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Additional Resources & Links 12/11/96
Summary of Studies on the Origins of Sexual Orientation
The APA's and the AMA's Positions on Homosexuality
Summary of Religious Views on Homosexuality 10/20/96
Notable Gay, Lesbian, & Bisexual People 12/11/96
Think About It... 11/04/96
HOMOSEXUAL: |
A person that is emotionally, spiritually, and physically attracted to persons of the same gender. |
GAY: |
Usually refers to a homosexual male, but can also refer to a homosexual female, as well as the gay community in general. |
LESBIAN: |
A female homosexual. |
BISEXUAL: |
A person who is emotionally, spiritually, and physically attracted to persons of either gender. Some believe that we are all bisexual to a certain degree. |
HETEROSEXUAL: |
A person that is emotionally, spiritually, and physically attracted to persons of the opposite gender. |
STRAIGHT: |
Another term for heterosexual. |
TRANSGENDER: |
Relating to transsexuals, transvestites, cross-dressers, or anyone who tends to blur traditional gender boundries. |
TRANSSEXUAL: |
A person who strongly identifies with the opposite gender, usually includes a desire to actually be the other sex. Most often refers to a person who has had a sex change operation. |
TRANSVESTITE: |
Someone who derives sexual pleasure from dressing in clothing generally identified with the opposite sex. While the terms homosexual and transvestite have been used synonymously, they are in fact two different terms. The majority of transvestites are heterosexuals. Crossdressing that does not include any sexual charge is usually referred to as DRAG. |
HETEROSEXISM: |
The societal assumption that everyone is heterosexual, and that heterosexuality is somehow superior to homosexuality. |
HOMOPHOBIA: |
An unrealistic or irrational fear of homosexuality. Homophobia is perpetuated by the negative stereotypes and misconceptions that surround the subject of homosexuality. Homophobia can lead to hatred, discrimination, and violence against homosexuals.
Both heterosexuals and homosexuals can be homophobic. |
LOVER: |
Many gay and lesbian people use the term lover (for lack of a better word) to refer to their spouse or partner, much like a heterosexual would use the term husband or wife. The term lover can be misleading however, since the many heterosexuals reserve the term lover to describe an exclusively sexual relationship, affair, or fling.
SIGNIFICANT OTHER & PARTNER are also commonly used. |
Sexual orientation, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual does not appear to be something that one chooses. Recent studies support what many gays have always suspected. They indicate that sexual orientation has a genetic or biological component, and is probably determined before or shortly after birth. While these studies are not conclusive, it is irresponsible to assume that homosexuality is a choice anymore so than heterosexuality. There is more scientific evidence to suggest that sexual orientation has a genetic component, than evidence which suggests sexual orientation is a simple matter of choice. Like heterosexuals, homosexuals discover their sexuality as a process of maturing.1,2 The only choice homosexuals have is whether or not to live their lives according to their true nature, or according to societies expectations.
To describe homosexuality as a simple matter of choice denies the pain and confusion so many gay and lesbian men and women suffer upon discovery of their sexual orientation. It seems absurd to think that these people would deliberately choose something that leaves them open to rejection by family, friends, and society.
The belief that homosexuality is a choice, ignores the high rate of teen suicides attributed to sexual orientation. Why would teens choose to end their lives, if they could simply avoid the shame, fear, and isolation by choosing to become heterosexual? This belief also denies every homosexual who has tried to live their life as a heterosexual, hiding behind a facade of marriage, all the while feeling empty and unfulfilled.
The assumption that homosexuality is a choice is insulting to the millions of gay and lesbian men and women who know their sexual orientation is not based on some decision they made, but is based on something as innate as the color of their eyes.
Summary of Studies on the Origin of Sexual Orientation
The American Psychological Association does not consider homosexuality to be an emotional or mental disorder. However, the social stigma associated with being gay can be emotionally devastating.
Gay people grow up in all types of homes, with all types of families. They are raised in rural areas, large cities and everywhere in between. Homosexuals represent every socioeconomic, ethnic, and religious background possible.
It appears that upbringing has little, if anything to do with a child's innate sexual orientation. However, a parents' attitude can influence the way a child chooses to relate to his or her sexuality, whether it be heterosexual or homosexual.
APA's & AMA's Positions on Homosexuality
Many people suffer from all types of abuse and neglect as children, yet grow up to be heterosexual. Many people, both heterosexual and homosexual, have had bad experiences with a person of the opposite sex. There is no correlation between any of these occurrences and homosexuality.
