Module 2:

Cultural Issues for LGBT Clients

A Providers Introduction to
Substance Abuse for Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual, and
Transgender Individuals
First Edition

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Learning Objectives
1. Be able to define and understand sexual
orientation, gender identity, and other aspects of
diversity and identity
2. Be able to connect diversity, stigma, and the
addiction recovery process
3. Understand the effect of homophobia and
heterosexism on LGBT persons

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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Core Aspects of Identity

Family of Origin
Race
Ethnicity
Age
Class
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Abilities
Appearance
Religion
Other
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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Definitions
Stereotyping
Prejudice

Myths
Stigma

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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

HOMOPHOBIA and HETEROSEXISM

Homophobia is an irrational fear of gay and lesbian people

or fear of same-sex relationships. In its most extreme form,
homophobia is a hatred for or violence against LGBT
persons.
Heterosexism is an assumption of heterosexuality and the
heterosexual perspective as the predominant or meaningful
viewpoint.
Biphobia is fear of and hatred for bisexuality.
Transphobia is fear of and hatred for transgender persons.

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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Cultural Pain, Addiction,

and Recovery
Cultural pain
is feeling insecure, embarrassed, angry,
confused, torn, apologetic, uncertain or
inadequate because of conflicting expectations
of and pressure from being a minority and an
African American.
Bell, P. (1981)
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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Examples of Cultural Pain

African-Americans
Resentment when another
African-American seems to
be denying his or her
blackness
Discomfort when another
African-American uses black
English in the presence of
white people
Discomfort when a white
person is patronizing on black
issues
Anxiety when a white person
seems to expect AfricanAmericans to defend or
explain questionable behavior
by other black people.

LGBT Persons

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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Assimilation

is adaptation to a new
culture by taking on a
new identity and
abandoning the old
cultural identity.

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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Acculturation
refers to accommodation
to the rules and
expectations of the
majority culture without
entirely giving up cultural
identity.

PowerPoint Slide # 2-8

A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Culturally Immersed
individuals have rejected
mainstream culture, and
their emotional and
spiritual needs are met
exclusively in their ethnic
community or in the gay
community.

PowerPoint Slide # 2-9

A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Traditional Individuals
are defined as carriers of the
community ethos. They neither
overtly accept nor reject their
ethnic identity. Most of their
needs are met through their
ethnic community, and they
have limited contact with the
dominant culture or any
outside communities.

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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Core Aspects of Identity

Family of Origin
Race
Ethnicity
Age
Class
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Abilities
Appearance
Religion
Other
PowerPoint Slide # 2-11

A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues

Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.

Connecting the dots..

LGBT people are a significant and important part of

society.

LGBT people have developed their own rich and unique

cultural traditions and practices.

LGBT persons are found within all other groups.

Recovery demands coming to terms with the effect of

shame, of oppression, of hurts
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A Providers Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals

Module 2 Cultural Issues