Sexual orientation is a term frequently used to describe a person's romantic, emotional or
sexual attraction to another person. A person attracted to another person of the same sex is
said to have a homosexual orientation and may be called gay (both men and women),
lesbian. or bisexual. Individuals attracted to persons of the other sex are said to have a heterosexual
orientation. However it's very simplistic to think that people are either homosexual or heterosexual because sexual orientation falls along a continuum and individuals who are attracted to
both men and women are said to be bisexual.
Sexual orientation is different from gender
identity, which refers to the internal sense of whether one is male or female. Sexual
orientation is a relatively new concept. In fact, although same sex behavior has always
existed, the idea of a homosexual identity or a homosexual person is only about 100 years
old.
The concept of sexual orientation refers to more than sexual behaviour: it includes feelings
as well as identity. Some individuals may identify themselves as gay, lesbian or bisexual
without engaging in any sexual activity. Gay, lesbian, or bisexual people often (but not always) become aware of their sexual orientation at different points in their lives or, to put it more accurately, they come to accept their sexual orientation and view it as an intrinsic part of themselves. Much like heterosexual people do.
Is homosexuality a mental disorder?
No. All major professional mental health organizations have gone on record to affirm that
homosexuality is not a mental disorder. In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association's
Board of Trustees removed homosexuality from its official diagnostic manual, The Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Second Edition (DSM II). The action was taken
following a review of the scientific literature and consultation with experts in the field. The
experts found that homosexuality doesn't meet the criteria to be considered a mental
illness.
What causes homosexuality/heterosexuality/bisexuality?
No one knows what causes heterosexuality, homosexuality, or bisexuality. Homosexuality
was once thought to be the result of troubled family dynamics or faulty psychological
development. Those assumptions are now understood to have been based on
misinformation and prejudice.
Currently there is a renewed interest in searching for
biological etiologies for homosexuality. However, to date there are no replicated scientific
studies supporting any specific biological etiology for homosexuality. Similarly, no specific
psychosocial or family dynamic cause for homosexuality has been identified, including
histories of childhood sexual abuse. Sexual abuse does not appear to be more prevalent in
children who grow up to identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual, than in children who identify as
heterosexual.
What is 'coming out'?
Coming out is the term used to describe the experience in which a person identifies
himself or herself as gay, lesbian or bisexual. Coming out is not a one-time event, but a
lifelong process of identifying as gay, lesbian or bisexual to family, friends and other
significant members of one's social world. Each person's experience in coming out is unique
and the process always stimulates anxiety as well as provides challenging possibilities for
personal empowerment and emotional growth.
There are many resources available to people
coming out. A quick Google search for gay, lesbian or bisexual support services in your town will yield sources of support.
Does stigma still exist about homosexuality?
Don't we live in a more enlightened age? No. Fears and misunderstandings about homosexuality are wide spread and they present
daunting challenges to the development and maintenance of a positive self-image in gay,
lesbian and bisexual persons and often to their families as well. Homophobia is a term
that refers to the irrational fear and prejudice against homosexual people..
Despite the fact that attitudes have changed in the past twenty years, homosexuals are still a stigmatised group. Hate crimes are prevalent. Gay and lesbian adolescents are
often taunted and humiliated at school. Many professional persons and
employees in all occupations are still fearful of identifying as gay or lesbians in their work
settings.
The American Psychiatric Association
In 1992, the American Psychiatric Association recognised the power of the stigma against
homosexuality and issued the following statement:
"Whereas homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgment, stability,
reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities, the American Psychiatric
Association calls on all international health organizations and individual
psychiatrists in other countries, to urge the repeal in their own country of legislation
that penalized homosexual acts by consenting adults in private. And further the
APA calls on these organizations and individuals to do all that is possible to
decrease the stigma related to homosexuality wherever and whenever it may occur."
Such organisational recognition of homophobia has been important in changing attitudes
about homosexuality.
Is it possible to change one's sexual orientation ?
There is no published scientific evidence supporting the efficacy of reparative therapy as a
treatment to change one's sexual orientation, nor is it included in the APA's Task Force
Report, Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. More importantly, altering sexual orientation is
not an appropriate goal of psychiatric treatment. Some may seek conversion to
heterosexuality because of the difficulties that they encounter as a member of a stigmatised
group. Clinical experience indicates that those who have integrated their sexual orientation
into a positive sense of self-function at a healthier psychological level than those who have
not. Gay affirmative psychotherapy may be helpful in the coming out process, fostering a
positive psychological development and overcoming the effects of stigmatisation. A position
statement adopted by the Board in December 1998 said:
The American Psychiatric Association opposes any psychiatric treatment, such as
"reparative" or "conversion" therapy, which is based upon the assumption that
homosexuality per se is a mental disorder, or based upon a prior assumption that the
patient should change his/ her homosexual orientation."
