OP: 15 Frequently Asked Questions

Information Provider: Victoria Edwards

Friends Project in Seattle Washington.

Hetric Martin Institute has fact sheets as does the
Diversity Works,of Pelham MA.

HOMOSEXUALITY - 15 QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS HOMOSEXUALITY?

Sexual attraction primarily to members of the same sex.

2. WHO IS A HOMOSEXUAL PERSON?

A person who has a sexual attraction primarily to
members of the same sex is a homosexual person. A woman
who is sexually attracted to primarily women is called a
lesbian. A man who is sexually attracted to men is
called a gay man.

3. DOES HAVING FEELINGS TOWARDS MEMBERS OF ONE'S OWN SEX
MAKE ONE A HOMOSEXUAL PERSON?

No. Many boys and girls during early childhood and
adolescence have same-sex sexual attractions or
experiences but are not lesbian or gay. Many adults also
have same-sex sexual attractions or experiences but do
not consider themselves lesbians or gay men.

4. WHAT DETERMINES A PERSON'S SEXUAL ORIENTAION?

It is not known what causes homosexuality or
heterosexuality. One theory is that sexual orientation
is determined pre-natally. Another theory is that it is
determined after birth by environmental factors. In any
case, one's sexual orientaion is said to be established
by a very early age.

5. CAN ONE'S SEXUAL ORIENTATION BE CHANGED?

Since homosexuality is merely one of the variations of
sexual behavior a better question might be "Should
homosexual people change? If so, why?" Studies have
indicated that attempts to change one's sexual
orientation are usually unsuccessful and often lead to
increased depression and suicide. Statistic show that
the majority of homosexuals do not see any reason to
change. Some, however, have found that accepting their
sexual orientation has been difficult given the
prejudice that lesbians and gay me have had to deal
with. Social Scientists have begun examining the effect
of the distress that arises from this kind of prejudice.

6. HOW MANY LESBIANS AND GAY MEN ARE THERE?

Although figures vary, studies have estimated that 10%
of the population is lesbian or gay for a significant
part of their lives. It is difficult to determine exact
percentages as many of those who are fearful of
prejudice hide their sexual orientation.

7. CAN LESBIANS AND GAY MEN BE EASILY IDENTIFIED?

While you may be able to identify some lesbians and gay
men, most lesbians and gay men are, contrary to popular
belief, indistinguishable from other people. There is no
single lesbian or gay lifestyle. Lesbians and gay men
lead diverse lives and work in all occupations in every
part of the country and the world. Lesbians and gay men
are singles and committed couples; intellectuals and
jocks; rich, middle class, and poor; urban, suburban,
and rural; black, Latino, Asian-Pacific, and white.

8. WHAT KIND OF JOBS DO HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE HOLD?

Lesbians and gay men work in all occupations and are
part of a variety of professions. Many lesbian and gay
men take precautions not to reveal their sexual
orientation as even their efficient and effective job
performance is no protection from harassment and
prejudice. Therefore, we may not see a great evidence of
lesbians or gay men in so called traditional jobs, as
they may not feel safe in being open. For example,
lesbians and gay men are in the military although the
armed services have an offical stand discriminating
against them. In a number of states it is not illegal to
discriminate on the basis of sexual oreintation.

9. DO LESBIANS AND GAY MEN EXPERIENCE DISCRIMINATION?

Like many other minority groups who are perceived to be
"different", lesbian and gay men experience
misunderstanding and prejudice. Name calling,
harrassment, physical violence and discrimination in
employment and housing are a few of the ways in which
lesbian and gay men are mistreated.

10. IS HOMOSEXUALITY A MENTAL ILLNESS?

No. In 1973 the following resolution was passed by The
American Psychiagric Assoction, Board of Trustees.
"Homosexuality, per se implies no impairment in
judgment, stability, reliablity, or general social or
vocational capabilities. Further, (we) urge all mental
health professionals to take the lead in removing the
stigma of mental illness associated with homosexual
orientation."

In many societies, homosexuality is considered quite
normal. This was the case in Ancient Greece and Rome
(both during their rises and declines in power), in many
Native American cultures (where lesbians and gay men are
influential tribal and religous leaders), and many
present-day societies such as The Netherland, Denmark,
Sweden and Thailand.

11. ARE HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE CHILD MOLESTERS?

Pedophilia, sexual attraction to children, should never
be confused with homosexuality. Many studies have
documented that the overwhelming majority of child
molesters are heterosexual men.

12. ARE HOMOSEXUAL PEOPLE PROMISCUOUS?

Not necessarily. Many lesbians and gay men are single
and many are in long-term relationships. In a study by
Masters and Johnson, the differences in sexual
promiscuity where between men and women regardless of
sexual orientation. Lesbians and heterosexual women were
generally more inclined to be emotionally committed
before becoming sexually intimate. Gay and heterosexual
men, on the other hand, generally evidence less
emotional involvement before becoming sexually intimate.

13. WILL CLOSE PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN ADOLESCENTS
AND ADULTS OF THE SAME SEX LEAD TO HOMOSEXUALITY?

No. This fear of intamate friendships, particularly
between males, has had negative effects on the mental
well-being and relationship of men with each other.
Displays of affection between men are customary in many
cultures of the world. It is also very common among men
and women who are heterosexual to express love and
affection for members of their same sex.

14. IS HOMOSEXUALITY AGAINST RELIGION?

Many of the world's religions do not condemn
homosexuality at all. Whithin the Judeo-Christian
tradition, theologians and biblical scholars continue to
difffer on the Bible's six passages that have been used
to condemn homosexual behavior. They agree on one thing,
however -- Jesus said absolutely nothing at all about
homosexuality. Numerous passages in the Bible do,
however condemn various heterosexual behaviors (divorse,
premarital sex, masturbation, and birth control).
As knowledge has expanded, religions have also often
expanded their horizons. For example, in the seventeenth
century, Galileo was imprisoned by the Catholic Church
for suggesting that the earth was not the center of the
universe. In the 19th century, Charles Darwin was
condemned for teaching the "blasphemous" theory that
humans evolved from animals. Before the Civil War, many
churches defended slavery on the basis that it was
condoned in the Bible.

Today, many religious organizations support full civil
rigths for lesbian and gay men, including the National
Council of Churches of Christ, the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations, the Unitarialn Universalist
Associaion, the Society of Friends (Quakers), and
others. The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches is a predominantly lesbian and gay
demonimation. In addition, the other denominations are
reevaluating their views on homosexuality.

15. IS AIDS A HOMOSEXUAL DISEASE?

No. AIDS (aquired immune deficiency syndrome) is not a
"homosexually-spread disease." Rather, it is a disease
spread by unprotected, unsafe sexual behavior,
homosexual and heterosexual. (Sharing needles can also
spread the virus.) In Africa, unprotected heterosexual
intercourse has been the prime mode of transmission.
Lesbians are the least at risk of infection with HIV
(human immunodeficiency virus), the virus associated
with AIDS, of any population group, heterosexual or
homosexual.

oberon

Posted: 30 Sep 23:54