Is gay contagious? this is the answer from the experts & bull; hello healthy

The rise of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) issues that have emerged today raises one big question. Can LGBT or gay behavior be transmitted to other people? This is because people are worried that accepting the LGBT community means that more people will be infected and eventually become gay. So, now is the time to thoroughly explore the myths whether gay is contagious.

Homosexuality is not a mental disorder

There are still many misconceptions that people believe about homosexuality. One of them is that homosexuality is a mental disorder. However, homosexuality is not medically classified as a psychiatric disorder. In the past, homosexuality was considered a disorder. However, in 1973 the Psychiatric Association of the United States removed homosexuality from the category of mental disorders in its fifth edition of the Guidelines for the Classification of Mental Disorders (PPDGJ).

In Indonesia, homosexuals are classified as people who are at risk of experiencing mental disorders (not yet diagnosed with mental disorders). According to the head of the Indonesian Psychiatric Association (PDSKJI), dr. Danardi Sosrosumihardjo, SpKJ, this category is the same as victims of natural disasters. It does not mean that they have mental disorders, but are only prone to mental disorders due to social pressure and tough situations that must be faced.

Why can someone be gay?

Homosexuality, just like heterosexuality (liking the opposite sex) is sexual orientation. From various studies around the world, it is known that sexual orientation can be formed since the womb, that is, when you are still a fetus.

There is a special genetic code that distinguishes homosexuals from heterosexuals, namely Xq28. Although it is not yet certain that these genes determine a person's sexual orientation, researchers conclude that this genetic code still plays an important role in the formation of human sexual identity.

Other studies have shown that homosexuals tend to have different brain structures with heterosexuals. The front of the hypothalamus of a heterosexual is almost twice as large as that of a homosexual. This is because the brain nerves in the hypothalamus of a homosexual are denser while the nerves of the heterosexual brain tend to be tenuous.

Experts also see that differences in hormone levels can make a person tend to like the opposite sex, same sex, or both. However, hormone therapy cannot turn it back to "normal". The reason is, the difference in this hormonal reaction occurs in the brain. So hormone injections alone can never change human sexual orientation.

Is gay contagious?

No, you cannot catch or transmit homosexuality. Even if you have close friends or family members who are gay, you will not be gay if you do not have homosexual potential biologically.

A study that ran from 1994 to 2002 revealed that homosexuality was not prevalent among teenagers in the United States and Britain. The research, published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior, has broken the myth that friends with gay or lesbian people will make someone gay.

Making friends with gays will not make you gay

Reporting from Kompas, dr. Roslan Yusni Hasan, Sp.BS, a neurosurgeon from Mayapada Hospital, emphasized that sexual orientation cannot be transmitted. Society thought that hanging out with gay people would make him gay too. Yet according to dr. Roslan is only because this person basically has a biological talent for gay. Then he will hang out with people who are the same or like himself as well.

In people who are already born with homosexual talents, he then finds similarities with other homosexuals. This makes him more confident and comfortable with his identity. Over time he was able to accept and admit that he was indeed born gay. This is why many people mistake being gay is contagious.

If you don't have the talent for the homosexual gene, there's no need to worry about whether being gay is contagious. Sexual orientation will not change just because you hang out with a homosexual. Likewise, you who are heterosexual cannot transmit your orientation to homosexual people. As explained by dr. Roslan, sexual orientation cannot be changed because it is not necessary. Being a homosexual is not a mistake, it is diversity.