The roots of antigay hostility; coming out in a supportive family is good for LGB health; transition-related medical expenses are tax-deductible; and other recent LGBTQ news selected by Sara Boesser in Juneau, Alaska (supplemented by additional info gathered by Bent Alaska).

1) Study examines the roots of homophobia
USA TODAY, April 9, 2012

A new study suggests intense hostility toward homosexuals may be linked to a repressed same-sex attraction, combined with an authoritarian upbringing.

Though such factors are not the only cause of homophobia, the findings suggest those “who have a discrepancy within themselves about their expressed vs. unconscious sexual attraction find gay and lesbian people more threatening and are more likely to express prejudice and discrimination toward them,” says University of Rochester psychology professor Richard Ryan, co-author of the study….

The study was conducted by a team from the University of Rochester, the University of Essex, England, and the University of California in Santa Barbara. Additional information about the study is available from the University of Rochester. Or read the study here:

• “Parental autonomy support and discrepancies between implicit and explicit sexual identities: Dynamics of self-acceptance and defense” by Netta Weinstein, William S. Ryan, Cody R.DeHaan, Andrew K. Przybylski, Nicole Legate, and Richard M. Ryan. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102(4): 815-832 (Apr 2012). doi: 10.1037/a0026854

Study coauthor Richard M. Ryan, professor of psychology at the University of Rochester, discusses the study in this video:

2) Study: Women More Affected By the Closet Than Men
Advocate, April 14, 2012

A study of lesbian, gay and bisexual people up to age 64 found that if parents were supportive of their children when coming out, usually in their twenties, they went on to live healthier lives.

The full study can be read here:

• “Parents’ Supportive Reactions to Sexual Orientation Disclosure Associated With Better Health: Results From a Population-Based Survey of LGB Adults in Massachusetts” by Emily F. Rothman, Mairead Sullivan, Susan Keyes, and Ulrike Boehmer. Journal of Homosexuality 59(2): 186–200 (2012). DOI: 10.1080/00918369.2012.648878.

3) IRS Affirms that Transition-Related Care is Tax Deductible
Advancing Transgender Equality

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has affirmed that transgender people can deduct their hormone therapy and sex reassignment surgery expenses.  This announcement indicates that the IRS will follow the U.S. Tax Court’s 2010 ruling in O’Donnabhain v. Commissioner, which held that gender identity disorder (GID) is a medical condition, and transgender people receiving hormone therapy or sex reassignment surgery as treatment for GID may deduct these costs as medical expenses.

4) Obama comes out against Minn. anti-gay amendment
Washington Blade, April 9, 2012

The Obama campaign has officially stated that the president’s opposition to “divisive and discriminatory” measures targeting LGBT families extends to a pending anti-gay marriage ballot initiative in Minnesota.

5) ‘The Homosexuals’: Mike Wallace’s controversial 1967 CBS report gets second viewing online
Yahoo News, April 10, 2012

Mike Wallace’s legendary career in journalism is being remembered this week, following the death of the “60 Minutes” icon on Saturday at 93. One video currently making the rounds online is “The Homosexuals,” Wallace’s controversial 1967 report that aired on CBS….

The report is “now impossible to watch without cringing,” The Atlantic’s Conor Friedersdorf wrote.

Wikipedia has a pretty good backstory on the episode, one which Wallace later regretted.

“I should have known better,” he said in 1992.

6) Catholic Bishops Make “Reprehensible” Move, Washington Senator Says
Washington state, Advocate, April 9, 2012

Bishops of the Catholic Church are mobilizing their parishes to repeal the new marriage equality law in Washington, a move the gay state senator who helped push for it there calls “reprehensible.”

7) Trump to Allow All Trans Women to Compete in Miss Universe
Advocate, April 10, 2012

Thanks to the urging of GLAAD, Donald Trump’s Miss Universe organization is in the process of changing their rules to allow transgender women to compete for the crown.

The new policy comes after transgender contestant Jenna Talackova sued after being disqualified from the Miss Universe Canada contest. Talackova was later allowed to compete by Miss Universe officials.

8) Archbishop panel member believes gay people can ‘change’ sexual desire
U.K., Guardian, April 9, 2012

A leading member of the Church of England who believes some gay people can be counselled to suppress or possibly change their sexual orientation is helping to select the next archbishop of Canterbury.

9) Chaz Bono First Transgender Recipient of Prestigious GLAAD Award
Advocate, April 10, 2012

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation named Chaz Bono today as the first-ever transgender recipient of its Stephen F. Kolzak Award, which is presented to an openly LGBT media professional who has made a significant difference in promoting equality.

10) Enough With The Sad-Gay Movies, Says Critic
Village Voice, April 11, 2012

“I think I’m done with the sad-gay man drama,” writes film critic John DiLeo in his new book of essays.

Mind you, DiLeo raved about Brokeback Mountain, loved Sean Penn’s performance in Milk, and admired a lot about A Single Man.

But he’s right in pointing out that it would be nice to also have more contemporary gay scenarios filmed, ones with gay characters who actually live at the end of the film.