis and exploration of different ways of looking at oneself. In this scenario, Mark is dealing with the issue of homosexuality and how it changes things for him.
Identity crisis refers to “a period of uncertainty and confusion in which a person’s sense of identity becomes insecure. This is typically due to a change in their expectation aim or role in society”.
Persons of the LGBT Community are often raised of similarity. In most instances; there is no one from which they can learn their identity, who can reinforce their identity or even support it. Unfortunately for Mark; he is raised in a community openly hostile towards homosexuality. He has not been prepared for sexuality identity development. Sexual Identity Development is a complex and difficult process due to the unsupportiveness and stigmatization of the LGBT Community. Sexual identity process is known as the “coming out” process.
Associated Risks of Confession
Mark believes if he comes out of the closet, he will be judged and not accepted, as he comes from a community where masculinity is praised.
The LGBT Community faces violence and victimization of hate crimes. Jamaica is known for its intolerance for the homosexuality community. Jamaica has become notorious for its anti gay laws, sexual prejudices and openly hostile music against homosexuals. Jamaica has been classed as the “most homophobic place on the earth”. According to a Vice News Documentary “Young and Gay”: Jamaica Gully Queens; Jamaicans grow up to hate homosexuality. Many openly gay men and been victims of being burn with acid and getting stabbed. Marks fears violence and victim attacks from his community.
Example of LGBT Violence in Jamaica — Murder of Dwayne Jones (2013)
“Dwayne Jones was a Jamaican 16-year-old boy who was killed by a violent mob in Montego Bay in 2013, after he attended a dance party dressed in women’s clothing.[a] The incident attracted national and international media attention and brought increased scrutiny to the status of LGBT rights in Jamaica.”
Depression
Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act. Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease your ability to function at work and at home. Because of the way Mark may be back and forth thinking of the issues he could be facing, he has been putting himself through a faze of depression, which can lead to serious future injuries.
Suicide
Suicide means ending your own life. It is sometimes a way for people to escape pain or suffering. When someone ends their own life, we say that they “died by suicide.” Being in your own consciousness deciding upon these things and having these thoughts of not being accepted or treated differently can have major negative impacts on one’s life.
Depression and Suicide
Gay men are vulnerable to depression and suicide. Depression in gay men are three times higher than a general adult population (Cox, 2006). A major risk factor for suicide is depression (Oliffce & Phillips, 2008). “Depression refers to feeling extreme despondency and dejection”. Many factors can lead to depression in gay men. For instance; family acceptance, social belonging and experiencing victimization.
Statistically, a gay man is more likely to commit suicide over a heterosexual man.
The Roles, Functions, and Duties of the Social Worker
The Senior Social Worker will need assume several roles in executing his or her function for Mark’s best outcomes. The role of an advocate, counsellor, mediator, researcher, educator, case manager, team member, community change agent, facilitator, broker and manager can all be considered in light of his encounter with discrimination against his sexuality. Dinneka (2017) shares how the social workers can incorporate these roles into their practice and help clients in such distressing scenarios.
The Senior Social Worker is expected to be culturally competent (UWI Open Campus, n.d.) as part of ensuring support for clients are well supported irrespective of their sexual orientation. This allows the social worker to develop empathy akin to the particular needs of the client and will help to guide the best actions for intervention. According to Marsh (2004), there are three main components that a social worker should incorporate in his or her duties to demonstrate cultural competence.
First, it requires that we assess, understand, and take responsibility for our beliefs and attitudes. Second, it requires that we learn about and expand understanding and experience with diverse individuals and groups, indeed, that we become life-long students of inclusion. Third, it requires that we use knowledge to become respectful proponents of LGBT rights. Ultimately, we incorporate our expanded knowledge and understand-ing into every professional action — at the individual, organizational, and community levels — toward the ultimate goal of social and economic justice (Marsh, 2004, p. 5).
Listen to the video to understand what cultural competence might look like for a social worker.
Social workers make a difference
The Senior Social Worker thus has to remove any personal bias as he or she attempts to recognise why Mark may feel discriminated against and move to identify and counter any unfair practices that are being meted out against him. Social workers must be aware of the ways in which discrimination can be shown towards individuals and how it may also impact them, so that this knowledge can form part of the intervention process (UWI Open Campus, n.d.). When it has been determined that a client is the victim of discrimination, the social worker must understand the impact of LGBT discrimination on identity and self esteem as well as mental health. The article below expounds on the role of social workers in cases, where, like Mark, discrimination occurs.
