GAY FLAG BACKGROUND HOPE SERIES
This article serves as the third paper in the present series on LGBT strengths. Given the heteronormative ( Savin-Williams, 2008) and cisgender-normative 2 assumptions directed toward LGBT clients that often serve to pathologize the experiences of these individuals, positive psychology can serve as a particularly useful framework in clinical training and practice to both recognize and build strengths in sexual and gender minorities ( Schneider, 2001 Wood & Tarrier, 2010). However, the LGBT strengths literature has rarely utilized the terminology of Seligman and Csikszentmihalyi’s (2000) three pillar model (See Vaughan & Rodriguez, this issue for a brief overview) or attempted to translate these strength-based findings into initial recommendations for training and practice. As discussed earlier in this series, literature in the past decade on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) 1 individuals and their communities have demonstrated a broad number of strengths (Vaughan, Miles, Parent, Lee, Tilghman & Prokhorets, this issue), particularly within the past five years.
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Survivors always have an obligation to those who will face the same challenges."-Writer/actor Bob Paris "Every gay and lesbian person who has been lucky enough to survive the turmoil of growing up is a survivor.
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"It takes some intelligence and insight to figure out you're gay and then a tremendous amount of balls to live it and live it proudly."-Jason Bateman."I believe that no one should ever have to choose between a career we love and living our lives with authenticity and integrity"-Out & Equal Executive Director Selisse Berry."Why is it that, as a culture, we are more comfortable seeing two men holding guns than holding hands?"-Author Ernest J.
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"This world would be a whole lot better if we just made an effort to be less horrible to one another."-Ellen Page."The only queer people are those who don't love anybody."-Rita Mae Brown."When all Americans are treated as equal, no matter who they are or whom they love, we are all more free."-Barack Obama."Openness may not completely disarm prejudice, but it's a good place to start."-Jason Collins, first openly gay athlete in U.S.