LESBIAN INFORMATION SERVICE -- PUBLICATIONS LIST (16/2/99)
Contents
RESOURCE LISTS
Over 20 years of research has been conducted about homosexuality in the
U.S.A., much of which is male dominated: but more recently projects have
been lesbian specific. In comparison there is hardly any research in
Britain. Most of the U.S. research is available in this country through
the Library Service. In order to make this research more widely available,
to encourage research in this country, and to encourage the establishment
of appropriate support projects, we have published a series of Resource
Lists. The Lists are aimed at social workers, teachers, youth workers,
doctors, nurses, probation officers, counsellors, etc., as well as students:
but lesbians/gays, their parents and friends, will also find them useful.
WORKING WITH LESBIAN AND GAY YOUTH - RESOURCE LIST (1999), VOL 1 £ 4, VOL 2 £ 4.
The List includes over 150 abstracts of mainly U.S. research. The purpose
of the List is to make the issues facing Lesbian and Gay Youth visible, to
challenge statutory and voluntary services to stop ignoring an incredibly
vulnerable group of Young people, to encourage all those who are
interested in finding out more about the issues and to give ideas for
appropriate support. If you are interested in reducing suicide and
parasuicide, alcohol and drug misuse, homelessness and prostitution,
HIV/AIDS, unwanted pregnancies, truancy and school drop out then you
should have a copy of this Resource List.
LESBIANS, GAYS AND ALCOHOL RESOURCE LIST (1998), £ 8.
The List begins with an article outlining why Lesbians and Gays are
vulnerable to alcohol misuse and includes over 100 references and research
abstracts (mainly from the U.S.A.).
ATTITUDES TOWARDS HOMOSEXUALITY - RESOURCE LIST (1996), £ 4.50
Homophobia is the root cause of discrimination against lesbians and gays.
In order to challenge it we need to know more about it. The attitudes of
people towards lesbians and gays is a well researched area having been
studied for over 20 years in the U.S.A. This List includes over 70
references to relevant papers.
LESBIANS, GAYS & RELIGION - RESOURCE LIST (1996), £ 2.50
The origins of homophobia are found in religion.
To challenge homophobia we have to challenge religion/religious leaders.
This List contains over 40 references to relevant papers and books
concerning homosexuality and religion.
LESBIANS, GAYS, DISCRIMINATION & LAW - RESOURCE LIST (1996), £ 8
Discrimination against homosexuals occurs in every aspect of life in Britain
today, including education, the family, the media, religion, medicine,
employment, law, housing, language, local authority services and H.M.
Forces. This List includes references to over 180 relevant papers and
books and is divided into 7 sections including: discrimination,
employment, forces, housing, law, the media and medicine. Other
examples of discrimination are included in other relevant Lists (e.g.
Education, Religion, etc).
HOMOPHOBIA AWARENESS TRAINING - RESOURCE LIST (1996), £ 2.50
Includes abstracts of articles and books (99% USA) which discuss
homophobia awareness training within the settings of health - especially
mental health, education, counselling and social work.
ETIOLOGY OF LESBIANISM - RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 8
The perennial question of nature (essentialism) verses nurture
(constructionism) is again raging, not least because of recent medical
research (Bailey & Pillard, 1992; Hamer 1993; LeVay, 1991) which
suggests that some people, in particular male homosexuals, are predisposed to homosexuality. This has prompted a response by
constructionists (Kitzinger & Wilkinson, 1995). Any research into the
origins of homosexuality/lesbianism must acknowledge the role of medicine
and research in oppressing homosexuals. This new resource List includes
an introduction paper which puts modern research within this historical
context and includes 72 abstracts as well as references to books and
several unpublished papers in relation to the origins of lesbiansim.
LESBIANS AND HEALTH CARE: RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 3.50.
This List includes abstracts, mainly from the U.S.A., concerning Lesbians
and AIDS/STD'S; Lesbians and health care in general including articles
which outline the needs and experiences of Lesbians and health care, as
well as homophobia within the system. There are also references to
articles about Lesbians who are Disabled and a book list.
