GAY MEN AS INFORMATION USERS (KANSAS) LI 811 Billie N. Conway Emporia State University School of Library & Information Sciences Emporia, Kansas, USA July 6, 1994 DEFINITION: Homosexuality refers to sexual behaviors, desires, attractions and relationships among people of the same sex as well as to the culture, identities and communities associated with them. In the United States, people who have developed an identity as a homosexual person typically refer to themselves as gay (Corsini, 1994). Information users in this role can have different information needs depending on their position along the continuum of their identity development. This process of identity development is called coming out (of the closet). This process can show wide variations - from a state of internal acceptance of a homosexual identity to a state in which one's homosexuality is made known to virtually everyone with whom one has had significant contact (Dynes, 1990). LITERATURE SURVEY: The terms homosexual and gay will be used interchangeably in this paper and it will focus on literature pertaining to homosexuals and/or gays in the United States. Gay represent approximately ten percent of the U.S. Population. Unlike other minority groups, they do not share in many of the civil rights laws enacted to promote equality. There is no national legislation to protect the rights of this group. Instead, a patchwork of state-by-state and city-by-city statutes have been enacted over the years (Hunter, Michaelson & Stoddard, 1992). Prior to the 1960s, gays were a poorly organized, mostly invisible group, which was perceived as suffering from an illness which could be cured (Dynes, 1990.) Murray (Encyclopedia of Homosexuality, 1990) writes that homosexual roles are enacted in appropriate settings by persons who play other roles at other times. Therefore, each person plays many roles within this main one: as in relation to teachers, fellow students, family, etc. Behaviors associated with those roles affect the ongoing information needs of the individual. Enrube (Hidden From History, 1989) discusses the gay role before, during and after World War II. He points out that prior to this time, gays were mostly invisible and reluctant to come out of the closet. However, experiences during the war and the stigma of dishonorable discharges because of their sexual orientation, led many gays to relocate to large cities and live more openly after the war. According to Goodwin (1989), the gay liberation movement in the 1960's was the result of these small groups of gays living in large cities, who organized and expanded during this period. The Stonewall Rebellion in 1969 represented the beginning of a more activist and militant phase of the gay movement. This rebellion represented the first time that gays publicly fought back against authority for their rights. This new activist phase led to more coming out and resulted in the organization of political clubs, student groups, discussion groups and other support groups (Dynes, 1990). Thus, the gay role gained another dimension and became less invisible. Crunkshank (1990) describes the 1970s as the period when the gay movement focussed on civil rights laws and party politics. A whole subculture of lifestyle activities emerged that offered an unprecedented sense of freedom and identity for gays. In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association Board removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and statistical manual as a mental illness, and the American Psychological Association followed suit a little more than a year later (Marcus, 1993). However, the straight mainstream still believes this theory, according to Marshall & Madsen (1989). Thus, even with great strides in the direction of enlightenment, gays must still deal with these kinds of negative perceptions from the larger heterosexual culture. Tessina (1989) states the need for role models and information is more obvious as gays become more visible and vocal. This visibility remains to be dealt with on a personal level for each gay individual. Without equal employment legislation, some gays are still reluctant to come out at work. However, as Williamson (1993) points out, even gays who hold professional positions, are more and more unwilling to submerge their identity and separate their personal and work lives. The emergence of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s created institutional and behavioral change. The AIDS crisis has been destructive, but has also helped inspire a stronger sense of community among gays. More stable relationships, stronger friendships and different values are a few examples of change (Herdt, 1992). GAYS HAVE VARIED INFORMATION NEEDS: educational, informational, recreational, cultural and research. The dynamics associated with the emergence of a homosexual's identity both individually and within his subculture, as well as within the larger heterosexual culture are addressed in the gay-related literature. This is a constantly evolving process, with some individuals moving through steps and crises faster than others, and with some left behind on certain steps. The general theme that runs through gay literature is one of progress through hard-fought battles, with much more left to do - especially in the area of human rights and