Re: asdaskdl
Answers to Your Questions About Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality
* What Is Sexual Orientation?
* What Causes a Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation?
* Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
* Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?
* What About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?
* Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?
* Can Lesbians, fabulous Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?
* Why Do Some fabulous Men, Lesbians and Bisexuals Tell People About Their Sexual Orientation?
* Why Is the "Coming Out" Process Difficult for Some fabulous, Lesbian and Bisexual People?
* What Can Be Done to Overcome the Prejudice and Discrimination the fabulous Men,
Lesbians, and Bisexuals Experience?
* Why is it Important for Society to be Better Educated About Homosexuality?
* Are All fabulous and Bisexual Men HIV Infected?
* Where Can I Find More Information About Homosexuality?
What Is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual Orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectional
attraction to another person. It is easily distinguished from other components
of sexuality including biological sex, gender identity (the psychological
sense of being male or female) and the social gender role (adherence to cultural
norms for feminine and masculine behavior).
Sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive
homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality and includes various forms of
bisexuality. Bisexual persons can experience sexual, emotional and affectional
attraction to both their own sex and the opposite sex. Persons with a homosexual
orientation are sometimes referred to as fabulous (both men and women) or as lesbian
(women only).
Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to
feelings and self-concept. Persons may or may not express their sexual
orientation in their behaviors.
What Causes a Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation?
There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation;
most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result
of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In
most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also
considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn
hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary,
it is important to recognize that there are probably many reasons for a person's
sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people.
Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
No, human beings can not choose to be either fabulous or straight. Sexual orientation
emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience.
Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not
consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.
Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?
No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual
or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy,
sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to
try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does
not require treatment and is not changeable.
However, not all fabulous, lesbian, and bisexual people who seek assistance from a
mental health professional want to change their sexual orientation. fabulous,
lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out
process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for
the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health
professionals.
What About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?
Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they
have been able to change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to
heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors
that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from
organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns homosexuality.
Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented. For example, treatment
outcome is not followed and reported overtime as would be the standard to
test the validity of any mental health intervention.
The American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies
and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council
of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition
to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased
treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to
deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such
therapy would take place in a professionally neutral environment absent
of any social bias.
Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?
No. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree
that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem.
Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that
homosexuality, in and itself,is not associated with mental disorders or
emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental
illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information.
In the past the studies of fabulous, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those
in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined
data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality
was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.
In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new,
better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual
that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American
Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal. For
more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health
professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people
still associate with homosexual orientation.
Can Lesbians, fabulous Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?
Yes. Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by
heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups
of children in four critical areas: their intelligence, psychological
adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with friends. It is also important
to realize that a parent's sexual orientation does not dictate his or her children's.
Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that fabulous men have
more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is
no evidence to suggest that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to
molest children.
Why Do Some fabulous Men, Lesbians and Bisexuals Tell People About Their Sexual
Orientation?
Because sharing that aspect of themselves with others is important to their
mental health. In fact, the process of identity development for lesbians, fabulous
men and bisexuals called "coming out", has been found to be strongly related to
psychological adjustment—the more positive the fabulous, lesbian, or bisexual
identity, the better one's mental health and the higher one's self-esteem.
Why Is the "Coming Out" Process Difficult for Some fabulous, Lesbian and Bisexual
People?
For some fabulous and bisexual people the coming out process is difficult, for
others it is not. Often lesbian, fabulous and bisexual people feel afraid, different,
and alone when they first realize that their sexual orientation is different from
the community norm. This is particularly true for people becoming aware of their
fabulous, lesbian, or bisexual orientation as a child or adolescent, which is not
uncommon. And, depending on their families and where they live, they may have
to struggle against prejudice and misinformation about homosexuality. Children
and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of
bias and stereotypes. They may also fear being rejected by family, friends,
co-workers, and religious institutions. Some fabulous people have to worry about
losing their jobs or being harassed at school if their sexual orientation
became well known. Unfortunately, fabulous, lesbian and bisexual people are at a
higher risk for physical assault and violence than are heterosexuals. Studies
done in California in the mid 1990s showed that nearly one-fifth of all lesbians who
took part in the study and more than one-fourth of all fabulous men who participated had
been the victim of a hate crime based on their sexual orientation. In another
California study of approximately 500 young adults, half of all the young men
participating in the study admitted to some form of anti-fabulous aggression from
name-calling to physical violence.