LESBIANS, GAYS AND EDUCATION RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 9.
Education is one of the six main institutions which perpetuates homophobia,
the other five being religion, law, medicine, the media and the family.
The effects of homophobia on lesbian and gay youth include a higher risk
for depression, suicide, HIV infection (gay men), alcohol & drug abuse,
truancy and school drop out, homelessness and prostitution, running away
from home, relationship problems, misuse and exploitation by lesbian and
gay adults, promiscuity and unwanted pregnancies. The government is
sending out mixed messages. On the one hand, under
Health of the Nation,
they say they want to reduce suicides, teenage pregnancies and
HIV infection yet the Department for Education, in particular the Minister
for Education, Mr. Patton, insists that children be taught that
homosexuality is less than heterosexuality. There has been little research
in this country compared to over 20 years of research in the U.S.A. The
Resource List makes this research known and highlights several school
projects . It also includes book lists and useful addresses.
LESBIANS, GAYS AND SOCIAL WORK RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 3.50.
Social services in the U.S. have been supporting Lesbians and Gays
in a variety of settings for years yet this rarely happens in Britain.
The List includes an introduction about the need for Social Services
to challenge their Homophobia and includes abstracts from research
papers dating back to 1977, including: social work intervention models,
Lesbian families, Homophobia, Young Lesbians and Gays, Old Lesbians and
Gays, Lesbian and Gay couples, 'alcoholism,' health care needs, parents of
Lesbians and Gays, Gay Youth and AIDS, training, etc. Invaluable
resource for all social work agencies.
LESBIANS, MENTAL HEALTH AND THERAPY - RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 9.
Mental health has long been used to incarcerate and oppress Lesbians: for
centuries we have been told that we are mentally ill. Despite the removal
of homosexuality from the World Health Organisation classified list of
illnesses, (it was de-medicalised by the American Psychiatric Association
in 1973) there are still many people who believe Lesbianism to be a
sickness. Lesbians are oppressed as women and as homosexuals. We
experience sexism and homophobia and internalise the negative images
which abound about both women and homosexuals. This results in low self
esteem and consequently depression or other emotional illnesses or
alcohol/drug misuse or both. Lesbians are invisible and isolated which
usually results in our concerns being ignored. This List makes these
issues visible. It contains references and abstracts of over 100 articles
about Lesbians and mental health/therapy (most from the USA). The List
will be extremely useful for all mental health professionals as well as
Lesbians.
OLD LESBIANS: RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 3.
Includes Pensioner's Link Report on Old Lesbians featured in the Lesbians
and Housing Pack which contrasts sharply with the brief report of the
U.S. Old Lesbians Conference, which is also included. There are also
abstracts from U.S. research which gives some idea of what the needs of
Old Lesbians are and what sort of projects exist in the U.S.A. There is
also a booklist.
LESBIANS WHO ARE MOTHERS: A RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 3.50.
About one-fifth of Lesbians are mothers, many of whom come out as
Lesbians later in life, often after having been married and having had
children. There has been a great deal of research in the U.S.A. about
Lesbians who are mothers and the implications of homophobia on them and
their children. The List includes abstracts and summaries of U.S. research
articles and papers from English publications and a book list.
BUTCH/FEM RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 4.
Over 60 references or abstracts related to butch/fem lesbians including
articles about attitudes towards lesbians, butch lesbians being more visible
and more prone to homophobic attacks, gender non-conformity in
childhood, questions of sex-role identities and expectations, transexualism,
therapy, gender roles and relationships, butch/fem and feminism.
LESBIANS, COMING OUT AND IDENTITY DEVELOPMENT - RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 5.50.
Coming out and developing a positive Lesbian identity can sometimes take
years but is crucial for emotional well-being. There has been much
research carried out in the USA which helps us to understand the process
and identifies the issues involved. The List contains a brief introduction
to the subject and abstracts of 48 articles as well as references to books,
and helpful telephone numbers and addresses. The List will be useful for
individual Lesbians, counsellors and parents of Lesbians.