equality of opportunity. Librarians must examine their accountability in providing service to this segment of the population. However, little in the library literature addresses the information needs of this group (Gough, Greenblatt, 1990). SEARCH METHODOLOGY: Requirements: Recent Literature - since 1989 Publications written for the lay person - little technical jargon Variety of Resources - Books (fiction and nonfiction), videos, periodicals, directories, bibliographies, government publications. Specialized Encyclopedias. Strategy: Searched - Notis On-Line Catalog at Emporia State University and Kansas State University Public Access Catalog at Manhattan Public Library Interlibrary Loan Infotrac Library Literature Psychlit Researched references listed in back of primary sources Specialized Encyclopedias - Encyclopedia of Homosexuality Encyclopedia of Psychology Gale's Directory of Computer-Readable Databases U.S. Government Publications Nonfiction books by or about gays are shelved from the 301s to the 306s under the Dewey System. In the Library of Congress System, they are under the HQ 75s and the HQ76s. Nonfiction gay- related books can be located in the subject catalog under the following headings: GAY LIBERATION MOVEMENT GAYS and the headings beginning with the word GAY HOMOSEXUALITY and the headings beginning with the word HOMOSEXUAL Other relevant subject headings are listed in the LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SUBJECT HEADINGS directory Fiction and videos are listed on the public library catalog under the subject headings previously mentioned and are shelved with other material in these sections. As with nonfiction, the Reference Department should be able to provide the user with a bibliography of fiction featuring gay characters and gay themes. ANALYSIS: As mentioned above, literature about gays addresses sensitive topics such as identity, relationships and sexuality, as well as civil rights, culture, and history. Unlike literature available for other minority groups, access to some gay-related literature is often restricted to the very population it seeks to serve: the adolescents who are struggling with their identity as homosexuals. The number of gay-related publications has mushroomed over the last twenty-five years, but access to this information has not kept pace with production. There have been sharp increases incidence of homosexuality censorship. Gay books now make up as much as one-third of sex-related library challenges (Cornog, 1993). Information seeking activities among this group vary, depending on the situation. As individuals encounter different situational problems, they need different kinds of information. These informational needs require specialized resources. There are special directories for gay-related travel and recreational activities, as well as specialized books to answer civil-rights questions, coming out questions or AIDS questions. Also, gay- elated periodicals provide current information on all facets of gay life. Gays perceive themselves as a minority discriminated against by the larger heterosexual society, and many of their information needs center around this issue. They want information that can help them not only understand their own role better, but also that can help them find a place in the larger society around them. Along with this, they have the same information needs as other minority groups: to see themselves as main characters in novels and videos, to be able to read books and periodicals written by and for their group without the barrier of restricted access. In short, they want the freedom of access available to other groups in society. While political realities and the sensitive nature of some gay-related material dictate some limited access, librarians can strive to develop a comprehensive, balanced collection for the gay user group (Gough, Greenblatt, 1990). INTERVIEWS: 1. Subject is a twenty-six year old male, who has completed two years of college, but is not presently a student. He works for a public library, and hopes to eventually complete his education with an M.L.S. degree. He lives in Manhattan, KS. Subject says that one of the special challenges he faces daily is the constant pressure of presumed heterosexuality. This creates unnecessary stress. He also thinks that invisibility is a problem (gays look like everybody else). For recreational activities, he feels more comfortable going to gay-related events (civil rights demonstrations, etc.) He enjoys watching videos with gay main characters. For more social gay-related entertainment, he would go to Kansas City. At the beginning of his coming out, his coping information needs were met more through print sources and support groups. Later verbal communication with friends became more important, and e-mail with other gays. He does not see his role as a gay person being an impediment to his job, because the library staff where he works accepts him as he is an everyone is very friendly and supportive. He uses the public library frequently and compiled an annotated bibliography of gay-related literature in the collection, which is available at the Reference Desk. His only criticism of the collection is that there are no gay-related periodicals. 