1. Great Job! The more correct information- the better! Why LGBT Individuals SHOULD BE Parents “Research has shown that the adjustment, development, and psychological well- being of children is unrelated to parental sexual orientation and that the children of lesbian and gay parents are as likely as those of heterosexual parents to flourish” (Patterson 243). -American Psychological Association Children raised by LGBT parents will not necessarily be LGBT themselves (Fairtolough 522). There are no significant differences in teenagers living with same-sex parents and those living with other-sex parents as far as psychological well being goes (self- esteem, anxiety, school outcomes (GPA and trouble in school) or family relationships (Patterson 242). If sexual orientation of a child’s parents does not matter when it comes to the outcome of the child… WHAT DOES? The quality of the family relationships rather than the gender of the parents’ partners were consistently related in determining outcomes of children and adolescents (Patterson 242). The relationship that seems most important and has the largest impact on children in a family is the quality of their parent’s relationship (Mansfield 269).  Psyc 489: Capstone Perspectives on Psychological Issues, Spring 2010  Instructor: Dr. Linda Annooshian  Community Partner Name: The Community Center  Community Partner’s Mission Statement: The Community Center’s mission is to provide an inviting and safe facility for the use of all LGBT and allied community organizations and individuals.  Service Project: As a group we conducted research on 5 different areas that each addressed a different social issue relevant to the LGBT population. Our hope is that the research we have done will significantly help The Community Center in several different ways like educating the mass population, use our research as “talking points” within the LGBT population, and also for future funding through gathering more memberships or possible grant proposals.  Learning goals: To gain specific experiences relevant to supporting the understanding and appreciation of civic engagement as well as bridging the gap between psychology (theory and research) from the academic realm and community application between academic psychology and the “real world.” Transgenders and Families Trans-women in particular are targets for violence and discrimination. Many violent experiences begin in the home by family members. (Koken, Bimbi & Parsons, 2009) Rejection and abuse of a transgendered individual can lead to a risk of unhealthy behaviors, development of a poor self-image, risk of homelessness, poverty and other various health consequences (Koken et al., 2009) Acceptance by the family of a transgender, provides the individual with safety from the outside world and a source of support. Especially if the individual is in the transition stage, support is most helpful. (Koken et al., 2009) It may be helpful for the family to seek out other transgendered individuals, who can meet with the family to show an example of what a happy transgender is like. They can be an example of how their child can one day be happy too. (Behan, 2006) Common Mental Health Disorders in Sexual Minorities Popular causes of mental health disorders: Victimization Harassment Fear of rejection from friends/family Discrimination Childhood problem Frequent mental health problems: Depression Anxiety and panic disorders Adjustment disorders Personality trait disorders Bipolar Frequent results due to an untreated mental health problem: Relationship problems Job loss Substance abuse Isolation Stress Suicide Simply excellent! What a great way to create better understanding among diverse people. Everyone wins in the end. I think it's projects like these that will open doors to unite the community. Great work! Great work! Children are the ones who will benefit from society being open to all! These are great posters to begin conversations that need to happen at all levels in the home, church, neighborhood and capital! Throughout the time spent on our project, as a group we began to realize how important research was to agencies such as the Community Center. In serving the LGBT population, the Community Center is subject to being the target of discrimination and stereotypes. We learned that research showing the opposite of these discriminative views and stereotypes can help win supporters to the Community Center, who in the end can help it stay vibrant and alive. We enjoyed working with the agency and learned much about the LGBT population regarding the issues they face in society today. We hope through our research, the agency will take with them valuable information they can use in the future. LGBT Anti-Violence Some types of violence towards homosexuals, bisexuals, and transgendered are physical violence, discrimination, even vandalism. Many times, the heterosexual males engaging in such violence do it to gain acceptance from their peers or social group. More homosexual or bisexual males tend to experience anti-gay violence and/or prejudice than females. LBGT individuals are more likely to be reported in being involved in a fight or being the targets of harassment. Children learn from adults and model behaviors, even violent behaviors. If it were not for the generation after us we would never move forward. Thank you for your courage. Benefits of Non-Profit Organizations The socialization and development of children is generally unaffected by the gender or sexual orientation of the parents involved. Research shows that a centralized location for information exchange and social interaction within a community serves a positive purpose in promoting a healthy community. Community centers are also used to channel the efforts and programs of non-profit organizations that further benefit the community. Community centers establish a place where social interaction, social networking, and relationship building can take place. This, in turn, increases an individual’s sense of community and connection to that community.