Module 2:
Cultural Issues for LGBT Clients
A Provider’s 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
PowerPoint Slide #2-1
A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals
Module 2 Cultural Issues
Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.
Core Aspects of Identity
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Family of Origin
Race
Ethnicity
Age
Class
Sexual Orientation
Gender Identity
Abilities
Appearance
Religion
Other
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A Provider’s 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 Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals
Module 2 Cultural Issues
Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.
HOMOPHOBIA and HETEROSEXISM
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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 Provider’s 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 Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals
Module 2 Cultural Issues
Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.
Examples of Cultural Pain
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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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PowerPoint Slide # 2-6
A Provider’s 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.
PowerPoint Slide # 2-7
A Provider’s 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 Provider’s 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 Provider’s 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.
PowerPoint Slide 2-10
A Provider’s 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 Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals
Module 2 Cultural Issues
Unifying science, education and services to transform lives.
Connecting the dots…………..
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LGBT people are a significant and important part of
society.
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LGBT people have developed their own rich and unique
cultural traditions and practices.
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LGBT persons are found within all other groups.
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Recovery demands coming to terms with the effect of
shame, of oppression, of hurts
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A Provider’s Introduction to Substance Abuse for LGBT Individuals
Module 2 Cultural Issues