Exploring Issues for Black Gay and Bisexual Males in University Settings

The campus environment can be challenging for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, or queer (LGBTQ) students still developing their sexual identity. Being a Black gay or bisexual male can add another layer of isolation in their university setting. The campus climate for Black gay and bisexual males lack social support and does address their experience and needs. Additionally, Black gay and bisexual males attending historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) feel unsupported by the lack of LGBTQ resources on campus. The conceptual article aims to explore issues impacting Black gay and bisexual males in university settings. This article provides an overview of student identity development, the impact of the African American community, discrimination and hate crimes, the campus climate, the HBCU setting, mentoring impact, and counselor educators’ support with this student population.

SEXUAL ORIENTATION AND WAGES

We wrestle with the issue of whether or not discrimination, in favor of or against straight and gay people can account for wage divergences between these two groups of people. Section II is devoted to empirical evidence supporting the existence of a discrimination wage gap due to sexual orientation. The majority of studies provided have concluded that sexual orientation diminishes wages for homosexual and bisexual men, whereas it increases wage premiums for homosexual women. Discrimination due to sexual orientation, specifically homo/bisexual males, is present in foreign labor markets as well as in the United States. In these calculations, all other factors, such as age, education, race, marital status, etc., are identified and taken into consideration when calculating the effect of sexuality on wage differences. Section III strives to explain why the discrimination wage gap cannot exist through a theoretical approach. In equilibrium, sexual preference can play no role whatsoever in wage gaps. We are never in full equilibrium, but the “expected value” is that we are always exactly on point, in the absence of any reason to expect over or underestimating prices or wages. We expect that discrimination cannot account for gay people being paid less than straights, assuming equal productivity. At equilibrium, these economic boycotts are impotent due to profit opportunities. We conclude leaving the reader to decide which perspective is more true.

Overweight and Obesity among Sexual Minority Adults in the United States

There is evidence that sexual minority populations have a potentially heightened risk of poor health outcomes due in part to the discrimination they may face. In the present study, we examined whether overweightness and obesity vary by sexual minority subgroup using a large, nationally representative sample. Data were drawn from 2014–2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) surveys (n = 716,609). We grouped participants according to sexual identity (straight, lesbian or gay, bisexual, and other/don’t know/not sure). The propensity score matching technique was used to address covariate imbalance among sexual identity groups. In addition, subgroup analyses were performed for both males and females. Compared to straight adults, lesbian females had significantly higher odds of being overweight (OR (odds ratio) 1.33; 95% CI (confidence interval) 1.17–1.53), whereas gay males had significantly lower odds (OR 0.66; 95% CI 0.59–0.73). Similarly, lesbians were more likely to be obese (OR 1.49; 95% CI 1.31–1.70), whereas gay men had significantly lower odds of obesity (OR 0.77; 95% CI 0.69–0.86) when compared to straight adults. Bisexual females had significantly higher odds of being overweight (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10–1.34) and obese (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.29–1.59), whereas bisexual males showed no significant difference. Our results strengthen previous findings and further highlight the need for research by sexual minority subgroup.

Romance 2.0 on Instagram! “What Type of Girlfriend Would You Date?”

Instagram selfies and groupies symbolize social media users’ public display of narcissism. From an evolutionary psychological perspective on the renovated hierarchy of fundamental human motives and needs, this study examined the interaction effects of Instagram photo types (selfies, group selfies, long-shot photos taken by others, and neutral photos) and Instagram peer viewers’ individual difference factors (intrasexual competition [ISC] for mates, need for popularity [NfP], loneliness, and need to belong [NtB]) on intersexual attraction. A randomized between-subjects experiment ( N = 110) was executed to see how the interaction affects the intention to date the target opposite-sex person. Multiple regression analyses confirm the moderating effects of ISC for mates, NfP, loneliness, and NtB on dating desire, among heterosexual/bisexual males exposed to female Instagram photos. Viewer characteristics moderate the influence of the potential mate’s photo types on perception and dating desirability. This study makes theoretical contributions to the literature on evolutionary psychology of narcissism and the renovated pyramid of primary needs. With regard to practical implications for online dating apps/social networking sites, neutral photos are more effective to appeal to men who feel lonely and have higher need for belonging and popularity, whereas group selfies are more appealing to men who have lower ISC for mate, NtB, and NfP.

Selection of Nutmeg Mother Trees In The Germplasm Collection at Cicurug Experimental Station Sukabumi

<em>Nutmeg has been known as native spices to Indonesia. The widespread cultivation of nutmeg cause the high demand for nutmeg seeds, hence the source of quality seeds is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate sex, morphological characters, yield and quality to be recommended as source of quality seeds. The research was conducted at Cicurug Experimental Station, Sukabumi (550 m asl). The parameters observed were the sex of trees, and yield per tree harvested for nine years from 2007-2015. The quality was analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectra (GC-MS). The sex of the trees observations resulted 152 accessions (34.7 %) were pure males, 83 accessions (18.9 %) bisexual males and 203 accessions (46 %) pure females. Based on fruit yield, from 203 female nutmeg trees, 20 accessions produced high fruit yield &gt;2,500 fruits/tree/year. GC-MS analysis showed the number of identified compounds were 18-30 compounds with the main components were α-pinene, ß-pinene, sabinene, limonene, 4-terpineol, safrol, elemicin and myristicin. The 20 selected accessions met the quality standards for the essential oil, limonene and elemicin levels, but only five accessionsmet the standard quality for α-pinene, two accessions for ß-pinene, five accessions for sabinen, 18 accessions for 4-terpineol, 13 on safrol, and 11 accessions for myristicin levels. Tree selected <em>accessions Botol 122, Irian 112 and Kupal 139 fulfilled nine out of ten quality parameters, whereas other accessions only fulfilled eight to four quality parameters. Accessions that achieved the criteria of fruit production should be recommended as source of quality seeds.</em></em>