Since homosexuality is not a disease or disorder, there is nothing to cure. A few therapists claim that they can rid gay people of their homosexual desires, but their methods remain extremely questionable and rarely, if ever have resulted in permanently changing anybody's sexual orientation.3,4
According to the American Psychological Association, no scientific evidence exists to support the effectiveness of any therapies that attempt to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals.5
Just as there is no such thing as a single heterosexual lifestyle, there is no such thing as a single gay lifestyle. Anti-gay activists have promoted the idea that the lives of homosexuals revolve around sex and the pursuit of sexual encounters, and that the only identity homosexuals have is with being gay. To anti-gay organizations this is the only gay lifestyle that exists, and they do their best to promote this misconception.
In reality, the lives of gays and lesbians are as varied as the lives of heterosexuals.6 Some choose to live in long term committed relationships, others choose to remain single. Some couples choose to raise children, others do not. Hobbies and occupations are just as varied as within the heterosexual population.
In many ways gay people do have their own culture. Formed by the bond of common experiences, many homosexuals share similar thoughts, feeling, and at times a language all their own. This is not surprising. After all, how many heterosexuals have had to come out of the closet?
Notable Gay, Lesbian, & Bisexual People
Studies indicate that anywhere between one percent and twenty percent of the general population is homosexual. The most widely accepted estimate is approximately ten percent.5 However, until the stigma associated with being gay is removed from society it is unlikely that we will ever know the true incidence of homosexuality in the general population.
In reality the number of gay people is immaterial, but it is safe to say that the majority of people have contact with at least one gay or lesbian person on a regular basis, whether they are aware of it or not. Many people are amazed to find that they love, respect, and care for someone who is gay.
Contrary to popular belief, gay men and lesbians are no more inclined to be consumed with sexual thoughts or feelings than their heterosexual counterparts.7 Likewise, homosexuals are not attracted to every person of the same sex they meet.
The lives of homosexuals, like the lives of heterosexuals are about much more than sex, but it's easy to see why so many people believe these common misconceptions. Many people do not even realize that they know someone who is gay. Consequently, their only knowledge of homosexuality comes from the media or out-spoken anti-gay organizations, neither of which is likely to show the average gay person or couple. The media is in the business of selling news, and radical behavior of any kind sells. Likewise, anti-gay organizations are in the business of making gay people appear as hedonistic as possible. They will obviously focus their attention on the most radical behavior that can be found within the gay community.
Promiscuity has nothing to do with one's sexual orientation, but rather one's values and beliefs. Just as in the heterosexual community, some gay people are promiscuous, some are not.
In a 1992 study, 55.5% of gay men and 71.2% of lesbians were in steady relationships.8
Members of anti-gay organizations like to offer proof that the gay lifestyle is bad by stating that most gay people are miserable and lonely. First of all the majority of homosexuals are not terribly unhappy or lonely, but these organizations may have a point. Being gay in our society is not easy. The social stigma, rejection by family, friends, and church, the discrimination and sense of social isolation, can all be emotionally devastating. What these people fail to realize, is that they are a large part of the problem. By spreading malicious lies, which demonize gays and lesbians they have spread their homophobic attitudes through out society, making the world a sometimes intolerant place for homosexuals.
While the overwhelming majority of lesbians are feminists, most feminists do not hate men. They simply support the belief that women deserve the same rights to make personal decisions and the same opportunities for social and professional growth that men currently enjoy.
In general, the majority of gay people don't flaunt their sexuality. As a matter of fact, many of them go to great lengths to hide their sexual orientation. There is a double standard in our society. What constitutes flaunting by homosexuals is usually regarded as everyday behavior for heterosexuals. For instance, a heterosexual couple walking hand in hand is perceived as normal, or even endearing. If their hand holding is even noticed at all, very few people would consider their behavior to be inappropriate. On the other hand, a homosexual couple exhibiting the same behavior would almost certainly be noticed, and most likely be accused of flaunting their sexuality, or promoting their lifestyle. They may be harassed, or worse yet, physically attacked.
Heterosexuals are free to talk about their spouses or dates. They can wear their wedding rings, display pictures of their loved ones on their desks, kiss good-bye at the airport, include their spouses in company parties and so on. A gay person who chooses to do the same, may be seen as a trouble maker, or a radical homosexual out to prove a point. The truth is most gay people are not out to make a statement. They simply want to be able to incorporate the many aspects of their lives the way heterosexuals are permitted to do.
