Our Sexual Identities, And/or Racial Identities

The professor watched the over?ow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!” “Like this cup,” Nan in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you ?rst empty your cup?” A case example of working with an Asian American client is provided in Putting It in Practice 13.5.

OTHER DIVERSE CLIENT POPULATIONS The groups with which we identify-the ones we claim and the ones that claim us- profoundly in?uence us. Our families of origin; our ethnic, cultural, and/or racial identities; and our sexual identities affect our lives continuously, both consciously and unconsciously. Further, our chosen beliefs and the experiences life brings shape our identities and the quality of our lives. The following groups of individuals are included as illustrations of this truth.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgendered People Mel [White, gay pastor] had no choice about being a homosexual. Believe me, if he had a choice, I know he would have chosen his marriage, his family, and his unique ministry; for Mel’s values, like most gay and lesbians I know, are the same as mine and my heterosexual friends: love, respect, commitment, nurture, responsibility, honesty, and integrity…. We are all on this journey together and we must ensure that the road is safe for everyone, including our homosexual brothers and sisters who for far too long have been unfairly condemned and rejected. Isn’t it past time that we opened our hearts and our arms to welcome them home instead of seeing them as strangers still waiting at the gate? -Lyla White, Stranger at the Gates Sexual orientation is, of course, a very controversial topic. Many dominant world religions declare homosexuality to be sinful, although there are certainly substantial numbers of religions, and denominations within the religions, that do not take this stand . For many years, homosexuality was considered a mental disorder, and to this day, there exist treatments designed to “cure” homosexuals .