Homosexuality

Did you know? Gay and lesbian youth are _______ times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Gay and lesbian teens account for _______ percent of all completed suicides among adolescents.

What is sexual orientation? Sexual orientation is determined by the sex or sexes you are __________, __________, ___________, and ______________ to. Not fully understood Established before age 5?

Types of sexuals ___________ Individuals attracted to no other sex. People who are attracted to both sexes. Individuals attracted to the opposite sex

_____________ ____________ Individuals who are attracted to the same sex People whose gender identity is different from their birth biological sex. Sometimes they hormonally and/or surgically change their bodies to more fully match their fender identity. ____________ A person who challenges “traditional” gender roles including transsexuals and cross dressers.

Gay vs. Lesbian Gay Lesbian Term given to males who are attracted ____________ and ____________ to men Lesbian Term given to ___________ who are attracted sexually and emotionally to women

What causes homosexuality? No one really knows! There are many theories as to why some individuals are orientated towards homosexuality rather than heterosexuality but they are only speculations at this point in time. ____________ _________________________________

_____________ The basis behind the nature theory for homosexuality is that individuals are born with a certain ___________ makeup which predetermines their homosexual orientation.

______________ The nurture theory believes that one's ______________ and ______________ can predetermine one's sexual orientation.

Nature and Nurture Other scientists believe that homosexuality is a result of _________ nature and nurture. The question you must ask yourself is why is it important to determine why you are homosexual? No one asks why heterosexuals are "straight.”

Is homosexuality a disease? ______, homosexuality is _____ a disease. All major mental health organizations, including the ______________ ______________ Association (APA), have stated that homosexuality is not a ______________ disorder. Depression?

Depression Why is depression associated with homosexuality? ______________ How would you feel?

Can people change from gay to straight or the other way around? Regardless of their sexual orientation, people can choose how they behave and how they cope with their feelings. However, trying to be something you’re not can lead to stress, anxiety and depression.

Phobias ______________ Bias, dislike or fear of homosexuality especially in other, but also in oneself Based on fear and ignorance Ranges from name-calling to murder! Bias, dislike or fear of transgender people.

______________, Family, PFLAG ______________, Family, and ______________ , of ______________ and Gays

Click on picture above to go to the PFLAG website.

What is it? It is a national ______________ organization with over 250,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States National support, education and advocacy organization for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (______________ ) people, their families, friends and allies.

What do they do? PFLAG supports GLBT people, their families and friends through local PFLAG chapter help lines and support group meetings and locally and nationally produced resources. PFLAG educates families and provides public education on sexual orientation, gender identity and GLBT issues. PFLAG also advocates for ______________.

Local vs. National ______________ PFLAG activists work for change in their communities. PFLAG staff and volunteer leaders lobby for ______________ and ______________ .

It’s not a black and white issue anymore! HATE CRIMES Is defined as: crime that violates the victim's civil rights and that is motivated by hostility to the victim's ________, ________, creed, ________origin, sexual orientation, ________, , or ________ It’s not a black and white issue anymore!

Matthew Shepard 1977-1998 On October 6, 1998, 21-year-old college student Matthew Shepard was tied to a fence in Laramie, Wyoming, pistol-whipped, then left for dead in the freezing night.  He died six days later. On October 12, Matthew was declared dead at the age of 21.

Danny Overstreet On September 22, 2000, a man looking to "waste some faggots" entered a gay bar in Roanoke, Virginia and opened fire, killing Danny Overstreet, and injuring 6 others.

PFC Barry Winchell Pfc. Barry Winchell, 21, was beaten to death by fellow service members while sleeping in his cot on July 5, 1999 at Fort Campbell, Ky.  His Army colleagues thought (correctly) that he was gay, so they killed him.

RJ Warren On the fourth of July, 2000, JR Warren, 26, who was black and gay, was beaten to death by three men in West Virginia, then run over by a car to make it look like a hit and run.

Resources www.pflag.org ©HiTOPS Training Book. http://familydoctor.org/739.xml http://www.coolnurse.com/homosexuality.htm

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=hate%20crime http://www.hatecrime.org/index.html