Homosexual Point Of View As Straight People example essay topic

Social psychologists have studied the different attitudes heterosexual people have towards homosexuals. The purpose of this essay is to delve into the facts that pertain to people's thoughts on homosexuality. Different people have different opinions depending on their age, where they are from, upbringing and religious affiliations. Different groups have studied this subject and have very differing opinions dependent on their religious perspectives. Some argue that homosexuality is wrong and should not be practiced and others say that it is not a choice. This difference of opinions leads to homosexuals being scorned by some sects of society.

The viewpoints needed to accept homosexuality as a part of human nature is hard to acquire. Some people are raised to believe that homosexuality is a crime as bad as adultery and that homosexuality is a personal choice while others believe that it is something you learn to be. These and other attitudes will be discussed in the following pages. Homosexuality is not a new phenomenon. There have been instances of homosexuality as ancient as Greek mythology but the eyes of society it is a new problem. Individuals are persecuted because of their sexual orientation.

In society today being gay means that there is something wrong with you. Different groups have different opinions on the subject. Christians generally have a strong belief that homosexuality is a personal choice as stated in this quote from Linda Bowles PhD, "There is no scientific proof that homosexuality is genetic. There is no scientific basis for viewing homosexuality as anything other than an acquired sexual dysfunction". Christians tend to believe that being gay is not a problem one is born with but one develops as they mature.

Other groups such as biologists and researchers believe homosexuality is a genetic or biological problem. .".. Exposure to higher levels of male sex hormones in the womb can help make a person lesbian or gay... ". means that there may be a biological problem rather than a psychological problem. In recent years studies have been conducted to find whether homosexuality was a mental illness or a biological disease. Homosexuality has proven hard to classify with both sides of the mental - biological debate finding new evidence to support their case.

People that support the mental illness side of the argument believe that homosexuality is something one grows into and not something that one is born into. Dr. Joel Gelernter of Yale University said when speaking on the experiments to prove that homosexuality was a genetic disease, "All were announced with great fanfare; all were greeted un skeptically in the popular press; all are now in disrepute". 1 The belief that homosexuality is a mental illness leads the people that believe this to believe that it can be cured by a traditional method like psychotherapy. Some of this sect believes that God would not intentionally create homosexual individuals, "the most fundamental lie is the lie that homosexuals are born that way". 1 Since they believe this then homosexual people become gay through their choices and actions. Homosexuality is a choice that one has.

For this reason being gay is a sin because it goes against Christian morality since those that are gay can not be married to another gay person. All different types of opinions are held within the Christian community. Linda Bowles, a firm supporter in Christian laws, believes, "There is no scientific basis for viewing homosexuality as anything other than an acquired sexual dysfunction". While Ann Shepard, creator of the Homosexuality: Common Questions & Statements Addressed website, believes "Since homosexuality is not a disease or disorder, there is nothing to cure". The extreme conservatives of the bible believe that God wouldn't make gay individuals, while the left wing Christians believe that God made everybody different. From one extreme where it is an absolute sin to be gay, to another where being gay is the same as being black or having red hair, it is just the way one is born.

Historically, color of skin and red hair has been the basis for cruelty. It was socially constructed, as both of those traits are genetic. All humans differ genetically and are different in appearance. Social opinions on this topic are strong and it takes an open mind to see all the different possibilities there are for one to be gay.

It is very hard to change the opinion of someone that believes in Adam and Eve; it is equally hard to change their opinions on homosexuality. These attitudes have changed though. People do shift their viewpoints and are able to see that it may be a biological disease rather than a choice. Others people that maintain their belief that homosexuality is a choice. Linda Bowles states "Homosexuals are made, and they can be unmade."Recent studies suggest that sexual orientation has a genetic or biological component, and is probably determined before or shortly after birth. Like heterosexuals, gays and lesbians discover their sexuality as a process of maturing, they are not recruited, seduced or taught to be homosexual".

It can be inferred that no person would make the choice to be gay so homosexuality must have a biological or genetic promoter. People would not make the choice to go against their parents, friends, and society to be gay. Research has been done to show that after a homosexual person realizes that they are gay they go through a period of angst that lasts for about 6 months. All people would like to be accepted for who they are but gay people are not. For this reason no one would want to be gay. To be one self they would have to come to terms with their homosexuality and accept that being socially persecuted is the only way to be truly satisfied with who they are.

A homosexual person must realize that they can be happy by declaring that they are openly gay. To do this one must have the strength to persevere through some harassment and people saying hurtful remarks to them or about gay people as a whole. They can enjoy their lives the way they think is right by doing this. The general public believes in the myths that surround gay people.

"You can spot a gay or lesbian person by the way they act and dress", is a myth held by a certain groups of people. Some people that reside in Jayhawk Tower C, a dorm located on the Kansas University campus, believe that. Players on the KU football team believe that gay males have higher voices and wear pink clothing or gay females are tomboys and feminist man haters. These preconceptions are wrong. There is no one single gay lifestyle.

Heterosexual people live in all different ways and straight people have feminists and men that wear pink. Many people are scared of gay people, and do not know how to act around them. "If it were the case that a heterosexual could truly understand same-sex attraction, and all that goes with it, then I submit that he would not view it negatively. Then he would easily accept the co-existence of this different category of persons on the basis of a realization that it is merely an expression of harmless and edifying love between consenting persons - something which, on reflection, should be acceptable to all".

It requires an open mind to accept that gay people are simply another group of people that have different sexual preferences. It is difficult for a heterosexual person to see from a homosexual point of view as straight people have been heterosexual all their lives and were raised in straight society. Being straight is the norm. Had gay parents raised them they could see that it was not a sinful choice but simply an emotional / sexual preference that was different from the norm. People that are opposed to homosexuality are because of their upbringing or themselves being afraid of homosexual thoughts they themselves may have. If a child is raised to not respect gays or to believe that the bible says it is wrong to be gay then the child will most likely be against homosexuality.

