From Barbara to Bia: Art, policy and science dialoguing with rights and health of lesbians in Brazil

Issue Discrimination and homophobia are latent and can affect health. Chico Buarque composed at least three songs about lesbian love: Barbara (with Ruy Guerra - 1972), Sea and Moon (1980) and Blues for Bia (2017). Problem Beginning with the view that art can manifest itself as narrative, this paper analyzes the alignment of the content of the three songs mentioned above with Brazilian policies ensuring LGBT rights and the trend of studies on lesbian health in Brazil from 1970 to 2019. The results can assist the promotion of discussions in other places. We performed 1) a search of governmental policies aimed at protecting the rights of the LGBT population; 2) a systematic search for studies on lesbian health in PUBMED; 3) a musical analysis of the songs. Results The 1970s was marked by a military government when the love addressed in the song 'Barbara' was closeted and sad. The song (composed in a minor tone) uses half-step intervals, generating melancholy feelings. In the 1980s, still under a dictatorial government, several social movements initiated a militant stance for the LGBT movement and the song “Sea and Moon” addressed the suicide of a lesbian couple. We found no government actions in this period or studies conducted in Brazil in the PUBMED database up to 1998. Government policies emerged in the 2000s, especially through the program entitled 'Brazil without Homophobia' in 2004. Other policies followed and intensified in the 2010s. The number of studies increased from seven up to the year 2009 to 105 from 2010 onward. “Blues for Bia” addresses sexual freedom with lightheartedness. Lessons The increase in policies for the rights of the LGBT population was aligned with a trend in studies on lesbian health and with the three songs analyzed. Songs began with sad, negative tones until finally arriving at issues of autonomy and freedom, suggesting the importance of the maintenance of these actions that can alleviate problems related to LGBT rights and health. Key messages Policies for LGBT rights and studies on lesbian health have increased in Brazil since 2000s, especially after 2010. The tone of the songs studied changed from pain to lightness, in line with increase of the research and policies, emphasizing the importance of such actions.

A genealogy of lesbian feminisms in New Zealand: Some implications for young lesbian health and wellbeing

In the 1970s, radical lesbian feminists identifi ed heterosexuality as a socially glorifi ed state of being, and organised to resist social pressure to conform to heteronorms. Decentring of radical feminist discourse has been linked to a ‘shrinking lesbian world’, with implications for the health and wellbeing of young women who identify as lesbian. This article employs a poststructural feminist perspective, and Foucault’s notions of discourse and genealogy. Two sets of data were analysed: issues of Aotearoa New Zealand feminist periodical Broadsheet published 1972-1976, and interviews with 15 young lesbian women conducted in 2012. Findings explore how radical lesbian discourse was marginalised, and some of the implications for the health and wellbeing of young lesbian identifi ed women. Compulsory heterosexuality persists as a health and wellbeing issue which produces ‘sexual minority stress’ and legitimises discrimination, violence and harassment. Marginalisation of radical lesbian discourse via compulsory family status operates to limit opportunities for collective and public lesbian resistance.

OLDER LESBIAN HEALTH VIA RELATIONSHIP STATUS: HEALTH CONDITIONS AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS

Existing research has demonstrated that those in committed relationships are healthier than those who are not. However, very little research on same-sex relationships and particularly older lesbian relationships exists. The current study fills the gap by providing a health profile of lesbians in different relationship status, including partnered, widowed, casual dating, single—not dating, and celibate. The outcomes include diagnosed health conditions (include arthritis, high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, heart problems, and stroke) and health behaviors (exercise, smoking, and drinking). Data are from an original sample of 456 older lesbians aged 55 and over. Convenience sampling was adopted for this hard-to-reach population. Bivariate analysis results showed that widowed and celibate lesbians are more likely to report depression than other relationship groups. No disparity was found regarding health behaviors among different relationship groups. To further understand the unique group identifying as celibate, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine celibacy’s impact on lesbians’ reported depression after controlling for demographics and reported physical health. Multiple imputations was performed to handle missing values. Results showed that being celibate was associated with higher odds of reporting depression compared with having a partner or casually dating. Being celibate was also associated with lower odds of reporting depression compared with widows and singles who are not dating. To our knowledge, this study is the first to examine in details the health consequence of different relationship status among older American lesbians. Findings have important implication for health promotion among older lesbians.