2. Subject is a twenty-four year old graduate student in Counseling at Fort Hays State University. Subject sees himself as an activist and his greatest concern is with raising the level of awareness about gays in the heterosexual community. His role as a gay political activist has provided him with leadership opportunities, as well as more interaction with the administration and faculty. This role has taught him not to take his rights for granted. He says that the local public library is sensitive to gay information needs and that the Director was a guest speaker at one of the gay student group's meetings. Subject suggests issue oriented materials and the library purchases them - they have The Advocate (the most widely circulated gay periodical) and gay videos too. When the university refused to recognize the gay student group, because they would not disclose their members' names, subject researched the topic at the public library, and armed with this information, was able to gain recognition for the group. Some of the more sensitive materials have limited access and are locked up. However, the library staff is very helpful and handles this situation tactfully. Subject uses internet and computer bulletin boards a lot for his information needs, but he also uses Inter Library Loan frequently. For community information, he relies on university contacts, friends and also mentioned Planned Parenthood as an AIDS resource guide for the whole United States. He would travel to Denver or Kansas City for gay-related entertainment, but uses the public library for his nonfiction information needs, as well as their video collection. 3. Subject is a twenty-two year old Biology Pre-med student at Fort Hayes State University. He is President of the gay student group. Subject says that living in a heterosexual world with little consideration for people's sexual orientation makes his role as a gay person very frustrating. Gay people feel left out of the general population, with few role models. A big part of the social activities at college center around dating, and gays do not fit into those social patterns. They end up socializing with an eclectic crowd. For everyday coping information, he goes to his friends and his minister. As for other kinds of information, he goes to Kansas City, because he thinks the public library's collection of gay-related material is dated. However, he thinks that the library staff is very sensitive and helpful. He did mention that the public library has a special collection of children's books on gay-related topics for teachers. He uses internet, computer bulletin boards, info lines and chat lines for information on gay issues. The three interviewees expressed some similar information needs: Current gay-related materials Gay periodicals Entertainment information Gay-related fiction and/or videos Although the topic was only mentioned once, AIDS information would probably be read if current and available. All of the subjects used their computers to communicate with other gays and to seek information. They all described the public library staff as sensitive to their information needs. Of particular interest was the visit to the gay student group by the Director of the public library. This shows a concern for the interest groups in the community RECOMMENDATIONS: Library services can be customized for this user group by offering a variety of current gay-related materials. Each library could make selections based on their own parameters and budget. The following gay-related information sources are available: 1. Gay-related reference materials -Indexes, Guides, Directories, Bibliographies, Encyclopedias 2. Gay-related periodicals 3. Gay-related videos 4. Gay-related community information 5. Gay-related U.S. Government publications 6. Current Nonfiction 7. Current AIDS information 8. Gay-related fiction In conclusion, the gay population is more comfortable seeking information from friends and networking through computers. However, it is clear that they will use the public library, if the library carries a balanced collection of current gay-related materials. REFERENCES: Cornog, M. (1993). Is sex safe In your library? Library Journal, 118, 43-46. Corsini, E. (1994). Encyclopedia of Psychology. New York: John Wiley & Sons. Crunkshank (1990). The Gay and Lesbian Liberation Movement. Great Britain: Routledge, Chapman & Hall, Inc. Duberman, M. B., Vicinus, M. & Chauncey, Jr., G. (Eds.) (1989). Hidden from History. Ontario, Canada: Penguin Books Canada. Dynes, W. R. (Ed.) (1990). Encyclopedia of Homosexuality. New York: Garland Publishing, Inc. Goodwin, J. P. (1989). More Man Than You'll Ever Be. Bloomington & Indianapolis: Indiana University Press. Gough, C., & Greenblatt, E. (1990). Gay and Lesbian Library Service. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland & Company, Inc. Herdt, G. H. (1992). Gay Culture in America. Boston: Beacon Press. Hunter, N. D., Michaelson, S. E. & Stoddard, T. B. (1992). The Rights of Lesbians and Gay Men (3rd ed.). Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press. Marcus, E. (1993). Is It A Choice? San Francisco: Harper SanFrancisco. Marshall, K., R Madsen, H. (1989) After the Ball. New York: Doubleday. Tessina, T. (1989). Gay Relationships. Los Angeles: Jeremy P. Tarcher, Inc. Williamson, A. D. Is this the right time to come out? Harvard Business Review, 71, 18-27.