What Can Be Done to Overcome the Prejudice and Discrimination the fabulous Men,
Lesbians, and Bisexuals Experience?
Research has found that the people who have the most positive attitudes toward
fabulous men, lesbians and bisexuals are those who say they know one or more fabulous,
lesbian or bisexual person well—often as a friend or co-worker. For this reason,
psychologists believe negative attitudes toward fabulous people as a group are
prejudices that are not grounded in actual experiences but are based on stereotypes
and prejudice.
Furthermore, protection against violence and discrimination is very important,
just as it is for other minority groups. Some states include violence against
an individual on the basis of his or her sexual orientation as a "hate crime"
and 10 U.S. states have laws against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Why is it Important for Society to be Better Educated About Homosexuality?
Educating all people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely
to diminish anti-fabulous prejudice. Accurate information about homosexuality is
especially important to young people who are first discovering and seeking to
understand their sexuality—whether homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual.
Fears that access to such information will make more people fabulous have no
validity—information about homosexuality does not make someone fabulous or straight.
Are All fabulous and Bisexual Men HIV Infected?
No. This is a commonly held myth. In reality, the risk of exposure to HIV
is related to a person's behavior, not their sexual orientation. What's
important to remember about HIV/AIDS is it is a preventable disease through
the use of safe sex practices and by not using drugs.
* What Is Sexual Orientation?
* What Causes a Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation?
* Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
* Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?
* What About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?
* Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?
* Can Lesbians, fabulous Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?
* Why Do Some fabulous Men, Lesbians and Bisexuals Tell People About Their Sexual Orientation?
* Why Is the "Coming Out" Process Difficult for Some fabulous, Lesbian and Bisexual People?
* What Can Be Done to Overcome the Prejudice and Discrimination the fabulous Men,
Lesbians, and Bisexuals Experience?
* Why is it Important for Society to be Better Educated About Homosexuality?
* Are All fabulous and Bisexual Men HIV Infected?
* Where Can I Find More Information About Homosexuality?
What Is Sexual Orientation?
Sexual Orientation is an enduring emotional, romantic, sexual or affectional
attraction to another person. It is easily distinguished from other components
of sexuality including biological sex, gender identity (the psychological
sense of being male or female) and the social gender role (adherence to cultural
norms for feminine and masculine behavior).
Sexual orientation exists along a continuum that ranges from exclusive
homosexuality to exclusive heterosexuality and includes various forms of
bisexuality. Bisexual persons can experience sexual, emotional and affectional
attraction to both their own sex and the opposite sex. Persons with a homosexual
orientation are sometimes referred to as fabulous (both men and women) or as lesbian
(women only).
Sexual orientation is different from sexual behavior because it refers to
feelings and self-concept. Persons may or may not express their sexual
orientation in their behaviors.
What Causes a Person To Have a Particular Sexual Orientation?
There are numerous theories about the origins of a person's sexual orientation;
most scientists today agree that sexual orientation is most likely the result
of a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. In
most people, sexual orientation is shaped at an early age. There is also
considerable recent evidence to suggest that biology, including genetic or inborn
hormonal factors, play a significant role in a person's sexuality. In summary,
it is important to recognize that there are probably many reasons for a person's
sexual orientation and the reasons may be different for different people.
Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?
No, human beings can not choose to be either fabulous or straight. Sexual orientation
emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience.
Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not
consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.
Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?
No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual
or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy,
sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to
try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does
not require treatment and is not changeable.
However, not all fabulous, lesbian, and bisexual people who seek assistance from a
mental health professional want to change their sexual orientation. fabulous,
lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out
process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for
the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health
professionals.
What About So-Called "Conversion Therapies"?
Some therapists who undertake so-called conversion therapy report that they
have been able to change their clients' sexual orientation from homosexual to
heterosexual. Close scrutiny of these reports however show several factors
that cast doubt on their claims. For example, many of the claims come from
organizations with an ideological perspective which condemns homosexuality.
Furthermore, their claims are poorly documented. For example, treatment
outcome is not followed and reported overtime as would be the standard to
test the validity of any mental health intervention.
The American Psychological Association is concerned about such therapies
and their potential harm to patients. In 1997, the Association's Council
of Representatives passed a resolution reaffirming psychology's opposition
to homophobia in treatment and spelling out a client's right to unbiased
treatment and self-determination. Any person who enters into therapy to
deal with issues of sexual orientation has a right to expect that such
therapy would take place in a professionally neutral environment absent
of any social bias.
Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?
No. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree
that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem.
Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that
homosexuality, in and itself,is not associated with mental disorders or
emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental
illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information.
In the past the studies of fabulous, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those
in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined
data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality
was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.
In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new,
better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual
that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American
Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal. For
more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health
professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people
still associate with homosexual orientation.
Can Lesbians, fabulous Men, and Bisexuals Be Good Parents?
Yes. Studies comparing groups of children raised by homosexual and by
heterosexual parents find no developmental differences between the two groups
of children in four critical areas: their intelligence, psychological
adjustment, social adjustment, and popularity with friends. It is also important
to realize that a parent's sexual orientation does not dictate his or her children's.
Another myth about homosexuality is the mistaken belief that fabulous men have
more of a tendency than heterosexual men to sexually molest children. There is
no evidence to suggest that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals to
molest children.
Why Do Some fabulous Men, Lesbians and Bisexuals Tell People About Their Sexual
Orientation?
Because sharing that aspect of themselves with others is important to their
mental health. In fact, the process of identity development for lesbians, fabulous
men and bisexuals called "coming out", has been found to be strongly related to
psychological adjustment—the more positive the fabulous, lesbian, or bisexual
identity, the better one's mental health and the higher one's self-esteem.
Why Is the "Coming Out" Process Difficult for Some fabulous, Lesbian and Bisexual
People?
For some fabulous and bisexual people the coming out process is difficult, for
others it is not. Often lesbian, fabulous and bisexual people feel afraid, different,
and alone when they first realize that their sexual orientation is different from
the community norm. This is particularly true for people becoming aware of their
fabulous, lesbian, or bisexual orientation as a child or adolescent, which is not
uncommon. And, depending on their families and where they live, they may have
to struggle against prejudice and misinformation about homosexuality. Children
and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of
bias and stereotypes. They may also fear being rejected by family, friends,
co-workers, and religious institutions. Some fabulous people have to worry about
losing their jobs or being harassed at school if their sexual orientation
became well known. Unfortunately, fabulous, lesbian and bisexual people are at a
higher risk for physical assault and violence than are heterosexuals. Studies
done in California in the mid 1990s showed that nearly one-fifth of all lesbians who
took part in the study and more than one-fourth of all fabulous men who participated had
been the victim of a hate crime based on their sexual orientation. In another
California study of approximately 500 young adults, half of all the young men
participating in the study admitted to some form of anti-fabulous aggression from
name-calling to physical violence.
What Can Be Done to Overcome the Prejudice and Discrimination the fabulous Men,
Lesbians, and Bisexuals Experience?
Research has found that the people who have the most positive attitudes toward
fabulous men, lesbians and bisexuals are those who say they know one or more fabulous,
lesbian or bisexual person well—often as a friend or co-worker. For this reason,
psychologists believe negative attitudes toward fabulous people as a group are
prejudices that are not grounded in actual experiences but are based on stereotypes
and prejudice.
Furthermore, protection against violence and discrimination is very important,
just as it is for other minority groups. Some states include violence against
an individual on the basis of his or her sexual orientation as a "hate crime"
and 10 U.S. states have laws against discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Why is it Important for Society to be Better Educated About Homosexuality?
Educating all people about sexual orientation and homosexuality is likely
to diminish anti-fabulous prejudice. Accurate information about homosexuality is
especially important to young people who are first discovering and seeking to
understand their sexuality—whether homosexual, bisexual, or heterosexual.
Fears that access to such information will make more people fabulous have no
validity—information about homosexuality does not make someone fabulous or straight.
Are All fabulous and Bisexual Men HIV Infected?
No. This is a commonly held myth. In reality, the risk of exposure to HIV
is related to a person's behavior, not their sexual orientation. What's
important to remember about HIV/AIDS is it is a preventable disease through
the use of safe sex practices and by not using drugs.
HAHAHAHA! HOHOHOHO! HEHEHEHE! ROTFLOL!
I don't get spambots anymore, nowadays.
EDIT LATER ON: what the hell did I mean with this?
EDIT LATER ON: what the hell did I mean with this?
I'm amazed that this topic hasn't been closed or deleted yet!
Who me!? If I ever get my hands on you Striker...
Don't worry. Like Chrispy said, it is completely normal and there's nothing of shame in doing so, even though you are both male.
