Homosexual behavior has been and currently remains a topic of great debate. One can find supporting or opposing views within most any society. However, the general attitudes and knowledge concerning homosexuals has been shifting toward a more open-minded society. The shifting views encompass a wide range of sectors: religious, political, legal, family and educational.

The topic of homosexuality allows one the opportunity to research and discuss the topic from many different perspectives. In this short paper, the author will share examples of changing views toward homosexuality from a broad view and from her personal viewpoint.

Religious and legal sanctions

Legal sanctions against homosexuality has its roots planted deeply in the religious sector. Religious institutions viewed homosexual and other nonprocreative sexual acts as unnatural, unclean, sinful and ungodly. The religious doctrine dated as far back as the 1500s believed in strict punishments for homosexual behaviors.

The church’s philosophies became legal sanctions and the sodomy laws became a part of the government’s jurisdiction. Laws prohibiting homosexual behavior are commonly referred to as “sodomy laws.” They have taken many forms in different jurisdictions as far back as biblical times.

Although in today’s society many religious institutions remain steadfast in their intolerance of the homosexual lifestyle, it is not difficult to find congregations that prefer to allow God to be the judge.

History provides a glimpse into legal documented court punishments: death sentences or years of imprisonments. Those laws are no longer upheld by the American legal system. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that sodomy laws are unconstitutional on June 26, 2003.

Sodomy laws are now unenforceable in all of the United States of America. The author believes that the early punishments received for what was considered as wickedness from society was far worse than any court sentence could ever be.

Societal shifts

“By the end of the 19th century, medicine and psychiatry were effectively competing with religion and the law for jurisdiction over sexuality” (Herek, 2009). How did this shift impact social views? Society began to view homosexuality as a sickness versus a purely sinful nature.

Much of the studies conducted by psychologists and psychiatrists prior to the early 1950s took place in prisons or with individuals in treatment centers and the “diagnosis was generally considered severe and pervasive emotional disorder” (Robinson, 2009). Homosexuality was considered a mental illness and was included in a listing of mental illnesses until 1973.

Between the 1950s and early 1970s, much research had taken place comparing gay males to comparable groups of heterosexual males. Empirical data was strong, social norms were changing and many states had politically active gay communities.

Thus, in 1973, the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). However, thirty-plus years after the fact, much debate continues to surround the issues associated with homosexuality.

Victtorio Gallo and Phyllis Robinson address the concept of the “homosexual brain” in order to incorporate the biological with the psychological approach. They state “research on the biology of homosexuality is over a hundred years old, both the scientific community and the general public paid more attention to this field in the 1990s” (Gallo and Robinson, 2000).

The author believes this provides support as to show that society does not understand, continues to struggle with acceptance, and is desperately seeking an explanation to what largely remains known as a sexual stigmatized behavior.

Irwin G. Sarason and Barbara R. Sarason (2005) state,

“public attitudes have tended to stigmatize homosexual activity to such as extent that many of those engaging in it have suffered social and legal mistreatment far beyond the domain of sexual behavior” (p. 275).

The negative or intolerable attitudes toward homosexual orientation continue to vary greatly depending upon geographical regions, moral views, upbringing, political affiliations and educational subject matter knowledge. The bottom line is that each individual will have to determine their personal views on homosexuality and answer for their convictions.

Closing viewpoints

The author is not any closer today than she was yesterday in understanding what makes a person choose a same-sex partner: biological factors, psychological factors, cellular structure, nerve circuitry or simply a matter of personal preference. The author does not feel the overwhelming compulsion to fully understand.

While the author may never fully comprehend why so many people seek a same-sex partner, she accepts that the answers are uncertain. The author also accepts that she is not the one responsible for judging others and their choices. What may be considered taboo in one culture may be the norm in another.

Previously in this paper, the author stated that she believed early punishments received for what was considered as wickedness from society was far worse than any court sentence could ever be. From a human compassion side of things, the author has empathy for the persecution homosexuals have had to endure.

While the views toward homosexual behaviors are continuing to change (same-sex marriage, ability to adopt and become parents), much remains unchanged toward achieving true equality toward all.

References

Gallo, V. and Robinson, P. (2000). “Is there a Homosexual Brain?” Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide., 7(1), 12. Retrieved January 11, 2010 from www.questia.com

Herek, G.M. (2009). “Facts about Homosexuality and Mental Health.” Retrieved January 11, 2010.

Koehler, E. (1999). “The variable nature of defamation: Social mores and accusations of homosexuality.” Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly, 76(2), 217. Retrieved January 11, 2010 from www.questia.com

Robinson, B.A. (2009). “The gay liberation movement during the 1950s.” Retrieved January 11, 2010 from Religious Tolerance.

Sarason, I. G., Sarason, B. R. (2005). “Abnormal Psychology: The problem of maladaptive behavior.” (11 Ed.). Prentice Hall: Upper Saddle River, N.J.