“Here in the Bible Belt, It’s Predominantly Negative”: Sexual Identity Stigma in the American South, 50 Years After Stonewall

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and pansexual (LGB+) individuals have disproportionate rates of mental illness. Minority stress and sexual identity stigma are posited as the primary social determinants of LGB+ mental health disparities. Discussions in the literature have questioned the impact of sexual identity stigma in a world increasingly accepting of sexual minorities. Additionally, the LGB+ population in the United States South is often overlooked in American research. This article details a qualitative study exploring experiences related to sexual identity stigma among adults who identify as LGB+ in the United States South. Semi-structured interviews with 16 individuals were analyzed using content analysis. Six thematic categories of stigma emerged from participants’ experiences: (a) navigating an LGB+ identity, (b) social acceptability of an LGB+ identity, (c) expectation of LGB+ stigma, (d) interpersonal discrimination and harassment, (e) structural stigma, and (f) relationship with the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community. Findings suggest that sexual identity stigma remains a common experience among these Southern United States participants. Further, thematic categories and subcategories primarily aligned with extant theory with one exception: Intracommunity stigma, a form of stigma emanating from the LGBTQ community, emerged as a stigma type not currently accounted for in theoretical foundations underpinning mental health disparities in this population.

The Form of The Presidential System in Indonesia: A Comparative Study of Several Countries

The purpose of this research is to determine how the form of the presidential system adopted by Indonesia and to compare the presidential system in Indonesia with several countries such as the United States, South Korea and the Philippines. The research method used in this study is a normative legal research which used statute approach, conceptual approach, and comparative approach to examine the vacuum of norm regarding the presidential system in Indonesia. The results show that Indonesia adheres to non pure presidential system, namely a quasi-presidential system which is indicated by the horizontal relationship between state institutions. In the implementation of the presidential government system, every country has different characteristics so that it undergoes modifications depending on the situation and conditions of the country that adheres to it. When Indonesian presidential system compared with the United States, South Korea and the Philippines, it will show the special characteristics and weaknesses of each country. The indicators used in comparing presidential systems in several countries are the form of the presidential system, special characteristics, and weaknesses which in general are excess power in the executive.

Telaah Efektivitas Mekanisme Pemberhentian Presiden Indonesia: Perbandingan Praktik Amerika Serikat dan Korea Selatan

Impeachment is a part of the control mechanism in the constitutional system to allege the President's violation of the constitution. Impeachment characterizes presidential systems as implemented in various countries, such as the United States, South Korea, and Indonesia. This study aimed to examine the rule and practice on the impeachment of the President and/or Vice President in Indonesia, with reference to the United States and South Korea. Then, it analyzed how this mechanism is effective to be implemented in Indonesia. This study used a juridical research method with a comparative law approach. This study indicated differences in impeachment in the United States, South Korea, and Indonesia. The impeachment mechanism in the United States only involved representative institutions, but that in Indonesia and South Korea required judicial intervention. In particular, Indonesia's impeachment dealt with the decision that remained in the hands of the political institution, the People's Consultative Assembly. In South Korea, the final decision ended in the judicial institution. Through this comparison, Indonesia should reformulate the impeachment mechanism of the President and/or Vice President in Indonesia with the following suggestions. First, regarding allegations of serious violations, the final impeachment decision must be in the Constitutional Court. Second, concerning allegations of misconduct, the decision on impeachment must rest with the People's Consultative Assembly. KEYWORDS: Impeachment, Indonesia, South Korea, United States.