The Double Life of Closeted Gays

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Imagine living your life pretending to be someone you are not. Of course hiding who you really are is going to have an effect on you in many ways. In “The Shadow Side of Everyday Life,” Zweig and Abrams suggest that every person has a shadow and “the shadow acts like a psychic immune system, defining what is self and what is not-self”(325). They also believe that our shadows contain dark qualities. When a homosexual person passes as straight, they suppress a dark shadow that is hidden from the world. Although, having a double life is often seen having a primarily psychological origin there are also social reasons that homosexuals choose that lifestyle. Laws such as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and same-sex marriage laws are some social causes that contribute to self-concealment. There are also psychological reasons such as family relationships and bullying that lead to living a double life. What can we do to stop this dilemma and make our society better? We can treat gays to stop being gay or inform society that being gay is not a choice depending on whether they chose that lifestyle or not. Social causes such as Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and same-sex marriage laws contribute to homosexuals choosing to hide their real self. In the military, many homosexual soldiers are being punished for not liking the opposite sex. In Burks article, “Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Victimization in the Military” he describes the struggles service members face. Burk explains that if a homosexual does not hide his sexual orientation than he or she will be discharged from the military. Between 1980 and 2009 over 32,000 service members were discharged due to their sexual-orientation. Also, sexual assault and sexual harassment is very common among service members... ... middle of paper ... ...ademic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2014. Destro, Robert A. "You Have The Right To Remain Silent": Does The U.S. Constitution Require Public Affirmation Of Same-Sex Marriage?." BYU Journal of Public Law 27.2 (2013): 397-440. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2014. Jenkins, William J. "Can Anyone Tell Me Why I'm Gay? What Research Suggests Regarding The Origins Of Sexual Orientation." North American Journal of Psychology 12.2 (2010): 279-295. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2014. LaSala, Michael C. "Lesbians, Gay Men, and Their Parents: Family Therapy for the Coming-Out Crisis." Family Process 39.1 (2000): 67-81. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2014. Srabstein, Jorge Carlos. "News Reports of Bullying-Related Fatal and Nonfatal Injuries in the Americas." Revista Panamericana De Salud Publica 33.5 (2013): 378-382. Academic Search Premier. Web. 7 May 2014.

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