What Is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual Orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectional attraction to
another person. It is easily distinguished from other components of
sexuality including biological sex, gender identity (the psychological
sense of being male or female) and the social gender role (adherence to
cultural norms for feminine and masculine behavior).
Sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality and includes various forms of bisexuality.
Bisexual persons can experience sexual, emotional and affectional
attraction to both their own sex and the opposite sex. Persons with a
homosexual orientation are sometimes referred to as gay (both men and
women) or as lesbian (women only).
Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to feelings and
self-concept. Persons may or may not express their sexual orientation
in their behaviors.
What Causes a
Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation?
There are numerous
theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation; most
scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result
of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological
factors. In most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early
age. There is also considerable recent evidence to suggest that
biology, including genetic or inborn hormonal factors, play a significant
role in a person's sexuality. In summary, it is
important to recognize that there are probably many reasons for a person's
sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different
people.
Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
No, human beings
can not choose to be either gay or straight. Sexual orientation emerges
for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience.
Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists
do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can
be voluntarily changed.
Can
Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?
No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some
homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation
through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or
religious groups to try and do so. The
reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require
treatment and is not changeable.
However, not all gay, lesbian, and
bisexual people who seek assistance from a mental health
professional want to change their sexual orientation. Gay, lesbian,
and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out
process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into
therapy for the same reasons and life issues that bring straight
people to mental health professionals.
What
About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?
Some therapists who
undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they have been able to
change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual.
Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors that cast
doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from
organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns
homosexuality. Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented.
For example, treatment outcome is not followed and reported overtime
as would be the standard to test the validity of any mental health
intervention.
The American
Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies and their
potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council of
Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition to
homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased
treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to
deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that
such therapy would take place in a professionally neutral
environment absent of any social bias.
Is
Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?
No. Psychologists,
psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that
homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem.
Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has
shown that homosexuality, in and itself,is not associated with
mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality
was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health
professionals and society had biased information. In the past the
studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in
therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined
data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that
homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.
In 1973 the
American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new,
better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official
manual that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the
American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the
removal. For more than 25
years, both associations have urged all mental health professionals to
help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people still associate
with homosexual orientation.
Can Lesbians,
Gay Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?
Yes. Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and
by heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the
two groups of children in four critical areas: their intelligence,
psychological adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with
friends. It is also important to realize that a parent's sexual orientation
does not dictate his or her children's.
Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that gay men
have more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children.
There is no evidence to suggest that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to molest children.
Why Do Some
Gay Men, Lesbians and Bisexuals Tell People About Their Sexual
Orientation?
Because sharing
that aspect of themselves with others is important to their mental health.
In fact, the process of identity development for lesbians, gay men and
bisexuals called "coming out", has been found to be strongly related
to psychological adjustment—the more positive the gay, lesbian, or
bisexual identity, the better one's mental health and the higher one's
self-esteem.
Why Is the
"Coming Out" Process Difficult for Some Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual People?
For some gay and
bisexual people the coming out process is difficult, for others it is not.
Often lesbian, gay and bisexual people feel afraid, different, and alone
when they first realize that their sexual orientation is different
from the community norm. This is particularly true for people
becoming aware of their gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation as a
child or adolescent, which is not uncommon. And, depending on their
families and where they live, they may have to struggle against
prejudice and misinformation about homosexuality. Children and
adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects
of bias and stereotypes. They may also fear being rejected by family,
friends,co-workers, and religious institutions. Some gay people have
to worry about losing their jobs or being harassed at school if their
sexual orientation became well known. Unfortunately, gay,
lesbian and bisexual people are at a higher risk for physical assault and
violence than are heterosexuals. Studies done in California in the mid
1990s showed that nearly one-fifth of all lesbians who took part in
the study and more than one-fourth of all gay men who participated
had been the victim of a hate crime based on their sexual orientation. In
another California study of approximately 500 young adults, half of all
the young men participating in the study admitted to some form of
anti-gay aggression from name-calling to physical violence.
What Can Be
Done to Overcome the Prejudice and Discrimination the Gay Men, Lesbians,
and Bisexuals Experience?
Research has found
that the people who have the most positive attitudes toward gay men,
lesbians and bisexuals are those who say they know one or more gay,
lesbian or bisexual person well—often as a friend or co-worker. For
this reason, psychologists believe negative attitudes toward gay
people as a group are prejudices that are not grounded in actual
experiences but are based on stereotypes and prejudice.
Furthermore,
protection against violence and discrimination is very important,
just as it is for other minority groups. Some states include
violence against an individual on the basis of his or her sexual
orientation as a "hate crime" and 10 U.S. states have laws
against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Why is it Important
for Society to be Better Educated About
Homosexuality?
Educating all
people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely to diminish
anti-gay prejudice. Accurate information about homosexuality is especially
important to young people who are first discovering and seeking to
understand their sexuality—whether homosexual, bisexual, or
heterosexual. Fears that access to such information will make more people
gay have no validity—information about homosexuality does not make
someone gay or straight.
Are All Gay and
Bisexual Men HIV Infected?
No. This is a
commonly held myth. In reality, the risk of exposure to HIV is related to
a person's behavior, not their sexual orientation. What's important to
remember about HIV/AIDS is it is a preventable disease through the
use of safe sex practices and by not using drugs.
Where Can I Find
More Information About Homosexuality?
APA Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns
Program
750 First Street, NE. Washington, DC 20002
Email: LGBC
National Gay and Lesbian Task
Force
2320 17th St. Washington, DC 20009 (202) 332-6483
Email: NGLTF
Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and
Gays
1726 M Street, NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036
(202) 467-8180
Email: PFLAG
Sexuality Information and Education Council
of the United States
130 W 42nd St., Ste. 350 New York, NY
10036 (212)-819-9770
Email: SIECUS