LESBIAN RELATIONSHIPS RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 4
As Lesbians living in a homophobic society we are not taught relationship
skills. We do not have the legal back-up of marriage nor - in many cases
- the acceptance of families. This puts tremendous strain on our
relationships. The Lesbian Relationship Resource List identifies several
research articles on this topic as well as a booklist. This List will be
useful for Lesbians and for counsellors alike.
PARENTS OF LESBIANS AND GAYS: A RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 2.50.
There is much ignorance about Homosexuality in Britain. When parents are
told about their child's Homosexuality, they usually react with disgust or
shock, and this is at a time when their children are most vulnerable and
most in need of their help. Parents, like Homosexuals, go through their
own process of coming to terms with this knowledge. We have produced the
List to help this process along, to counteract the ignorance surrounding
Homosexuality, and to help parents/guardians give effective support to
their children. The List includes abstracts and summaries of U.S. research
papers, a book list and parents organisations.
BLACK & MINORITY ETHNIC LESBIANS RESOURCE LIST (1995), £ 4.
As well as academic papers the List includes references to articles
in books and British publications, a short booklist and Black and
Minority Ethnic Lesbian (and Gay) organisations. Extracts are included
from papers about:
- Growing up Lesbian in a multicultural context,
Lesbianism in Hong Kong, Africa, North America, Brazil;
- Homophobia in Black communities;
- individual stories;
- Latina Lesbians;
- multi-racial relationships;
- mothers;
- Racism;
- equal opportunities.
BOOKLETS
LESBIANS AND ALCOHOL MISUSE, A GUIDE FOR ALCOHOL WORKERS (1999) £ 1.
Answers questions like: Are lesbians vulnerable to alcohol misuse? Why
are lesbians vulnerable? What are the specific reasons why lesbians are
vulnerable? Are there any other issues regarding lesbians and alcohol
misuse? What can you do?
i think i might be a lesbian ... now what do i do? (1999), £ 1 each.
This booklet is aimed at young women who think they are, or know they
are, Lesbian and want to know what to do about it. There are quotes from
Young Lesbians and sections on: What does it mean to be a Lesbian? How
do I know if I'm a Lesbian? Am I normal? What is it Like to be Young and
Lesbian? Who should I tell? What about sex? Do I have to worry about
AIDS? How do we learn to like ourselves? How can I meet other Lesbians?
And other useful information like Lesbian Lines, organisations, books to
read, bookshops. The pamphlet was written by a Young Lesbian Group in
the U.S.A. and has been adapted and reproduced with the permission of
the Campaign to End Homophobia.
HOMOPHOBIA (1992), 43p EACH, 5 FOR £ 1.36, 10 FOR £ 2.65.
Reproduction of a leaflet first produced by the
Campaign to End Homophobia,
U.S.A. Contains description of Homophobia, including How do
you recognize Homophobia in yourself and others? How does Homophobia
hurt heterosexuals? What are the causes of Homophobia? Can Homophobia
be cured?
PACKS
COMING OUT - YOUNG LESBIAN PACK (1996), £ 3 Young Lesbians, £ 5.50.
Coming out to oneself and to other people who are important is a
distressing and dangerous time for Young Lesbians: It is one of the most
vulnerable times in a Lesbian's life when support is usually not available,
especially for those Young Lesbians who do not live in cities or areas
where there are Lesbian Lines and other support groups. In response to
isolated Young Lesbians contacting us we have produced a Pack of
information concerning coming out. The Pack includes various articles
about being a Young Lesbian, the pamphlet
"i think i might be a lesbian ... now what do i do?" a booklist and individual stories by Young
Lesbians from Britain, the U.S.A. and Nicaragua. Whilst reflecting some of
the problems Young Lesbians face, the stories also show how resilient
Young Lesbians are.
LESBIAN HOUSING PACK (1995), £ 7.50.
