SWRM#81

BOOK REVIEWS

Sexual Orientation and Gender Expression in Social

Work Practice: Working with Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and

Transgender People. Deana F. Morrow and Lori Messinger

(Editors). New York: Columbia University Press, 2006, 536

pages. ISBN: 0-231-12728-6 $80.00 hardcover.

T his book is a thorough summary of practice and policy issues with the gay, lesbian, bi- sexual, and transgender (GLBT) population.

Divided into four major sections, the book provides content on the history of GLBT issues in society, identity development and coming out, relationships and families, and society and culture. Collectively, the chapters analyze the historical sociocultural emer- gence of the GLBT movement and the impact of the social environment on development and identity for this population. In addition, the chapters use a life-course perspective to highlight salient issues and risk situations for GLBT individuals at differ- ent stages of identity development and for various age cohorts.

The editors' goal was to integrate content into a comprehensive volume on GLBT issues, and they certainly achieve this goal. They provide a well- referenced and researched summary of existing knowledge that cuts across various literatures and areas of practice.

A major focus ofthe book is assessment and inter- vention with the GLBT population. Some chapters, however, offer richer and more comprehensive con- tent to inform practice. Sadly, some chapters offer practice implications as more of an afterthought and retread many ofthe typical recommendations that are found in most general social work texts. In addi- tion, greater attention to evidence-based practice ap- proaches with this population would have provided the reader with knowledge about whether various interventions have efficacy for these clients.

Besides a more detailed and analytical discus- sion about practice issues, the addition of some other issues would have strengthened the content. Although the chapters on gay men, lesbians, and bisexual people include a few pages each on the topic of intimate relationships with partners and significant others, the book provides much more content on individual and family (for example, family of origin and parenting) issues than on relationship issues. Also, same-sex marriage is an

important contemporary issue for gay and lesbian couples. This content is only briefly discussed in the policy chapter and deserves greater coverage. Furthermore, a chapter on international issues would have been extremely interesting. Informa- tion emerging from those countries that have legalized same-sex marriage would have provided rich content to discuss.

In spite of these few problems, the book is a good addition to the social work literature. Practitioners who work with same-sex couples or GLBT indi- viduals can use the book as reference material or as a component of bibliotherapy with clients. In ad- dition, the book would be a good text for a GLBT course or assigned reading in a human behavior course within social work education.

Stephanie K. Swann, PhD, LCSW School of SocialWork University of Georgia

Barebacking:Psychosocial and Public Health Approaches.

Perry N. Halkitis, Leo Wilton, and Jack Drescher (Editors).

Binghamton, NY: Haworth Press, 2006, 175 pages. ISBN:

978- 0- 7890-2173-1 $49.95 hardback; ISBN: 9 78-0- 7890-

2174-8 $29.95 paperback.

T he phenomenon of barebacking, or inten- tional unprotected sex between men, is still a relatively new concept and has received

more notice from gay-oriented magazines than from the academic literature.This timely collection of articles focuses academic and clinical attention on the issue by reviewing current epidemiological data, exploring new approaches to lowering the prevalence of barebacking among gay men, and discussing treatment and prevention technologies designed to reduce the risk of transmission during unprotected sex.

The book begins with an excellent epidemiologi- cal overview and a thought-provoking exploration ofthe meaning of barebacking as a behavior and as an identity for gay men. This is followed by a dis- cussion ofthe meaning of barebacking in black and Latino gay communities in the context of club drug use. Because the Internet has been a central venue for the emergence of barebacking, the collection includes an ethnographic study of the practice of intentionally transmitting HIV and a report on the

238 CCC Code: 0360-7283/07 $3.00 0 2 0 0 7 National Association of Social Workers