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Similarity between gender identity and sexual orientation
Gender and sexuality that shapes a persons identity
Stereotypes and their effects
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Did you know that homosexuality is not a mental or emotional disorder? Homosexuality has become quite a controversial topics amongst our society. Most people who realize they are homosexual are too scared to admit to the public who they really are. Then you have others who are openly confident about their sexuality as gay or lesbian. This issue has become more and more talked about and has developed multiple media acknowledgements. Homosexuality can be broken down into several different views. For those who do not understand or are unfamiliar with why a person is homosexual tend to ask an array of questions. What makes you a homosexual? Can you change your sexuality? What does the Bible or other religions say about homosexuals? All of these questions can be answered to an extent. Now, not all people are homophobic. There are actually many people whom are not gay that support and advocate gay rights. Not to mention the many influential figures and leaders we have in our country who are openly homosexual. Even though gay marriage is not legal everywhere yet doesn’t mean homosexuals don’t live together happily, they can live and love just as if they were united by law. Scientists and psychologists are still baffled at what makes someone a homosexual. Is it a genetic phenomenon, a psychological disorder, or just a sexual preference?
There are a handful of people who have a voice in the media and society who express the upmost flamboyancy. One woman to be recognized due to her social acceptance and open, carefree outlook on her sexuality is Ms. Ellen DeGeneres. Ellen is a renowned comedian and producer and star host of her talk show, “The Ellen DeGeneres Show”. She has had several same sex relationships throughout the years but is n...
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...ogical Perspectives on Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Experiences. West Sussex, NY: Columbia University Press, 2003. 149. Print.
"Gays in the Military." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Web. 9 Dec. 2013. .
Harrub, Brad, Bert Thompson, and Dave Miller. "This is the Way God Made Me." Science vs. the "Gay Gene". Web. 9 Dec. 2013. .
"Same-Sex Marriage." Opposing Viewpoints Online Collection. Gale Opposing Viewpoints in Context, Web. 9 Dec. 2013. .
Siker, Jeffrey. "Homosexuality and Religion." Homosexuality and Religion: An Encyclopedia. Westport, CT: Greenwood Press, 2007. 1-11. Print.
The Holy Bible: King James version.. Minneapolis, Minn.: World Wide Publications, 1976. Print.
It is often found that the stereotypical “butch” and “femme” pairing are more visible than other lesbian relationships. However, this does not mean that they do not exist. The ever-growing popularity of the lesbian social sphere has symbolized both difficulties and effects of identifying with such a label. The label or identity itself, though distinctly separating lesbians from “normal” heterosexuals begins to exhibit pre-existing conflict experienced by gay males: “there’s always been something wrong (Aldrich, 38).” This quote implies the conditioned and ingrained belief that homosexuality’s “taboo” existence was more than just wrong, but distasteful and something that society should look down upon for being an “abnormality.” Sometimes, this social reality for lesbians made it hard for them to “come out the closet” and be visible. This experience is exemplified as “The repressed lesbian has a harder time of it, for she is less aware of her abnormality (Aldrich, 41).” Additionally, to be able to clearly and accurately identify “the lesbian is to meet the many women she is at close range; to see her against her various backgrounds, hear her sundry voices, and familiarize yourself with the diverse facades of her several lives (Aldrich, 42).” Here, the presence of the “double life” is demonstrated to further analyze the lack of privileges that the lesbian community had, including the social aspect of their
...n Duberman, and Martha Vicinus, eds. Hidden From History: Reclaiming the Gay & Lesbian past. New York: Penguin Group, 1990.
Malory, Marcia. "Homosexuality & Choice: Are Gay People 'Born This Way’." www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/10/23/homosexuality--choice-born-science_n_20033 . N.p., 25 Oct 2012. Web. 10 Apr 2014.
In July 2009, the Delhi High Court in India noted that “there is almost unanimous medical and psychiatric opinion that homosexuality is not a disease or a disorder and is just another expression of human sexuality.”12
The history of the gay rights movement has been a hard fought battle within the United States. In fact the first gay rights movement dates back to 1924 with the creation of The Society for Human Rights in Chicago, Illinois. It wasn’t until the 1960’s that gay rights started to make progress. In the year 1969 The Stonewall Riots took place when gay, lesbian, and transgender patrons of a New York bar were raided by the police. This forever changed the movement from isolated incidents to a world wide phenomenon.
Owens, Mackubin Thomas. “The Case Against Gays in the Military.” Wall Street Journal. 03 Feb 2010: A. 17. SIRS Researcher. Web. 29 Mar 2011.