What the majority of people mean when they say that gay people should keep their lives private, is that gay people should keep their lives secret. Imagine for a moment, having to hide the very existence of the most important person in your life.
First of all, what two consenting adults do in the privacy of their own bedroom is nobody's business but their own. Second of all, homosexuals don't do anything in bed that heterosexuals don't do themselves. Intimate behavior between many gay couples could be perceived as mild, when compared to what some heterosexual couples do.
It is purely a myth that homosexuality is synonymous with child molestation. The most likely person to sexually abuse a child is a heterosexual male; in many cases this person is a family member or close family friend.9,10 Even pedophiles who molest children of the same sex are almost always exclusively heterosexual in their adult sexual relations.
In an effort to spread fear and ignorance, organizations that oppose gay rights often portray homosexuals as sexual predators out to recruit or seduce as many people as possible. Homosexuals, like heterosexuals discover their sexuality as a process of maturing.1,2 They are not recruited, seduced or brain washed into the gay lifestyle.
Common sense proves the difficulty gay people would face in trying to recruit. What would they have to offer? Rejection by family and friends, fear of discrimination, violence and possible death? The idea of recruitment is utterly without scientific foundation.14
Not all teenagers are heterosexual. As many as 7.2 million Americans under the age of 20 are gay or lesbian.11 These teens are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, and account for up to 30 percent of all completed suicides among teens.12 Honest information and positive role models could be immensely helpful to a teenager who is struggling to come to terms with his or her own sexuality.
Gay and lesbian youth are not alone in their need for honest information about homosexuality. The most common perpetrators of anti-gay violence are youth, ages 21 or under. Ninety four percent of these perpetrators are male.13 Honest information that disputes the myths surrounding homosexuality could help insure that we do not raise a future generation of children filled with ignorance, fear, and intolerance for people different from themselves.
Since there seems to be a genetic or biological compontent to sexual orientation, it is unlikely that exposure to gays or lesbians will influence a child's sexual orientation. It's quite possible that a child's sexual orientation is determined before, or shortly after birth. If a child is going to be gay, it is likely that the child is going to be gay regardless of whether or not he/she is exposed to homosexuality. Almost all gays have grown up in a heterosexual world, with very little exposure to homosexuality. As a matter of fact they have grown up with heterosexual parents, teachers, siblings, and friends; surrounded by heterosexism in magazines, books, movies, and on t.v. yet they are still homosexual. Sexual orientation does not appear to be a learned behavior.
A parent's fear that their child will be recruited at school or elsewhere is again, without scientific foundation.14
There are currently between one million and five million lesbian mothers and between one million and three million gay fathers in the United States.15 The majority of these children are from previous heterosexual marriages, but many gays and lesbians are choosing to adopt or become foster parents, and others are opting for artificial insemination.
In some states gay men and lesbian women are allowed to adopt or provide foster care, but in most cases only one parent is allowed to become the child's legal guardian. Policies such as these do little to help promote family unity, not to mention the legal ramifications of such an arrangement should the legal guardian die, or the couple separates. None-the-less, many gays and lesbians manage to raise their children in a successful manner.
A review of nine studies concerning aspects of personal development, such as, self-concept, moral judgment, and intelligence, revealed no significant difference between children of lesbians and gay men and children of heterosexuals.15
There are also 35 different studies conducted within the last fifteen years that have shown that children of gay and lesbian parents are no more likely to become homosexuals than children of heterosexuals, and are just as well adjusted.16
What the majority of gay people object to has nothing to do with the values families wish to instill in their children, but rather the narrow definition of family certain organizations wish to promote. The idea of a father, a mother, and their children, as being the only legitimate type of family, is not only unrealistic in our society, but is demeaning to the millions of American families that do not meet this narrow definition. Single parent families, step families, adoptive families, extended families, and gay and lesbian families are all valid family units and deserve to be recognized as such.
Traditional American values such as: love, compassion, responsibility, honesty, integrity, self-reliance, accountability, and respect are values most parents wish to instill in their children, regardless of sexual orientation.
There has been a lot of talk about the gay agenda, but no one seems to know exactly what it is, except of course for the organizations opposed to gay rights. They claim homosexuals have some hidden plan to tear apart the moral fabric of American society. Honestly, there is no hidden gay agenda. Gay men and lesbians tend to be fairly straight forward about what it is they are seeking. The gay agenda is nothing more than a lie certain organizations have created in an effort to place fear into the minds' of the American public.
