Homosexuality is [not] a mental disorder

[atheist]

Let's take into consideration that in the other thread bisexuals, transexuals, pansexuals, what-you-will, are ignored in the topic's first post (they are not directly mentioned, it blatantly targets strict gays). This lends the idea that maybe said poster has something personally against what two men or women want to do with their sexual lives.

This thread will argue that homosexuality does NOT necessarily have to be a "mental" disorder in all cases, based on evidence given in the form of videos, documentarys, and articles written describing the NATURAL behaviour of other species.

Do an online search on google with the words "homosexuality + behavior + species" and you will find a mecca of information giving factual evidence of animals of various species engaging in what we would consider "homosexual" activity. It happens to rams, penguins, cows, dogs, bears, ostriches, walruses, etc, and various species of monkeys. In particular, our CLOSEST relative, the Banobo chimp species. Very interesting stuff.

Not only is engaging in "homosexual" activity for other species beneficial in social terms, it is a way of life for some. For example, the Banobo chimps are probably the most peaceful sapien species out there today because of their open sexual customs (unlike humans or other chimp species, they do not kill one another)...they are practically all bisexual. Sexual interaction is a way for them to relieve stress, strengthen ties between one another, and create a social atmosphere that is rather peaceful compared to our own human jungle.

The point is is that just because something prefers to have sex with the same sex of its own species doesn't mean that this is a mental disorder. It occurs daily. It is natural. Others just don't understand the circumstances of this sexual preference. Would you consider that all those bisexual Banobo chimps (remember, our CLOSEST relative) are "mentally" unstable? The entire species??? unstable??? Just because they like to have a wider variety of sexual experience? Dude, that is just too dense.

Engaging in homosexual activity does not impair one's judgement. It does not harm anyone other than the individual itself, but than again this can be said of all heterosexual activity out there. If i had sex with another woman I would not go crazy, begin drooling sporatically all over people, grow an urge to kill or mouth of to someone, grab your head and bang it against the wall, or claim that I can see ghosts. It is not a disorder and such activity would not make me any less "human" than i already am. Unfortunately, it causes others that disagree with it to think otherwise (and wish to impede upon these individual's freedoms).

[Chalk]

Hm.. well I wouldn't consider it a mental disorder . Sex isn't just for procreation, which is an argument some people use to prove how 'not natural' homosexuality is, it is also for pleasure. The Ancient Greeks seemed to think there wasn't a problem with it, and surely in modern society there are greater things to be concerned about that what two people do behind closed doors.

[Matts]

There are two important points to be made about the discourse on homosexuality in contemporary Western culture.

Firstly, while the term “homosexuality” is used in a seemingly gender-neutral manner, i.e. as inclusive of both male and female homosexuality, in most cases its frame of reference is in fact limited, as if by some tacit agreement, exclusively to male homosexuality. It is in fact often impossible to infer the term’s intended meaning from the context in which it appears, and only a closer reading of the surrounding textual environment may show whether it is used in reference to homosexuality in general or male homosexuality in particular. The disproportion of society's attention to male homosexuality in relation to female homosexuality appears to derive from the historically disproportionate attention society has paid to male sexuality in general. The paradox inherent in patriarchal oppression is that, while inhabiting the private world of the home, women have been to a great extent speared from the most elaborate mechanisms of the social control of sexuality to which men have been exposed in the public sphere of society.

Secondly, the discourse on homosexuality can often be found to aggressively reject all attempts at expanding its subject matter so as to include forms of same-sex desire which are not exclusive of opposite-sex desire. This tendency to construct sexuality as a simple bipolar system of “heterosexual” vs. “homosexual” is so pervasive in modern Western culture that it seems almost impossible to introduce into the popular consciousness the idea of a same-sex desire which resides outside the category of the “homosexual.”

Much of the discourse on homosexuality betrays a clear effort to evade consciousness of the existence of bisexuality. Same-sex desire which cannot be identified as a practice which “homosexuals” engage in within the securely sealed boundaries of a supposed “homosexual lifestyle” is an ideological menace to heteronormativity. It renders homosexuality socially unidentifiable and, consequently, resistant to social control. It is my contention, in fact, that the real scandal for the heteronormative society is not homosexuality as such, but it is rather the kind of homosexuality which is not reducible to such clearly defined concepts as “gay culture,” “homosexual lifestyle” or even “homosexuals.” How do you, after all, impose social control on an entire category of behavior which is not attributable to any particular category of people?

[Samildanach]

It is a mental aberration not a disorder.

[fedfem]

Quote by: Samildanach It is a mental aberration not a disorder.

Well an aberration is defined as:
aberration
n. deviation; momentary mental lapse

I would disagree.

[mr.perfecto]

Your out thinking yourself. :rolleyes:

Even if humans were bi-sexual, being exclusively attracted to one sex (whichever) with no interest in the other would still represent a serious mental handicap.

[tinybear]

Well it's some kind of an aberration. I just don't know what kind.

[belverron]

You could say with some accuracy that it is a cultural aberration. It's so discouraging, however, that you're looking for reasons that it's bad. Just because your religion has a problem with it doesn't mean you have to take it one step further.

[mr.perfecto]

Quote by: belverron You could say with some accuracy that it is a cultural aberration. It's so discouraging, however, that you're looking for reasons that it's bad. Just because your religion has a problem with it doesn't mean you have to take it one step further.

I already have a reason for thinking its bad, I think it suffices, I'm not looking for new ones. I am curious what you mean by "take it one step further."

[FIFI]

But WHY are people so afraid of homosexuality? If your not involved, then why does it even concern you??

[tinybear]

Quote by: belverron You could say with some accuracy that it is a cultural aberration. It's so discouraging, however, that you're looking for reasons that it's bad. Just because your religion has a problem with it doesn't mean you have to take it one step further.

What religion? I have no religion.

[FIFI]

Do you find it upsetting / offensive Tinybear??

[tinybear]

Yeah, it sorta gives me the creeps. But then I've always been a sensitive little bear. :)

[FIFI]

LOL. But I am not homosexual, don't find women pleasing :) Yet I don't care what two men or two women do behind closed doors... as long as they close there curtains! :eek:

[tinybear]

Ever been out on West Hollywood at night FiFi? I don't know. When I see those muscular, six foot tall bearded guys holding hands and kissing....Ooooh!

[FIFI]

:) That must be quite a sight. Thats ok, my backdoor neighbors are lesbians... and lets put it this way... loud, buzzing and in their yard next to mine. But I might not enjoy it, I still don't think it is a mental disorder!

[belverron]

Quote by: tinybear What religion? I have no religion.

Then why try so hard to find a reason to disapprove of homosexuality?

[tinybear]

I don't even try. I just get the creeps, that's all. I don't need a religion to get that feeling.

I would agree that homos are necessary freeks of nature. We need interior decorators, hair dressers, and dress designers to enhance our culture. The fact that there are fag monkees proves being homo is ok.

[belverron]

Quote by: tinybear Well it's some kind of an aberration. I just don't know what kind.

If you're not trying to find a reason, why does it have to be "some kind of aberration?" I understand couples givings you the creeps.

Quote by: tinybear When I see those muscular, six foot tall bearded guys holding hands and kissing....Ooooh!

Why does it have to be because they're two men? I mean, I don't want to see them kiss, either, but it's because of the beards :p There are a lot of straight people I don't need to see kiss. And I don't want to know about anybody having sex, pretty much.

So, is the problem about homosexuality or public displays of affection? Sometimes it's easy to use public displays as a kind of defense mechanism... or something.