The 10 most frequently asked questions about gay and homosexuality & bull; hello healthy

The campaign towards social equality in society is very dependent on educating facts and stopping the spread of misinformation about several conditions that experience discrimination, especially homosexual people - gay and lesbian.

One of the biggest challenges to helping people better understand LGBT is to try to understand the big idea, beyond the vast amount of ambiguous information that is circulating. In order to have a healthy dialogue on LGBT issues, it is important to end lies, stereotypes, myths and misconceptions.

What is homosexuality?

Homosexuality is emotional, romantic, intellectual, and / or sexual attraction to people of the same gender. The term homosexual has medical roots from the turn of the last century (early 1900s) and most people today usually use the terms gay and lesbian instead. "Gay" is generally used to describe men who are attracted to men, and "lesbian" for women who are attracted to women.

Is being gay normal?

Gay, lesbian, or transgender (LGBT) people are members of every community. They are diverse, come from all walks of life, and include people of all ages, races and ethnicities, socioeconomic status, and from all parts of the world. We all know a number of LGBT people, whether we realize it or not.

There are examples in various religious texts that can and have been used against homosexuality. Some religious leaders and movements choose to use it; others believe that these texts are a reflection of the social habits of the time, unrelated to LGBT identities and relationships as we know them today, and should not be translated literally into policies for contemporary times.

Same-gender behavior and gender fluidity are also noted to appear in the various animal kingdoms (penguins, dolphins, bison, geese, giraffes and primates; just a few of the many species that sometimes mate with same-sex partners) and from every culture known in the world (prehistoric rock paintings in South Africa and Egypt, Ancient Indian medical texts, and literature from the Ottoman regime, for example).

When does a person first learn that he is homosexual?

A person can become aware of their sexual orientation and gender identity at various moments in their life. While some people are aware of their sexual preferences from an early age, others only begin to understand their gender identity and sexual orientation in adulthood. It is important to note that there is not one thing / event that is experienced in life that can “make” a person gay, lesbian, or bisexual.

Although an event in life can help them become aware of their gender identity and sexual orientation, they do not need to experience sexual experiences to become aware of their sexual orientation. Likewise, a heterosexual man knows that he is attracted to women, even though he is still a virgin. Or a heterosexual woman knows that she is attracted to men, even if they are virgins. They just know. The same is the case with gays, lesbians and bisexuals.

What causes homosexuality?

The factors determining sexual orientation are complex phenomena. There is a growing understanding that humans have a basic sexuality that can be expressed in a variety of relationships: homosexual, bisexual and heterosexual. Although the cause is unknown, some researchers believe an individual's basic sexual orientation tends to appear at birth.

If I was a "normal" guy, can one day be gay?

Once established, sexual orientation and / or sexual identity tend not to change.

Many people think that homosexuality and heterosexuality are at opposite ends of the sexuality spectrum, with bisexuality in the middle. In reality, human sexuality is much more complex. For example, some men may perceive themselves as heterosexual but have a homosexual (be it intellectual, emotional, or platonic) attraction to other men. There are also a small number of men who seek only physical intimacy with other men. This can be considered purely sexual behavior and these people may not always identify themselves as gay. Likewise, many gay people do not need to experience physical intimacy with other gay men to demonstrate their sexual orientation.

Is homosexuality a psychiatric disorder?

The Association of Indonesian Mental Medicine Specialists (PDSKJI), reported by the Jakarta Post, classifies homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender as mental disorders, which are said to be cured through proper treatment. However, many large, separate, and recent studies have shown that sexual orientation occurs naturally.

In fact, research shows that attempts to change sexual orientation - called "conversion therapy" or "reparative therapy" - can be dangerous, and are linked to depression, suicide, anxiety, social isolation, and decreased capacity for intimacy. For this reason, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) no longer classifies lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender people as psychiatric disorders. Homosexuality was first listed in the DSM as a psychiatric condition in 1968, and was abolished in 1987.The World Health Organization (WHO) followed suit to eliminate homosexuality in 1992.

However, an individual who questions their sexual orientation may experience anxiety, uncertainty, confusion, and low self-esteem among many other emotions. When these emotions are not handled properly, they can lead to depression.

Is being gay a lifestyle choice?

Although some claim that being gay is an option, or that homosexuality is curable, the available scientific evidence is that same-sex attraction is in fact the result of both genetic and biological influences. Reporting from Time, the first major breakthrough against "homosexuality is a choice of life" was made by neuroscientist Simon LeVay in his 1991 study. He found that an area in the hypothalamus of the brain associated with sexuality, INAH3, was smaller in gay men and women than heterosexual people. The following year, UCLA researchers found an association in another area of ​​the brain associated with sexuality, the central portion of the sagittal section of the anterior commissure, 18 percent larger in gay men than in heterexual women and 34 percent greater when compared to “normal” men.

