homosexuality - what is it and what are the myths around it

Homosexual orientation means not only sexual attraction, but also emotional attachment to one's gender. Psychology and medicine have long classified homosexuality as a pathology. Only in 1990, the World Health Organization removed homosexuality from the list of diseases and health problems. Currently, each of the sexual orientations is equal, and there can be no question of dividing into the best and the worst. At least they shouldn't be.

1. What is homosexuality

We are born with a certain predisposition, including in terms of our psychosexual orientation. There are three sexual orientations:

• bisexuality,
• heterosexuality,
• homosexuality.

Until now, they were considered completely separable. At present, some psychologists believe that psychosexual orientation it is a continuum that ranges from heterosexuality to bisexuality to homosexuality. These are extreme values, and between them there are intermediate values.

Any psychosexual orientation includes:

• sexual preference,
• sexual behavior and needs,
• sexual fantasies,
• emotions,
• self-identification.

Consequently, the homosexual it is not someone who has chosen sexual contact with a person of the same sex at least once in their life. Psychosexual orientation is more than sex, it is also emotions and self-identification. Homosexuality means that a person experiences sexual attraction and sexual attachment to persons of the same sex. It's not a disease. You cannot "get" a homosexual. Therefore, homosexuals should not be treated as tuberculosis or lepers.

We are born with certain conditions that also regulate our sexual orientation and we cannot change it - these are the causes of homosexuality.

Due to the growing awareness and tolerance of homosexuals, they are already recognized in some countries. same-sex marriage or same-sex partnerships. Such relationships can legally include:

• Denmark (civil partnerships),
• Norway (civil partnerships),
• Sweden (civil partnerships),
• Iceland (civil partnerships),
• Netherlands (married couples),
• Belgium (married couples),
• Spain (married couples),
• Canada (married couples)
• South Africa (married couples),
• some US states: Massachusetts, Connecticut (married couples).

2. Myths about homosexuality

Some stereotypes that, despite increasing tolerance, still persist in some environments are not true: homosexuality is not a pathological condition that can be treated. However, the "treatment" of homosexuality was not only practiced, but is still being practiced in Poland.

And this is despite criticism from psychologists, sexologists and psychiatrists who do not recognize any psychosexual orientation as a disease or disorder. An attempt to change this direction is an intervention in the personality and psychological integrity of a person.

The most common myths about homosexuality: »

homosexuals only think about sex Homosexuality is not a deviation. homosexuals think about sex as much as heterosexuals. It is harmful for them to see them only through the prism of their sexuality.

homosexual pedophiles - pedophilia - a deviation, which consists in causing moral and physical harm to children in the name of their own pleasure. homosexuality has nothing to do with pedophilia. Half of the men who rape children are heterosexual, and the rest have no attraction to adults.

from gay to transvestite - this is not true, homosexual orientation does not violate the sense of gender identity. A transvestite is a person who internally identifies with the opposite sex. They often undergo sex reassignment surgery. Homosexuals do not have such needs.

A child raised by a same-sex couple will become homosexual - as already mentioned, we are born with certain predispositions, including in relation to our orientation. There are no studies that confirm that being raised in an all-male family causes the wards to be homosexual.

Homosexuality treatmentand bisexuality are considered in conversion therapy (or reparative therapy). It uses:

• elements of behavioral therapy,
• elements of psychodynamic therapy,
• elements of psychoanalysis.

3. homosexuality and correctness

It is now believed that the more "politically correct" term is "homosexual" or "homosexual". homosexual is a negative word. If we are talking about a woman, you can use the word "lesbian", if we are talking about a man - "gay".

It also depends on what bothers the person and what doesn't. It happens that a homosexual will call himself a “fag” insultingly, but most often this is a mockery of himself, and we ourselves should not use such terms in relation to him (unless it bothers him at all and he can laugh at such slogans).

homosexual orientation often met with intolerance from people with homophobic views, as well as certain political and religious circles. On the other hand, there is a queer theory that looks at this issue from the perspective of gays and lesbians themselves.

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Article reviewed by an expert:

Magdalena Bonyuk, Massachusetts

Sexologist, psychologist, adolescent, adult and family therapist.