Civil rights issues are important to the gay community because in many circumstances homosexuals do not have the same basic rights other citizens in our country do. In most states and cities a gay person can legally be denied housing, employment, and public accommodations simply because of their sexual orientation.
Some claim that gays are not deserving of civil rights protection, because unlike racial minorities, homosexuality is defined by behavior, not something innate such as skin color. First of all, there is more scientific evidence to support the theory that sexual orientation has a genetic or biological component, than evidence which suggests it does not.
Secondly, homosexuality can not be defined simply by behavior. Sexual orientation (whether it be homosexual or heterosexual ) is distinguished by an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual, spiritual, and affectional attraction to individuals of a particular gender. Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to feelings and self-concept. A persons behavior may or may not reflect his/her true sexual orientation. A person can be gay regardless of whether or not they have had sex with someone of the same gender. Likewise, a heterosexual can engage in homosexual behavior, but this does not make him/her gay.
Organizations opposed to laws that would prevent the discrimination of homosexuals promote the idea that gays want special rights. They claim that everyone is already protected equally, and that laws which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation would be designed primarily to protect the rights of homosexuals, thus making them special rights. What they fail to realize is that heterosexuals are unlikely to be fired from their jobs or evicted from their homes simply because of their sexual orientation. Homosexuals on the other hand, are far more likely to face this type of discrimination.
The gay community is not interested in obtaining special rights of any kind. They simply want equal rights and equal protection of those rights in regards to employment, housing, and public accommodations. The gay community does not intend for laws to legislate affirmative action programs such as quotas or financial incentives offered to employers who hire homosexuals. Nor do they intend to force private citizens who rent out rooms in their homes to be obligated under law to rent to anybody who is unwilling to abide by the rules of their home. Similarly, churches and other religious institutions would be exempt from any laws governing the employment of homosexuals.
Gay couples desire to marry for the same reasons heterosexuals couples do: love, companionship, shared interests, common goals, emotional and financial security, and in some cases to raise a family.
Millions of gay men and lesbians are living in long term committed relationships despite the fact that homosexual unions lack many of the financial, legal and social benefits which are automatically provided for heterosexual couples upon marriage.
Currently, gay couples do not have the automatic right to make medical, legal, or financial decisions on behalf of their partner should the need arise. They may be denied access to visit their spouse in intensive care units and other hospital departments. In the case of death , they do not have the automatic right to make funeral arrangements, or to assume ownership of property (even jointly owned property).
Gay couples also lack many of the financial benefits of marriage. They may not have access to their spouses' employee health insurance. The may not have access to retirement or death benefits. They are not eligible for tax breaks heterosexual couples receive, nor are they eligible for insurance discounts which are frequently provided for married couples.
Homosexuals would like to see gay marriages legalized so that they could provide the same type of legal, financial, and emotional security for their loved ones that heterosexual couples currently take for granted.
With the help of an attorney, some of the benefits of legal marriage can be obtained by same-sex couples, but many cannot. Wills, power of attorney and so forth can provide some protection, but this takes time and money, and is subject to challenges from biological family members, and the government. Until same-sex couples are allowed to marry, their rights and benefits will not be equal to, or as secure as the rights and benefits granted to heterosexual couples.
Just because something has a long standing tradition, doesn't mean it's fair or right. Not long ago, the thought of abolishing slavery, allowing women to vote, interracial marriage, and women serving in the military, were also met with strong opposition because they went against tradition. One purpose of marriage is to raise children (as some gay couples do), but raising children is not the only reason people choose to marry. Companionship, love, shared interests, common goals, financial and emotional security are also reasons couples choose to wed.
The belief that allowing gays to legally marry would devalue heterosexual marriage is absurd. This backward attitude assumes that the value of heterosexual marriage is dependent upon the deprivation of a certain group of people in our society. Giving gay couples the right to marry would not take away any of the rights heterosexual couples currently enjoy, it would only extend those rights and responsibilities to everyone in our society.
Some people hypothesize that marriage between gays and lesbians will lead to men marrying boys and fathers marrying daughters. They even go so far as to say that people will fight for the right to marry their pets. Obviously, these folks are grasping at straws. A gay marriage, like a heterosexual marriage, would consist of two consenting adults. There's no reason to believe that homosexual marriage will lead to legalized incestuous relationships or the abuse of animals anymore so than heterosexual marriage does.
Homosexuality is definitely not the sexual orientation of the majority of people, but that in itself does not make it abnormal. If we were to use that type of logic, then we would have to consider left handed people abnormal also.
