What Is Homosexuality?
Homosexuality can be found in nearly every society around the world and has been documented in many ancient societies throughout history. Homosexuality has been a significant part of human sexual activity ever since the dawn of history, primarily because it is an expression of capacities that are basic in human beings. Both males and females can be homosexuals. Male homosexuals are termed "gay," and female homosexuals are termed "lesbians."
What Are the Types of Sexual Orientation?
To what gender individuals are attracted to determines the sexual orientation or sexuality. There are five types of sexual orientation.
Heterosexual: Sexually attracted to people of the opposite gender.
Homosexual: Sexually attracted to people of the same gender as theirs.
Bisexual: Sexually attracted to people of both genders.
Pansexual: Sexually attracted to people regardless of their gender.
Asexual: Sexually not attracted to people of any gender.
If a person is sexually attracted to the opposite gender, they are heterosexual, and if they are sexually attracted to the same gender, they are homosexual. Having feelings, sex, and sexual attraction with people of the same gender does not make one homosexual. It is said that sexual preferences may or may not change over a lifetime and that people prefer to experiment with sexual experiences and sexuality.
What Is Gender Identity?
While sexual orientation describes a person based on which gender they are sexually attracted to, gender identity describes a person based on what they feel their gender is. A person may feel male or female or both or none irrespective of the genitals assigned to them since birth.
Kinsey Scale:
Dr. Alfred C Kinsey devised a seven-point scale that shows the full range of human sexual preferences.
One end of the scale was where people were exclusively heterosexual throughout their lives, and the opposite end was where people were exclusively homosexual. In between these two extremes lay the vast and varied area of individuals who did not precisely fit into either category. This in-between group ranged from people who had one brief homosexual or heterosexual encounter to those who were equally content with male or female partners, bisexual. Among men, around 4 percent of adult men are thought to be exclusively homosexuals. Homosexuality is accepted as a normal variation like left-handedness.
What Are the Causes of Homosexuality?
Nobody knows what causes homosexuality. Are they just born that way, or is nature involved? There is no firm answer yet.
Some neuroscientists believe that a cluster of the hypothalamus in the brain is missing in homosexuals. Some say that there may be a genetic component responsible for sexual preference. A few scientists have found a responsible gene on the X sex chromosome.
Theories of childhood attachment to one or the other parent, and theories of fixation at some infantile level of sexual development are not supported by scientific research.
Perhaps, Freud should be given the last word in all this. He once wrote, "Homosexuality cannot be classified as an illness; we consider it to be a variation of the sexual development."
Is Homosexuality Normal?
A homosexual is an ordinary person in every aspect of his or her life.
It is not possible to recognize homosexuality by a person's external appearance as it is not a physical defect or mental disorder. Homosexuals have similar behavior to heterosexuals.
A homosexual may find it difficult to get a permanent partner. They may not be able to declare and move openly with their partner.
A homosexual can get STD (sexually transmitted disease), HIV infection (human immunodeficiency virus), or hepatitis if they go on changing their partner.
Though homosexuality is normal, people still are apprehensive about this particular sexual orientation. People who fear homosexuals are homophobic. Such heterosexual people tend to judge, discriminate, bully, and attack people of other sexual orientations, which is not correct.
Are Homosexuals Transpeople?
Homosexuality is a sexual preference, while the term transgender is linked to their gender identity. Both are different terms. If someone was born male or female and if they feel they do not belong to the gender they were during their birth, or they belong to neither gender or belong to both genders, they are termed, transgender people. A transgender person can be homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual, pansexual, or asexual.
Should Homosexuality Be Treated?
Homosexuality is not a disease or disorder that needs treatment. It is just another sexual orientation as heterosexuality. However since a majority of the population worldwide are heterosexuals, it was thought to be the only sexual orientation on the planet that was legally and conscientiously correct.
What Should People Know About Homosexuals?
Homosexuality is just a gender preference. How different people have and accept different preferences similarly homosexuality is an individual preference for a sexual partner of the same gender. How people respect other people's choices, understand them, and do not interfere with their likes and dislikes should be the attitude towards homosexuals too. Some people and societies accept and understand homosexual people without any bias, while most of them do not. Hatred towards homosexuals and LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer) communities do exist. Such discrimination should be discouraged.
If Homosexuality Is Normal, Then Why Are There Not Many Homosexuals?
The awareness about homosexuality is not widespread and is not given importance by schools. Many communities consider it taboo. But it is not so. Children should be educated about LGBTQ similar to heterosexual relationships and sex. Most national surveys do not include questions about homosexuality making it difficult to achieve the original numbers. And even if someone is a homosexual, they are afraid to come out (declare they are homosexuals) due to the fear of societal rejection. As a result, heterosexuality becomes the majority.
What Are the Misconceptions and Myths About Homosexuality?
Myth 1: LGBTQ individuals are unfit for parenting:
Numerous gay individuals have nurturing families and raise content, accomplished children. A 2014 study found minimal distinctions in family dynamics and social development between households with same-sex parents and those with opposite-sex parents.
Myth 2: Homosexuality is a voluntary decision:
Being gay is not a choice and cannot be altered. Most scientists attribute sexuality to various factors, including biology and environment. Conversion therapy is harmful and denounced by mainstream medical organizations like the American Medical Association.
Conclusion:
Homosexuality is not a sin nor a mental disorder. It is a way of living; just like how one chooses to live, it is how homosexuals choose to live. It is not their choice, but by default, they prefer people of the same gender without any reason. If they are a homosexual person and need help coming out, talk to our doctors privately.