In another recent article (July 27 & 2020, 2020), the role of a social worker was mentioned and stated briefly concerning the LGBT community, it clearly stated that it is important to focus on the rights and well-being of the LGBT community and that social workers use their policies and laws to ensure that equality can be enforced for the Individual, families, and community of LGBT persons, in addition protection in all aspects of the said group. The following roles, functions, and duties of the social worker in Mark’s case would be used.
Broker
In Mark’s situation it is vital that he and his family get the proper information so that the process can start before any extreme incident may happen to mark and his family. The social worker, in this case, would ensure Mark and his family have a verbal discussion and during the discussion Mark and his family would receive an information package which includes the resources that are needed such as knowing resources, eligibility requirements, fees, and location of services, Additionally, accommodating other bodies who can assist Mark and his family swiftly due to the nature of Mark’s case.
Advocate
The social worker will advocate even though mark is an adult as he stated that he wants to leave his Job, that indication alone speak volumes that mark is at a legal age rather than a minor in my interpretation , notwithstanding, mark has no voice to even speak out about his sexuality because he is known to be down low man, the Jamaican society sees him as heterosexual and he has to very cautious about safety due to his sexuality and if his community or the Jamaican society ever gained knowledge about his lifestyle which can or may cause detriment to himself and by extension his family. Due to the sensitivity of Mark’s situation, the social worker would involve the relevant bodies’ attention whether it be government or private organizations seeking the rights and equality for persons who are facing the said same situation as mark. The social workers are responsible for speaking on behalf of the LGBT community to ensure that social policy, amendment of the buggery laws, and protection for the LGBT community can happen soon or changes can be made in the near future. In addition, informing and educating the Jamaican society through advocacy can change the mindset of the Jamaican culture towards the LGBT community.
Mediator
The social worker would get Mark and his family involved to discuss a way forward because the family may not be aware of mark’s sexuality and that in itself can cause trauma and havoc in mark’s family household and before it gets out of control the family need to have a better and clear understanding from the professionals who are trained and qualified in the mediation process/role to assist with the sensitivity of Mark’s situation.
Case Manager
This part of the process for Mark and his family case is mandatory. Based on the nature of mark’s case, the family is now fully aware and seeking a resolution. The case manager would be networking and sourcing the relevant services immediately to ensure that mark, his family can receive the required and recommended services without any further questions, this can be identified as a vulnerable case because of mark’s sexuality and for the safety of his family. Therefore, the case manager would have to work efficiently and effectively with this case in order to bring about drastic change.
Educator
A social worker is trained to teach and inform their clients about the situation they are facing and allow them to understand the situation better based on the knowledge they would have gained or received through the social worker. Mark’s situation is extremely sensitive and the Jamaican families and society do not accept persons of the LGBT community and usually condemn their own. Education is vital and teaching/informing the family of mark’s situation professionally can assist mark and his family to be comfortable mentally about his sexuality and the session conducted can further affect change in mark’s and his family circumstances overall.
Intervention Methods to Bring About a Solution
The challenges against members of the LGBT community like Mark’s warrants the delivery of specialized social services to these groups. As a social worker, it is expected that intervention methods will be aimed at improving the quality of life for these citizens. The social worker should embody the ethical code of refraining from discriminatory biases and fighting for Mark’s rights. He or she must seek to understand the values and attributes of Mark’s LGBT identity or culture even to the extent of how he will view this assistance or intervention which he is being given.
Using the Generalist Intervention Model as a guide, “social workers use the problem-solving or change process for intervention with clients” (Zastrow, 2008):
- Engagement
Creating safe space for Mark to be able to express his thoughts and feelings in order to understand his needs and problems he is currently facing.
- Assessment
Since Mark has identified he has become suicidal, his mental and physical needs will need assessment by a referred specialist. Mark’s social space will also need assessment in deciding which environment is best for him.
- Planning
Plans will need to be made with Mark to begin his journey on the road to freedom and health. Mark can be referred to LGBT support groups, therapy and encouraged to be placed in a space where he is comfortable, but not alone, due to his suicidal tendencies.