In September 2011, the United States lifted the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (DADT), which restricted gay, lesbian, and bisexuals from openly serving in the military. This was the first time in American history in which people of every sexual orientation could serve openly (“11 Facts About,” n.d.). This was a momentous occasion for some and not so much for others. For those military members that had served in secret and those members that were firmly against gays and lesbians, this repeal had different meaning. Both groups contained members that have served in the military for years and were products of the Former President Bill Clinton’s 1993 “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. For many soldiers of this era, communication issues arose due to a pre-existing mentality, learned rules and regulations in services reinforced for two decades and the general cultural within combat related fields.
Gays in today’s society face many problems not only with the Media’s eyes, but also on college campuses. Young adults who self-identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual experience major stresses in managing their sexual orientation.
By analyzing my very own personal investment in the idea that heterosexuality is normal, I have realized that I am currently and that I used to deliberately present myself in a heterosexual persona to the world at large. Personally, when I was young, I used to be uncomfortable with women who broke the social norms of heteronormativity in public. I remember feeling anxious, and believing that one day soon society would perceive me as a divergent towards the norms because I hang out with women who didn’t present a heterosexual persona. I feared unspeakable things that would happen to me once I lost my privileges of being perceived as the ‘good’ heterosexual female. The lost of my social standing in society scared me; I was already a minority,
Halperin, David. "Is There a History of Sexuality?." The Lesbian and Gay Studies Reader. Ed. Henry
Paul Mountjoy wrote the article “Modern science says homosexuality is not a choice” and states: “The question of whether homosexuality is a choice remains on the front lines of criticisms, as many in common society believe one chooses to be lesbian, gay or bisexual (LGB). However, 40 years of study indicates homosexuality is not a personal choice. The APA has declared LBG as not a mental illness or disorder with no identifiable dissimilar psychopathology, as both heterosexual and homosexual behaviors are normal aspects of human sexuality” (Mountjoy, Paul, Washington Times). This article fully states that not only is being homosexual isn’t a disease, but also that there is no choice in being straight, gay, or even bisexual. That they are normal aspects of human nature. They said there is “no identifiable dissimilar psychopathology”, meaning that it is normal to be gay or
At one point homosexuality was considered to be a psychological disorder. Although the American Psychological Association states, “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.” According to Rita Mae Brown, speech, 28 August 1982, “No government has the right to tell its citizens when or whom to love. The only queer people are those who don't love anybody (Quotes on Homosexuality).” Kathleen Melonakos, founder of Delaware Family Foundation, wants to know how it’s not considered a mental disorder. Considering that homosexuality involves a life threatening behavior with an addictive component which has serious health implications. “That word "lesbian" sounds like a disease. And straight men know because they're sure that they're the cure,” Denise McCanles (Quotes on Homosexuality).
Koebler, J. (2012, December 11). Scientists May Have Finally Unlocked Puzzle of Why People Are Gay. US News. Retrieved November 16, 2013, from http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/12/11/scientists-may-have-finally-unlocked-puzzle-of-why-people-are-gay
Szymanski, Dawn, Barry Chung, and Kimberly Balsam. ?Psychosocial Correlates of Internalized Homophobia in Lesbians.? Measurement & Evaluation in Counseling & Development Apr 2001: 27-34 Academic Search Elite. EBSCOhost. SCCC Library, St. Peters. 18 Sept 2001 .
Sexual orientation is the preferred term used when referring to an individual's physical and or emotional attraction to the same and or opposite sex. Heterosexual, bisexual, homosexual and pansexual are all sexual orientations. An individual's gender identity and expression is distinct from their sexual orientation. Throughout life as the individual explores the world around them, they are shaped by the unique experiences and influences that are imparted upon them. All people experience life subjectively therefore there is no monolithic way of viewing or defining one’s sexual identity, however, there are particular experiences that may shape and develop specific characteristics or tendencies that a group of people may share. Andrew Sullivan addresses this very issue in his 1995 book, Virtually Normal: An Argument about Homosexuality. In the prologue, titled “What is a Homosexual?” Sullivan ponders what exactly composes a homosexual life and why certain environmental factors are fundamental and exclusive to the homosexual experience. He sees self-control/subjugation as a crucial part of all human experience, however, he considers the homosexual (more broadly, the LGBTQ) experience to be unique in that early on they learn to make sexual/emotional distinctions out of a need for survival. They learn to function within the parameter of certain social rules in order to blend and eventually this becomes a sort of second nature that is hard to break.