Genes and hormones have an influence on the formation of sexual orientation

No study has found a specific "gay gene" that is believed to make a person gay. But some genes can increase a person's chances of being gay. For example, reported by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), a 2014 study in the journal Psychological Medicine showed that a gene on the X chromosome (one of the sex chromosomes) called Xq28 and a gene on chromosome 8 appears to be found in a higher prevalence in gay men. The study, which involved more than 400 pairs of homosexual siblings, was followed by a 1993 report by geneticist Dean Hamer that suggested the existence of a "gay gene." this and a number of other studies suggest that genes play a role, though not necessarily, in determining sexual orientation. Furthermore, the study of twins shows that gene sequencing cannot be a complete explanation. For example, an identical twin of a gay man, despite having the same genome, only has a 20-50% chance of him being gay. And as with most traits determined genetically, it is possible that more than one gene plays a role.

There is other evidence that suggests exposure to certain hormones during fetal development also plays a role. A 2011 science review by Belgian researcher Jacques Balthazart published in the journal Endocrinology concluded that "homosexual subjects are, on average, exposed to atypical endocrine conditions during development," and that "significant endocrine changes during embryonic life often result in an increased incidence of homosexuality." That is why some have suggested that epigenetics may be involved. During development, chromosomes are subject to chemical changes that do not affect the nucleotide sequence but can turn genes on or off.

In addition, genetic and hormonal factors generally interact with environmental factors that have not been determined, although there is no concrete evidence that incorrect parenting, childhood trauma, or exposure to other gay individuals can lead to homosexuality.

Can I tell the difference between a man who is gay and not?

“Men who act in a feminine way are definitely gay. Masculine women with short haircuts and deep voices mean lesbian. " This is an assumption that is believed by many people.

Contrary to popular belief, you can't tell whether someone is homosexual or bisexual. This stereotype only applies to about 15% of gays and 5% of lesbians. This stereotype confuses the concept of sexual orientation (whether you prefer the same gender or the opposite sex partner) with gender roles (indicating masculine or feminine behavior).

Lesbians, gays, and bisexuals have a variety of personalities, in the way of dress, behavior, and lifestyle. It's the same with heterosexual people. Despite this diversity, stereotypes about sissy men or masculine women persist. Although some gay people reflect these characteristics, the majority of lesbians and gay men do not conform to these stereotypes. On the other hand, many "female" men and masculine women identify themselves as heterosexual. There are also some heterosexual (straight) individuals who may behave in ways that are considered stereotypically gay or bisexual.

Are all pedophile men gay?

In reality, these two phenomena have nothing in common: homosexual men are not more likely to sexually abuse children than “straight” men. According to the American Psychological Association, children are more likely to be abused by their parents, neighbors, or close relatives, than their LGBT peers.

Reporting from Live Science, a 1989 study led by Kurt Freund of the Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Canada, scientists showed images of children in gay and heterosexual adult men, and measured their sexual arousal. Homosexual men did not react more strongly to pictures of boys than heterosexual men did to pictures of girls. A 1994 study, led by Carole Jenny of the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, looked at 269 cases of children who were sexually abused by adults. In 82 percent of cases, the suspect was a heterosexual adult from a close relative of the child, according to a report published in the journal Pediatrics. In only two of the 269 cases, the perpetrator was identified as gay or lesbian. 97 percent of child abusers are heterosexual adult men targeting girls.

Reporting from the SPL Center, The Child Molestation Research & Prevention Institute notes that 90% of child molesters target children in their own network of family and friends, and the majority are adult men who are married to women.

Can homosexuality be cured?

Conversion therapy is a practice that claims to convert homosexuals to heterosexuals in a matter of months. This includes a series of dubious procedures - zapping therapy or use of nausea-stimulating drugs, prescription testosterone, or speech therapy.

Pulkit Sharma, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic therapist from Delhi, was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail, as saying, "There is absolutely no scientific evidence that this treatment will be effective."

"Repair" or sexual reorientation therapy has been rejected by all of the leading US medical, psychological, psychiatric and professional counseling organizations. In 2009, for example, the American Psychological Association concluded that there was strong evidence to suggest that cases of “cured” gay individuals who return to straight men are an extremely rare occurrence and that, “Many individuals continue to experience same-sex sexual attraction. , "After reparative therapy. The APA resolution adds that "there is insufficient scientific evidence to support the use of psychological interventions to change sexual orientation" and asks mental health professionals to avoid promoting the efficacy of erroneous sexual orientation change attempts by promising changes in sexual orientation.

A large number of medical professionals, scientific organizations, and counseling in the US and around the world have issued statements regarding the harm that reparative therapy can cause, especially if it is based on the assumption that homosexuality is unacceptable. As early as 1993, the American Academy of Pediatrics stated that, "Therapy specifically directed at changing sexual orientation is contraindicated, as it can provoke guilt and anxiety while having little or no potential for achieving orientation change."

Attempts to change a person's sexual orientation, either through therapy or “corrective” rape against gays and lesbians aimed at “straightening up” them, involve human rights violations and can cause severe trauma; causes loss of sexual feelings, depression, anxiety, and suicidal tendencies.