Summary:
The purpose of this study is to survey the issues that concern homosexual and bisexual people in different aspects of everyday life (relationships, awareness and coming out of their sexual identity, networking with LGBTQI organisations, rights and exclusions they experience, prejudices and racism, education, religion, mass media, mental health and counselling). As far as the theoretical background is concerned, the emphasis is focused on the sexuality as a social construction. At the same time, research data about the previous mentioned aspects and their connection to homosexuals and bisexuals are being cited. For this study, the qualitative methodology seemed to be appropriate. Eight interviews with homosexual and bisexual people took place, four with men and four with women, so as their stories and experiences to be explored. Two more interviews were held with representatives of LGBTQI organisations from Greece and Cyprus. Furthermore, a former interview was used, which took place in 1981 with a columnist of a journal addressed to LGBTQI community (and not only towards them), in order to compare the data and the conditions of the two eras, then and today. It seems that significant progress has been noted in the last few decades in favour of LGBTQI people and some of their demands and claims have started to be heard, improving their social status and limiting the stigma. Nonetheless, Greece (and Cyprus) still show poor tackling of LGBTQI issues. At the same time, the counselors are being called to undertake a difficult task, which has to do with the support and guidance of the sexual minorities, without always having the relevant knowledge and supplies. An extensive discussion about all these concerns is being made, maintaining a dialectic with the theories of feminism.
Keywords:
homosexuality, bisexuality, sexuality, LGBTQI, rights, oppression, feminism, counselling
