Sexual Orientation Same-Sex Marriage Coming Out

INTRODUCTION  Sexual orientation refers to the sex of the individuals to whom a person is romantically, emotionally, and sexually attracted  Heterosexual or “straight” refers to individuals who are primarily attracted to members of the opposite sex  Homosexual, gay, and lesbian apply to those whose primary attraction is to members of their own sex  Bisexual refers to people who are attracted to members of both sexes

Introduction  Medicine, psychiatry, and religion were used to create the laws regarding sexuality. Views about homosexuality expanded from the realms of sin and crime to include that of pathology  This view was considered “progressive” because a sick person was less blameful than a sinner or criminal  Even within medicine and psychiatry homosexuality was not universally viewed as a pathology  Krafft-Ebing described it as a degenerative sickness  Ellis (1901) argued that homosexuality was inborn and therefore not immoral, that it was not a disease  Freud's believed all human beings were innately bisexual, and that they become heterosexual or homosexual as a result of their experiences with parents and others. He agreed a homosexual orientation should not be viewed as a form of pathology  In 1973, the weight of empirical data, coupled with changing social norms and the development of a politically active gay community in the United States, led the Board of Directors of the American Psychiatric Association to remove homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM).American Psychiatric Association

Sexual orientation as defined by Alfred Kinsey  One of the earliest attempts at defining sexual orientation undertaken by Alfred Kinsey  He conducted large surveys of Americans asked them about aspects of their sexual practices  At this time homosexuality was concealed and rarely discussed, much less written about  Kinsey reported that very few people could be classified as totally heterosexual or totally homosexual  He believed that most people fall along a continuum  He found that most people who identified themselves as heterosexual had at least some same sex experiences (fantasies, dreams, thoughts, emotions, and behaviors)  His findings also applied to those who perceived themselves as homosexual

Bisexuality  A person may be emotionally, psychologically, and physically attracted to members of either sex  Many believe that bisexuals are trying to hide the fact that they are gay or lesbian, or are “on their way” to coming out as gay or lesbian  This group has been given little attention in scientific research, and have been brushed aside by both heterosexual and homosexual groups  Bisexuals also subject to prejudice and discrimination  They are often pushed to “pick a lane” or “choose a team”  Bisexuals are not more highly sexed or promiscuous than any other group of people, nor is their orientation about being more indiscriminate in sex partners  They may define themselves as more attracted to women than to men or vice versa  Or they may feel an equal attraction to both sexes

Non-heterosexual Orientations: Issues and Attitudes  Your sexual orientation is not determined by whom you have sex with and how you have it  One of the most common mistakes – stereotype – heterosexuals make about nonheterosexuals is defining them by their sexual behavior  Example, heterosexuals are not straight only because they engage in sexual behaviors with members of the opposite sex  Sexual orientation is about who you are; the sex of the people you want to date, fall in love with, have a romantic relationship with, spend the rest of your life with; and the sex of the person you want to marry

Is sexual orientation a choice?  Heterosexual people are rarely, if ever, asked if their sexual orientation was a choice  This question seems to be reserved for gays and lesbians, and it is nearly always asked by a heterosexual  Most heterosexuals say, “I didn’t choose to be straight, it’s just who I am”  Why is it difficult for heterosexuals to accept this same answer from non-heterosexuals?  Currently there is more support in the media regarding sexual orientation (e.g. “Born this Way”

Do the origins of sexual orientation matter?  Many experts question the importance of finding the answer  The underpinnings of the search for a cause of sexual orientation lie in widespread prejudiced attitudes and hostile actions targeted at gays and lesbians  Negative attitudes and acts are based on four basic, unenlightened, and erroneous assumptions about homosexuality: 1. It is immoral and sinful 2. It is unnatural 3. It is a chosen behavior, therefore can be “unchosen” 4. It is potentially “contagious”  The question to consider is why are we, as a society, so emotionally invested in this research?

Coming out  Regardless of how sexual orientation develops, nonheterosexuals face a life event that straight people never imagine – coming out  Nonheterosexuals spend a large portion of their lives hiding their true sexual orientation from everyone, sometimes including themselves  Living such a lie and hiding their true sexuality is extremely stressful and emotionally unbearable

Coming out  They make the often painful and difficult decision to come out  Heterosexuals don’t feel the need to hide their sexuality  They are able to simply be who they are – at least as it relates to their sexual orientation  Heterosexuals often ask why gays and lesbians need to come out at all  The pain and frustration of living a lie is usually far more difficult and more stressful then dealing with the potentially adverse consequences of coming out

When do people come out?  Coming out is not typically a single moment, single decision, or a single act  It is a process that takes place gradually over time  Some people may realize that they have a nonheterosexual orientation in adolescence when puberty occurs and individuals begin to have erotic feelings toward others  Most self-aware gays and lesbians are clear that they always knew they were “different” from the other kids for as long as they can remember

Extra credit opportunity  Up to 10 points – type a 2 page paper discussing the arguments for and against gay marriage. Address the specific views and issues by using your textbook, lecture notes, and other valid sources of information. Only include your opinion and views in the last section of your paper.