Working with Larger Systems

Abstract To be productive citizens, lesbians and gay men must successfully work and live in communities and organizations. Definitions and structures of both gay communities and social communities are changing. In rural areas, gay people often remain socially and geographically isolated. The culture of organizations, which is played out through expected behaviors, makes it difficult for gay people to succeed. Social workers and other human service practitioners must work to empower gay people in order for them to be more socially engaged and successful in living and working in communities and organizations.