To a heterosexual person, an intimate relationship with someone of the same sex might seem abnormal or unnatural, but not any more so than heterosexual relations would seem to someone who is gay. Furthermore, there is nothing abnormal or unnatural about wanting to share your life and love with another person. Having the ability to produce offspring is not a prerequisite. If it were, we would have to deny marriage licenses to heterosexual couples who did not wish to, or for some reason could not have children.
Some Biblical scholars believe that the Bible condemns homosexuality, others do not. Likewise, dozens of religions use the Bible as a basis for their faith, yet beliefs between these religions can be quite diverse.
Throughout history some mainstream religions have used the Bible to justify slavery, racism, child abuse, domestic violence, and sexism. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. used scripture to inspire those struggling to overcome racism, while at the same time others used the Bible to promote racial segregation, and entice violence. Obviously, the Bible can be interpreted in many different ways.
Out of the 31,173 verses contained in the Bible, there are less than a dozen that allegedly deal with the topic of homosexuality. The meaning of these verses remains fairly obscure to many, especially in the context of loving committed relationships. Jesus himself said nothing, which leads many people to believe that the subject of homosexuality was not one of his main concerns.
The word homosexual did not appear in any translation of the Christian Bible until 1946.17 Likewise, there are words in the Greek language for same-sex sexual activities, yet they never appear in the original text of the New Testament.17
As citizens of this country we have the right to pursue the faith of our choice without fear of persecution; but, as citizens of this country we also have the responsibility to insure that no one persons beliefs, religious or otherwise, interfere with another persons basic civil rights.
Some religious faiths teach that eating meat, or consuming caffeine is wrong. Others prohibit dancing, the use of modern technology, eating pork, or the use of birth control. These people have the right to live by the teaching of their faiths, but they do not have the right to insist that all people live according to their personal beliefs.
Even though the majority of people in our country profess to be Christian, our government is not a theocracy based on Biblical law. Our country is a democracy, with room for people of all different faiths and beliefs. This is one of the main principles our country was founded on. Our laws and legislation must reflect a tolerance for diversity in extending basic civil rights to all of its citizens.
As with heterosexual marriage, religious institutions maintain the power to choose who they will marry based on their own policies and beliefs. Gays and lesbians are not seeking the right to get married in the church of their choice, but rather the right to a legal union and the benefits provided by our government to married couples. There are already several churches that perform same-sex union ceremonies, but these ceremonies provide none of the legal benefits of marriage. Gays and lesbians are not looking to marry in the religious sense (they already can), they are seeking the right to marry in a legal sense.
Although religion has been a major source of oppression for gay and lesbian people, many still actively participate within their respective religions. The degree to which they are able to be open about their sexuality is dependent upon their particular religion, denomination, and congregation.
The issue of homosexuality has been given much consideration by a number of mainstream religious organizations within the last few decades. Many still hold conservative views about homosexuality, while several have become more welcoming to gay people, and supportive of homosexual issues and concerns.
Summary of Religious Views on Homosexuality
It has been said before and it will be said again, AIDS is not a gay disease. HIV is a virus that has the potential to infect anyone. For those who believe that AIDS is some form of punishment for homosexuals, then why has AIDS spread so rapidly in the heterosexual population around the world? What about hemophiliacs? If AIDS is meant to punish homosexuals, why are lesbians the least likely group of people to acquire HIV through sexual contact?
Simply put, AIDS is a disease, like any other disease. If we believe that disease is a form of punishment, then what did the people who suffer from cancer do to deserve such a fate? What about Alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, and the thousands of other horrible diseases, birth defects, and illnesses?
Anti-gay organizations have played a paramount role in the opposition of gay rights. In an effort to gain wide support, they often operate under the premise of defending Christian values or traditional family values. The real motivation behind these organizations has absolutely nothing to do with either Christian values or traditional family values, but has everything to do with political power and greed.
Many of these organizations have heavy ties to the Republican Party, and ultra-conservative, or radical right wing affiliations. This is not to say that all Christian organizations or all people involved with the Republican party are corrupt or misrepresent the true meaning of Christianity. Many mainstream Christian churches are appalled by the behavior of anti-gay organizations which profess to teach the word of God by spreading lies that perpetuate ignorance, resulting in hatred, fear, and violence.
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Copyright © 1996 C. Ann Shepherd. All rights reserved.
Last updated: Wednesday, December 11, 1996