Homosexuality and Sexual Orientation: Common Questions
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.
Sexual orientation differs from sexual behavior because it refers to feelings and self-concept rather than actions. Persons may or may not express their sexual orientation in their behaviors.
What causes a person to have a particular sexual orientation?
Numerous theories exist about the origins of a person’s sexual orientation, be it heterosexual, homosexual or bisexual, but the exact cause remains unknown. Most scientists today agree that sexual orientation most likely results from a complex interaction of environmental, cognitive and biological factors. Recent evidence has led some researchers to suggest that homosexual orientation may be triggered when a genetic predisposition or inborn hormonal factors to homosexuality are reinforced in early childhood by environmental factors.
Is sexual orientation a choice?
No, human beings cannot choose to be either gay or straight because sexual orientation is not chosen but recognized through feelings and perceptions. Like anyone else, a person who is homosexual cannot deny the existence of feelings although he/she can choose to act on them or not. Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early adolescence, independently of sexual experience.
How does a person come to know that their
sexual identity is homosexual?
Like heterosexuals, gays and lesbians gradually discover their sexuality in the process of maturing. For heterosexuals, the process is reinforced by the surrounding culture and happens almost unconsciously. For homosexuals the initial realization often involves feeling different from one's peers and therefore isolated. With these feelings of being different often comes the realization that a social stigma is attached to homosexuality; this feeling that one is different and that the difference is bad can increase the difficulty of facing and accepting homosexual identity.
Why do gays and lesbians consider “coming out”
to be so significant?
Sexual identity is an integral part of our humanity. Human beings are often assumed to be heterosexual. For a person who is homosexual this means that, unless they reveal their homosexual identity, an important part of who they are remains hidden. While this may be a non-issue in many contexts, in others, such as family and friendship, it becomes of pressing concern because in significant interpersonal relationships all of us want to be known and valued for who we are. Because revelation of homosexual identity can produce a negative response from the person receiving such information. Before someone reveals their homosexual identity to another, especially in the early stages of “coming out,” they tend to “check out” that person’s willingness to accept them. Therefore, the moment of revealing a homosexual orientation must be met with utmost respect for that person’s human dignity.
Is homosexuality a psychological problem or mental illness?
The American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association do not consider homosexuality to be an emotional or mental disorder. Published research is overwhelming that no significant difference exists between the mental health of heterosexuals and the mental health of homosexuals. However, the social stigma associated with being gay can be emotionally devastating for the person coming to terms with a homosexual identity.
Can homosexuality be “cured”?
Since homosexuality is neither a disease nor an illness, there is nothing to “cure.” A few therapists claim that they can rid gay people of their homosexual desires, but their methods remain extremely questionable and rarely, if ever, have resulted in permanently changing anybody’s sexual orientation. However, gay, lesbian and bisexual people sometimes seek counseling for help with the coming out process or with strategies to deal with prejudice. Most often, they are dealing with the same life issues that affect straight people
What does the Catholic Church say about homosexuality?
The Church teaches that the dignity and rights of homosexual persons must be respected and distinguishes between homosexual orientation and homosexual activity. Homosexual orientation in and of itself is morally neutral, but genital homosexual relations are sinful, in the same way that genital heterosexual relations outside marriage are immoral. Only within marriage between a man and a woman can sexual intercourse become an act of covenant love and be potentially open to new life.
Can homosexuals be Catholics?
All baptized persons without exception are called to holiness. (AOC ¶ 9) Catholics must recognize the right and responsibility of the Church to teach about sexual morality. In making moral decisions on matters pertaining to sexual morality, all Catholics are responsible for acquiring a thorough knowledge of Church teaching, taking such teaching seriously, and acting on it from an informed conscience. Ultimately, the individual conscience is inviolable. However, since there exist many internal and external obstacles to full human freedom, decision making in the area of sexual morality, as in other areas, is often flawed. The Network program sponsored by Core Council for Gay and Lesbian Students provides an opportunity for RAs to explore in more depth these complex theological and moral issues that affect moral decision making.
What is homophobia?
Homophobia is prejudice based on the belief that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are sinful, immoral, sick, inferior to heterosexuals or incomplete men and women. It is experienced as feelings of fear, discomfort, dislike, hatred or disgust with homosexuality. Like heterosexuals, homosexual people are taught that their orientation is wrong and makes them inferior human beings; many homosexuals internalize this belief so that self acceptance becomes very difficult. Homophobia is taught by misinformation and may be expressed by name-calling, “gay jokes,” and verbal or physical harassment. It has also led to murder.
How can we overcome prejudice against
homosexuals and bisexuals?
Positive attitudes come from knowledge. Research has confirmed that people with the most positive attitudes toward gays, lesbians and bisexuals actually know one or more gay, lesbian or bisexual persons well–often as a friend or co-worker. Thus, negative attitudes toward homosexual persons as a group are prejudices, grounded not in actual experience, but rather in stereotypes. Thus, by accepting others as persons, and providing accurate information about homosexuality, resident assistants can help to diminish anti-gay prejudice.