Contemporary Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Identities

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-ix

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2. Introduction

   • Debra A. Hope

   Pages 1-4

3. How Many Gays Are There? It Depends

   • Ritch C. Savin-Williams

   Pages 5-41

4. What is Sexual Orientation and Do Women Have One?

   • J. Michael Bailey

   Pages 43-63

5. Sexual Stigma and Sexual Prejudice in the United States: A Conceptual Framework

   • Gregory M. Herek

   Pages 65-111

6. An Overview of Same-Sex Couples in Relation Ships: A Research Area Still at Sea

   • Esther D. Rothblum

   Pages 113-139

7. Lesbian and Gay Parents and their Children: A Social Science Perspective

   • Charlotte J. Patterson

   Pages 141-182

8. Love, Marriage, and Baby Carriage Among Sexual Minorities- and Bias: Discussion of the 54th Nebraska Symposium on Motivation

   • Marvin R. Goldfried

   Pages 183-195

9. Back Matter

   Pages 197-200

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Debra A. Hope The Nebraska Symposium on Motivation is steeped in history and tradition. Over the years the series editors have striven to maintain the highest standards of a- demic excellence and to highlight some of the most important trends in psychology. Perusing the chapter titles in the first 53 volumes shows the shifting emphasis as the science of psychology developed in the latter half of the twentieth century. All of the most important topics are there — drive theory, social learning, the cognitive revolution, developing perspectives on understanding individual differences and the role of culture, and the increasing role of neuroscience. The key figures are there as well — Harry Harlow, Kenneth Spence, Raymond Cattell, George Kelly, Albert Bandura, Carl Rogers, Carroll Izard, Walter Mischel, Sandra Bem, Sandra Spence, Herbert Simon, David Barlow, and many others. In late 2004, I met with a group of interested graduate students, and together we developed a proposal to join this long and proud tradition with a volume on sexual orientation. Our motivation stemmed, in part, from the events around us. The same-sex m- riage debate was covered extensively in the media, reflecting a rapid and important discussion about sexual orientation that we were having (and are still having) as a society. Psychology and related fields have much to offer on many of the issues raised in this debate.

• Motivation
• lesbian and gay parents
• psychology
• same sex couples
• sexual minorities
• sexual stigma
• sexual behaviour

From the reviews:

"This volume is a snapshot in time of what we know about the sexual identities of gay, lesbian, and bisexual individuals. … it summarizes past research; more important, it presents a platform for launching future research. … Practitioners (e.g., counselors, therapists, educators, social workers, and even policy makers) and all students in training need to read this book. It is an invaluable resource for researchers seeking to push the boundaries of our understanding of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals." (Robert D. Brown, PsycCRITIQUES, Vol. 54 (42), 2009)

• Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, USA

  Debra A. Hope

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