Since there are no laws in direct protection of the LGBT community in Jamaica, Mark’s probable decision to leave the country she properly assessed and planned to able use it as an option for solution.
Mark should also be encouraged to discuss the issue with his family, whom he is worried about their safety.
There are organizations such as J-FLAG (Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gay) that offers support and assistance since 1998 and is a trusted institution that can be a place of solace for Mark to meet and interact with members of the LBGT community freely and openly.
Social work interventions can be an important support for Mark’s situation, however some interventions that will be used to help Mark in this case are to:
- Evaluate the client’s social context;
- Assess the client’s level of identity crisis development;
- Develop a client knowledge base related to his issue;
- Develop a social support system;
- Engage in practice experiences before having the client coming out to his families;
- Determine the availability of supportive family allies;
- Choose appropriate language and terminology for the receiver of the news;
- Prepare the client for upheaval while selecting method of delivery.
References
American Psychological Association. (2021). A new generation of issues for LGBT clients. American Psychological Association https://www.apa.org/monitor/feb02/generation
American Psychiatric Association. (2021). What is depression? American Psychiatric Association. https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression
Chadron State College. (n.d.). Roles of a social worker — Social Work. https://www.csc.edu/socialwork/careers/roles/index.csc#:~:text=Advocate
Cherry, K. (2019, October 31). Identity crisis. Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-an-identity-crisis-2795948
Canadian Mental Health Association. (2012). Mental Health: What is Suicide? Here to Help. https://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/infosheet/what-is-suicide
Cherry, K. (2006, May 29). Identity crisis. Very Well Mind. https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-an-identity-crisis-2795948
Cynthia H., Matthews, C., Salazar, F. (2012) An integrative, empowerment model for helping lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth negotiate the coming-out process. Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling 6:2, 96–117. https://doi.org/10.1081/15538605.2012.678176
Dinneka, R. (2017). The role of social workers [PowerPoint slides]. Slideshare. https://www.slideshare.net/DinnekaR/roles-of-social-workers
Florida State University. (2020, July 27). The Social Worker Role and Impact on the Community. https://onlinemsw.fsu.edu/blog/social-worker-role
Fox News. (2017, June 24). Shocking LGBT suicide rates: Emotional story explains why. YouTube. https://youtu.be/vtWYLfeoV9I
Lee, C., Oliffe, J. L., Kelly, M. T., & Ferlatte, O. (2017). Depression and suicidality in gay men: Implications for health care providers. American Journal of Men’s Health, 11(4), 910–919. https://doi.org/10.1177/1557988316685492
Marsh, J.C. (2004). Social work in a multicultural society. Social Work, 49(1), 5–6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/8692248_Social_Work_in_a_Multicultural_Society
NewsWatch Ole Miss. (2017, February 23). LGBT suicide rates. YouTube. https://youtu.be/5myNXOR4nmU
Rosario, M., Schrimshaw, E. W., Hunter, J., & Braun, L. (2006). Sexual identity development among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youths: Consistency and change over time. Journal of Sex Research, 43(1), 46–58. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490609552298
UWI Open Campus. (n.d.). SOWK 1001 Introduction to social work. Unit 8.https://2020.tle.courses.open.uwi.edu/pluginfile.php/41918/mod_resource/content/2/SOWK1001%20Unit%20FINAL%208.pdf
Vice News. (2014, July 28). Young and gay: Jamaica’s gully queens. [Video file]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/ILXVpFQVEbw
https://doi.org/10.1080/00224490609552298
West, K. (2021). Why do so many Jamaicans hate gay people? Goldsmiths. University of London https://www.gold.ac.uk/news/comment-why-do-so-many-jamaicans-hate-gay-people/
Wikipedia. (2021). Murder of Dwayne Jones. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Dwayne_Jones
Zastrow, C. (2008). Social work with groups: A comprehensive workbook. Cengage Learning.
About the Authors:
Paul, Monique, Kristen, Brenton, Akisha and Rishanda are undergraduate students reading for various Bachelor of Science (BSc.) degrees at the University of the West Indies. The are enrolled in the course Introduction to Social Work SOWK 1001 and have submitted this assignment as part of their matriculation requirements.