SOCIAL STIGMA, PRAXIS AND INTERSECTIONALITY PERSPECTIVES AMONG LESBIANS, GAYS, AND BISEXUALS AND THEIR PARENTS

Abstract

Parent’s acceptance is a vital component of lesbian, gay, and bisexual gender development despite the existence of social stigma in their local community.  This study focuses on the acceptance of the parents of their lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) learner children at Barangay Lapaz, in the municipality of Cabatuan, Isabela, Philippines.  It uncovers the experiences of three lesbians, three gays, and three bisexuals and their parents with a total of 18 participants. This study used a phenomenology design to determine the lived experiences of the participants in terms of acceptance in their context. The researcher utilized a checklist and an in-depth interview to gather the narratives. The learner’s narratives are cross-sectioned and validated with the parents' narratives. It reveals three major themes, a complex interplay of educational priorities, familial ties, and religious beliefs shaping the acceptance process. The parents of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual (LGB) students use a variety of ways to assist their children in the face of social stigma and prejudice. The result showed that parents frequently placed a high value on education, believing that academic success may protect their children from societal prejudices. The presence of other LGBTQIA family members frequently facilitates acceptance, showing that familial familiarity lessens prejudice and fosters a welcoming atmosphere. However, religious and cultural attitudes can make acceptance difficult, resulting in conditional support impacted by the junction of faith and sexual orientation.