If a teenage has homosexual thoughts and is accepting of them that teenager may be more against Region affects the view on gay people. Many people in the Mid West are strongly against homosexuality. "Consistent with findings from public opinion surveys, they have revealed higher levels of sexual prejudice among individuals who are older, less educated, living in the US South or Midwest, and living in rural areas". 6 Mid Westerners tend to be more religious than those on the coasts. They lead a more tradition lifestyle rather than a life with the cutting edge fashion and social ideas of places like New York and Los Angeles. In Vancouver, British Columbia being homosexual is not something that is wrong.

It is more socially acceptable in Vancouver because their ideas on homosexuality have progressed to the point that they realize homosexuality is not a disease but simply a way of living. They accept that gay people are who they are and should be free to love who they wish. In Europe homosexuality has also been accepted the way it has in Vancouver. "Most adults in the United States hold negative attitudes toward homosexual behavior, regarding it as wrong and unnatural". Many people from the United States still believe that homosexuality is still wrong though.

"If a person is born into a culture where heterosexuality is predominant in all contexts and if it permeates family life, the media, the religions, and legislation, then the biological tendency for a heterosexual to react negatively towards homosexuality is reinforced by the society around him". 3 Many people are gay in these areas but tolerance is certainly lower than it would be on the west coast of North America or cities in Europe where society is more accepting of it. People are being raised aware of homosexuality but not necessarily being told what it truly is. Adolescent boys use "gay" as a putdown. Some teenage males call homosexuals "faggots" and hate them. One example is a student who does not believe being gay is something one is born with.

This student also hates gay people for the stereotype that they have, the high voice, girl styled clothing and perky demeanor. He also hates them for "always" being so public about their gayness. Not all gay people fall into this stereotype. "The majority of gay people don't flaunt their sexuality. As a matter of fact, many go to great lengths to hide their sexual orientation". 3 Homosexuals do not wish to be possibly scorned by their friends so they tend to hide who they truly are.

They attempt to fit into the norm. Gay people seem just like other people and attempt to be part of society as much as possible. This homophobia exists though in males after puberty when they start to reach sexual maturity. "The fact is that many heterosexuals do not feel accepting towards homosexuality. Why is that? Because they cannot truly understand homosexuality, as it is a trait of some human beings that they have not themselves experienced, and hence they evaluate it on purely emotional grounds.

That is to say, they hear "homosexuality" and proceed to imagine themselves in a situation of homoeroticism, possibly their kissing or having anal sex with some ugly man, to which their feelings respond strongly and negatively. They experience disgust at this thought experiment. And that is no surprise, since their nature is wired so as to feel erotically attracted only towards persons of the opposite sex". Males of all ages, especially to older men who have never known a gay person, detest the idea of anal sex with another man. Thus this homophobia will stay with older people until they die. The younger people have the opportunity to change though.

I have a large amount of homosexual friends. I can easily talk with them about everyday things and socially relevant subjects such as their opinions on how the world treats them. I have a friend named Andy who is 39 years old. He has been openly gay for about 15 years. When he was in university he dated a girl for almost 4 years and his family urged him to propose to her so he did.

She accepted the proposal and they were to be married in 6 months but the closer Andy got to the wedding day the more sick he felt. He knew he could not go through with the wedding. He talked with his bride to be and she accepted that they would not marry. Andy was relieved but did not know what did keep him from marrying the girl of his dreams. He then realized his was gay. This was a realization that stunned Andy and his family.

He did not want to be gay at all. He wished to be normal. He tried all of the techniques that were supposed to remove the same sex attraction including shock therapy and none of them worked. In the end he and his family had to accept that he was gay.

Andy accepted this, went on with his life, and is now living happily with a male partner. I have a very personal view of gays. I have a sister that is gay. She is my sister so I unconditionally love her. Even if she was not I would still care for her as much as I do now because she is a very good person. I cannot understand why people insist on hurling insults and "gay bashing" as being gay is just the way one is born.

People have very different opinions on what is right about homosexuality but I know that nobody would make the personal choice to be gay unless there was some major dysfunction in their lives. Of the gay people I know none have just been with just males or just females. I believe it takes time for one to realize one's sexual orientation. People take time to discover themselves and that is why I believe being gay is not a personal choice. Being gay is something that you are born with and it just takes time to realize it. I do not hold any prejudice against anyone that is human.

We all have our own strengths and weaknesses. We all have different genetic traits. It is impossible for anyone to be the same as another. For that reason I accept all people for who they are and what they do. Homosexuality is simply a different viewpoint than the one that heterosexual perceive.

There is no problem with homosexuality. People should not concern themselves with what others do if it does not affect them. Everybody should just mind his or her own business and love whom they choose to love. Homosexuality will become part of humanity and will end up being an everyday thing with the people that participate in it not being persecuted for their beliefs or their actions.

Bibliography

Richard Horton, PhD, Assault on Gay America: A 'Gay Gene?' : Is Homosexuality Inherited? ; web Jan Wright, PhD, Ten Myths About Homosexuality; web Ann Shepherd, Homosexuality: Common Questions & Statements Addressed; web Linda Bowles, PhD, Homosexuality - We " re Conned Into Believing That Deviancy is Natural web Daryl J. Bem, PhD, Theory of how sexual orientation develops; web Sharon Lerner, PhD, The Village Voice: Features: Straightness 101; web Jeff Donn, AP, Homosexuality - A genetic basis? ; web Dr. Gregory M. Here, The Psychology of Sexual Prejudice; web.