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Research on Homosexuality in Barbados: A Systematic Literature Review

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Abstract

Research on the LGBTQ + community in the Caribbean is limited, a issue made all the more concerning because the people in that community do not have the same rights as their heterosexual counterparts. In Barbados, homosexual acts carried out in public or private were until recently (2022) punishable by law. This systematic literature review details information from 13 studies published between 2013 and 2022. The studies varied in methodological approach, study context and participant demographics, however four major themes arose from the research. These studies explored participants knowledge and understanding of the LGBT + community, the effects of homophobia, HIV, and the needs of the LGBT + community. Research focused more on the opinions of non-LGBTQ + participants than the experiences of that community, and it is noted that stigma, and discrimination still appears to be rife in the Barbadian population. This study reviews and analyses relevant research and provides recommendations for future practice and research.

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Correspondence to Catherine M. Trotman.

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Trotman, C.M. Research on Homosexuality in Barbados: A Systematic Literature Review. Sexuality & Culture (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12119-023-10181-0

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