The purpose of the Pack is to bring together some of the material
and experiences of groups of Lesbians and Lesbians and Gays involved in
housing, in order that other groups and individuals can benefit from their
experiences, and to use the material to substantiate the need for special
housing provision for Lesbians. Contains 13 articles, some of which have
been previously published but are now difficult to get hold of, dating
from 1984 to 1992.
REPORTS
TREATMENT OF LESBIANS WITH ALCOHOL PROBLEMS IN ALCOHOL SERVICES IN NORTH WEST ENGLAND (1994), £ 6.50.
About one-third of lesbians have serious drink problems; lesbians also
have special problems achieving sobriety. This has systematically been
ignored and played down by both the Alcohol Field and by the 'Lesbian
Community.' Funded by the Alcohol Education and Research Council,
"Treatment of Lesbians with Alcohol Problems in Alcohol Services in North
West England" gives the results of a ground-breaking survey, and reveals
disturbing levels of homophobia and ignorance. Utilising previous
research, the author puts forward ideas as to why lesbians are especially
vulnerable to alcohol misuse and what can be done to prevent this. It is
hoped the document will not only put the issue of Lesbians and Alcohol
firmly on the agenda but that it will help Alcohol Treatment Agencies to
make their services accessible to lesbians with drink problems. It is also
hoped the Report will help lesbians who have drink problems to achieve
sobriety.
Judy Davison, a feminist academic researching alcohol, says of the Report:
"I think it is an excellent, thorough piece of work with many, many new
concepts and thoughts. I think it is a very valuable contribution to
alcohol studies - and would be pleased to be quoted on that any time! ...
I really enjoy your perspectives on Lesbianism and oppression, socialisation
and all that, plus your constant acknowledgement of multi-oppressions
which is refreshingly genuine ... I am very impressed by your work, your
knowledge and your critical evaluation."
"Treatment of Lesbians with Alcohol Problems in Alcohol Services in North
West England" is a must for all those working in the alcohol or drugs
field, those who are interested in the effects of oppression and especially
those working with young lesbians, as well as lesbians who have a drink
problem and want to understand more about it.
L.Y.S.I.S. REPORT (1995), £ 3.
To coincide with the award of funding from the Mental Health Foundation
(MHF) we have compiled a special report about LYSIS - Lesbian Youth
Support Information Service. The report includes the background to the
need for LYSIS; statistics from our various research projects as well as a
comprehensive list of research data (mainly from the U.S.A.) concerning
the level of suicide attempts among lesbian and gay youth. We discuss
why young lesbians are vulnerable to suicide, what LYSIS offers, the
relationship between LIS and LYSIS as well as our future plans.
The appendices include examples of media attacks and the more recent,
supportive, local media coverage concerning the MHF funding. A useful
document if you need arguments to set up a Young Lesbian Group.
YOUNG LESBIAN VOX POP REPORT (1993), £ 5.50.
As part of the National Youth Agency's initiative, Vox Pop, a group
of Young Lesbians from the North West of England came together to
discuss a range of issues. The Young Lesbian Vox Pop Report is a record
of these discussions and includes comments on: law, family, education,
housing, media, social services, health service, the youth service, as well
as extracts from youth service and government documents in support of
work with Young Lesbians, examples of good practice and the findings of a
survey of provision in the North West.
LESBIANS AND HOUSING IN LEICESTER (1988), £ 5.50.
This Report is relevant to all housing agencies, although it deals
specifically with Lesbians in Leicester. The report examines what Lesbians
face living in a Heterosexist society, the effects of which make us
especially vulnerable and, at times, in need of supported accommodation.
The report contains the complete findings of a survey as well as five case
studies, recordings of visits to local hostels and a list of recommendations.
ORDERING INFORMATION
LESBIAN INFORMATION SERVICE, P.O. BOX 8, TODMORDEN, LANCASHIRE, OL14 5TZ.
Fax 01706-81.72.35
Please make cheques payable to Lesbian Information Service or LIS.
URL: http://www.RoseCottage.me.uk/EqualityAlliance-archives/LesPub.html
Last modified: 2-April-1999