I have four more years then I am out of this state!!!

[genera101.2]

Any suggestions to help me process what happened tonight in class??

In my Practice II therapy class tonight we were ending class as usually by watching a series of group therapy sessions on DVD. After viewing the videos we would then discuss the techniques and dynamics of the sessions and then apply what we could in our practices in class and in our field practicums during the week. Earlier this semester we watched an intense session where a woman was struggling with telling her mother she was gay. The class was respectful in watching the episode and the trauma she felt if she told her mother she was gay.

Tonight however there was a man to in the video told the group he was bisexual…I don’t think he even completed the word bisexual before snickering and laughter was heard in throughout the class. Granted I know this is Utah, but these are future therapist in my class laughing at a man coming out as bi. What disturbed me the most was that one of my classmates who was laughing is a lesbian and the other is doing her practicum at the Pride Center in Salt Lake. My classmate who is working at the Pride Center, from what I could tell continued to laugh every time he mentioned his orientation. At the Pride Center, she is working on a pilot program with the youth who are dealing with LGBTQ issues, and she was laughing.

Because the program I am in is with my colleagues at work and the effects and ramifications it could have I did not say anything though I felt like reprimanding them for their unprofessional behavior.

Any suggestions or thoughts on how to deal with this??

[Annika L]

Presumably, there is an instructor around...and an opportunity for discussion?

I would simply raise the question to the class, just as you've put it to us. "When we watched the film about the bisexual man, there was snickering. That didn't happen with the lesbian woman. I'm curious about what was going on there?" Also, "How do you think you would really react if a client told you he/she was dealing with bisexuality?"

Chances are, if your instructor was around, they noticed it too, and would love an opportunity to start a discussion around that topic. At that point, the people who behaved inappropriately can either dig themselves out, or dig themselves in...but the result will be on their heads, not yours.

Just a thought. Good luck.

[Long Duck Dong]

talk to them and find out what they were laughing about.... its too easy to be like gayazn and automatically assume it was bi and homophobic behievour......

it could be something simply like they didn't imagine the person to be bisexual or something just as non offensive

[TaylorMade]

Any suggestions to help me process what happened tonight in class??

In my Practice II therapy class tonight we were ending class as usually by watching a series of group therapy sessions on DVD. After viewing the videos we would then discuss the techniques and dynamics of the sessions and then apply what we could in our practices in class and in our field practicums during the week. Earlier this semester we watched an intense session where a woman was struggling with telling her mother she was gay. The class was respectful in watching the episode and the trauma she felt if she told her mother she was gay.

Tonight however there was a man to in the video told the group he was bisexual…I don’t think he even completed the word bisexual before snickering and laughter was heard in throughout the class. Granted I know this is Utah, but these are future therapist in my class laughing at a man coming out as bi. What disturbed me the most was that one of my classmates who was laughing is a lesbian and the other is doing her practicum at the Pride Center in Salt Lake. My classmate who is working at the Pride Center, from what I could tell continued to laugh every time he mentioned his orientation. At the Pride Center, she is working on a pilot program with the youth who are dealing with LGBTQ issues, and she was laughing.

Because the program I am in is with my colleagues at work and the effects and ramifications it could have I did not say anything though I felt like reprimanding them for their unprofessional behavior.

Any suggestions or thoughts on how to deal with this??


(((genera)))

I'm not a professional, but it's possible that they're thinking of the negative stereotypes that we're attached to: Bisexual men are all really gay is probably the one that your lesbian classmate was thinking of.

And the second thing is the double standard. You and I know this one: It's ALWAYS okay for a girl to be bisexual ,but when a man is bisexual, he's 'less than', not adequate as a man and worse than that: a coward who won't admit he is actually gay.

But. . .it may be something basic and non offensive. I would actually simply ask to open up, "I didn't find the bisexual guy funny. Was it an inside joke I missed?"

If it's not. . . say something. You don't have to come out to do so. Play the "professional/we're no better than the LDS if we act like this", card.

"If we are professionals who are supposed to help people, are we really giving our best if we can't regard the concept of a bisexual man without judgment? We're no better than that temple down the street if we can't do that."

Follow it up with a stern look over your glasses. :tongue:

Keep your head up. :-*

*Taylor*

[onewhocares]

This reaction would also be unsettling to me. As students in a course designed to be of assistance to people, one would think that such childish responses would have been forgotten. But it will happen, no matter the location. There does seem to be a double standard on this topic. I would as others have suggested perhaps bring up with the instructor, or even in a group discussion the reaction of your classmates. Let us know what happens.

Belle

[Realist]

I was wondering if the professor was allowing things to continue, just to see how far everyone would go, before a student said something! If I'd been the professor, I definitely would have intervened!

I imagine the person confessing was embarrassed by their flippant attitudes.

[Long Duck Dong]

So what does a person who is homosexual, lesbian, or bisexual 'act like' then?

If it's a simple scenario in a video why would bad stereotypes about GLB people matter to people who are going to supposedly become therapists and not be highly biased or objective with their own motivations towards their clients in general, let alone someone's sexuality?

well I thought you would know since you were quick to assume it was bi / gay phobic behievour

again.... there is no reason given for the laughter.... just assumptions.....hence I said, find out the reason for the laughter then make a statement....never assume anything

as for being therapists..... lol... people are human...not machines.... and even the best therapists are not perfect.....and do have reactions and opinions that are not 100% unbiased and totally PC

I state that based on personal experience.... I was a counsellor and indeed in bisexual.com...slammed for having a personal opinion OUTSIDE of my role as a counsellor, that was not 100% PC ...... and that is a issue.... counsellors and therapists do have personal opinions outside of their work and roles as counsellors and therapists....

I know a man hating lesbian clinical psychologist that works as a rape counsellor.... as a psychologist and counsellor, her work is excellent, unbiased and balanced...but outside of her work... she is as judgemental and biased as hell so should she be fired for having a personal opinion, or kept employed for having such a clear, balanced and excellent work record