Introduction to the Special Edition:
Issues for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Rural Residents

Keith W. Beard, Psy.D.

Issues that gay men, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender (GLBT) people deal with are important areas for mental health professionals to explore and understand. The added component of living in a rural area can result in unique issues that these individuals must face. As mental health professionals, it is important for us to be aware of these unique circumstances and situations, as well as how they may impact these clients. The articles in this special issue of the “Journal of Rural Community Psychology” will help those who treat and work with clients who identify as GLBT become more aware of issues that these individuals face. Additionally, these articles may help mental health workers identify areas where they may be able to improve their skills and environment so that this population may be better able to receive the needed services.

This first article (Rainbow Illinois: A survey of non-metropolitan lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people) is a unique look at this population. The authors describe a basic demographic profile of rural GLBT people. The authors go on to identify numerous issues that GLBT individuals living in rural areas must face. One valuable aspect of this project is the qualitative information that can be gained from the various quotes taken from the participants.

The next article (Rural men who have sex with men: An exploratory study of sexual orientation characteristics and adjustment patterns) is an important comparison of gay men who have lived in rural areas all of their lives versus gay men who moved to rural areas after living in urban areas. The authors focus on areas such as self-esteem and homophobia. Their results yield some interesting and compelling findings.

The authors of the third article (The Use of Erikson’s Developmental Theory with Gay Men from Rural Communities) propose how gay men may revert back to certain stages of development based on Erikson’s model of psychosocial development. Age differences and rural factors may influence when these men experience various intimate and identity achieving processes in relation to their peers. Research considerations and suggestions for mental health professionals are given.

The last article in this special edition (Safe Connections: Planning, Organizing, and Running an HIV Prevention Workshop for MSM in a Rural Region) focuses on an HIV prevention program for men who have sex with men. A notable aspect of this article is the step-by-step process it provides the reader in how to develop such a program. Additionally, there are many helpful tips that can be gained by reviewing the various difficulties the authors dealt with as they developed and implemented this program in a rural setting. 

In conclusions, I would like to thank Cecile Lardon, Ph.D., Ramona Faith Oswald, Ph.D., and David Brass, M.A. for reviewing several of the article submissions for this special edition. In their busy schedules, they found a way to help this issue happen by reviewing numerous submissions. They did a wonderful job and I greatly appreciate their help.

I am very excited to be the guest editor of this edition. I hope that you enjoy the articles and gain something from the information they contain that will aid you in your work with GLBT people from rural areas across the country.