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Violence against gay men occurs every day, yet little research has been done from a qualitative perspective exploring the impact of gay bashing and homophobia on the lives of gay men. This Master s of Social Work thesis research examines the experiences of gay men that have been victims of various levels of violence, directed at them as a result of their sexual orientation/identity. Using a qualitative approach, six men were interviewed and shared their experiences. Data was analyzed using Grounded Theory. The main objective of the research was to explore the experience of gay bashing and gain a better understanding of the issues related to this experience. This research adds to the knowledge base around the experiences of sexual minority men and provides information for social workers, medical practitioners, law enforcement agencies, teachers and other service providers that will encounter gay men that have experience homophobia. It provides information that can be used to shape policy and practice to better assist gay men that are victims of violence. It also provides a voice to the many men whose stories are never heard and whose experiences are often discounted.

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Chad Smith is a social worker in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Chad is an active member of the LGBTTQ community, working to create change, awareness, and inclusion of LGBTTQ people and issues in Canada. He has taught on sexual and gender minorities at the University of Manitoba and involved in the creation of their Identifying Allies project on campus.

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