Heterosexual Couples, Lesbian Lifepartner

Interviewers need to be sensitive to relationship and family issues among homosexual, bisexual, and transgendered clients. Gay and lesbian couples come with all the varieties of needs and problems that trouble heterosexual couples, and more. In particular, they are often without societal and familial supports and sanctions that help and nurture heterosexual couples. In times of illness or loss, a gay or lesbian lifepartner may not be recognized or accorded the same privileges of a heterosexual partner. Additionally, many such individuals experienced harsh rejection from one or more family members. These experiences may lead them to be either reluctant to admit their sexual orientation or to express their sexual orientation loudly and aggressively.

The day I saw a poster declaring the existence of an organization of Gay American Indians, I put my face into my hands and sobbed with relief…. What Americans call Gayness not only has distinct cultural characteristics, its participants have long held positions of social power in history and ritual among people all over the globe.

-Judy Grahn, Another Mother Tongue 388 Interviewing Special PopulationsPersons with Disabilities But as Kit squeezed my hand, I knew that as far as she was concerned, none of these things made any difference. I was simply the man with whom she was in love. We were a man and a woman, eagerly looking forward to spending a lifetime together. Nothing else mattered, least of all my blindness . . . The waiter arrived with our drinks.

“Here you are mademoiselle,” he said, putting Kit’s bourbon and water in front of her. Then he whispered, “Where would he like his drink?” -Harold Krents, To Race the Wind An extensive literature exists for interviewers wishing to work with clients who have physical, developmental, or emotional disabilities. In fact, there are master’s and doctoral level training programs in special education and rehabilitation counseling and psychology. Although there are many technical aspects to various medical conditions and disabilities, in general, as with all groups of people, an open and accepting attitude is the most important prerequisite to working with people who have disabilities.