The Effects of Ayahuasca Ritual Participation on Gay and Lesbian Identity
Journal of Psychoactive Drugs – May 27, 2014
Source: OpenAlex
Summary
Drinking ayahuasca can significantly enhance self-identity, particularly for gay individuals facing cultural rejection. In a qualitative study involving 17 self-identified gay and lesbian participants who experienced ayahuasca ceremonies, all reported affirming their sexual orientation without negative impacts on their identity. Participants attributed improvements in various life areas to these experiences, highlighting the brew's potential as a tool for psychological resilience. This suggests that ayahuasca may play a vital role in supporting mental health and identity affirmation within marginalized communities.
Abstract
The practice of drinking ayahuasca-a psychoactive brew indigenous to the Amazon-has been investigated in several studies and shown to have positive long-term effects on mental states, and a particularly strong positive effect on perceptions of identity. This article discusses if these previous findings can be found in the experience of gay people, who are often taught by their culture and religion that their lifestyles, values, and sexual orientation are unacceptable. The qualitative study examined the interview responses of 17 self-identified gay and lesbian participants who had drunk ayahuasca in a ceremonial context within the past three years, regarding their self-perceptions and integration of group beliefs. Participants drank either in shamanic or Santo Daime ceremonies or, in the case of one participant, with an Afro-Brazilian group that used ayahuasca. Participants reported affirmation of their sexual orientation, and no participants reported negative effects on perception of identity. Additional positive effects in other areas of their lives, which they attributed to ayahuasca sessions, contributed to the overall positive outcomes that were reported by this group as a result of their ritual participation.