Pastoral Counselors: Their Attitudes Toward Gay and Lesbian Clients

Abstract

Interprets an empirical research project involving 190 pastoral counselors in terms of a set of homosexual and lesbian variables. Notes that pastoral counselors do not rate gay male and lesbian clients as significantly different from heterosexual male and female clients but do manifest significant differences between male and female clients. Observes that pastoral counselors' standards for healthy adult mental health tend to be that of a healthy adult male and that female clients are assessed either as healthy persons but as unhealthy women or as healthy women and as unhealthy persons. Concludes that the sex-role stereotyping revealed in the study discriminates against both men and women. Discusses pastoral implications in view of the research findings.