From: [email-masked] (Rod Swift)
Date: 1 May 1995 00:13:18 -0500

From:	"Psychology and You: Answers to Your Questions About
	Sexual Orientation and Homosexuality"
By:	The American Psychological Association

[This pamphlet is available from APA, 750 First St NE, Washington
DC 20002-4242, phone 202-336-5700]

Q: What is sexual orientation?

A: Sexual orientation is one of the four components of sexuality
   and is distinguished by an enduring emotional, romantic,
   sexual or affectional attraction to individuals of a particular
   gender.  The three other components of sexuality are
   biological sex, gender identity (the psychological sense of
   being male or female) and social sex role (adherence to
   cultural norms for feminine and masculine beaviour).  Three
   sexual orientations are commonly recognised: _homosexual_,
   attraction to individuals of one's own gender; _heterosexual_,
   attraction to individuals of the other gender; or _bisexual_,
   attractions to members of either gender.  Persons with a
   homosexual orientation are sometimes referred to as _gay_
   (both men and women) or _lesbian_ (women only).

   Sexual orientation is different from sexual behaviour because
   it refers to feelings and self-concept.  Persons may or may
   not express their sexual orientation in their behaviours.

Sidebar:
   Homosexual orientation is not limited to a particular type of
   person.  Gay men and lesbians are of all ages, cultural
   backgrounds, races, religions and nationalities.  They work
   in all occupations and live in all parts of the country.

Q: What causes a person to have a particular sexual orientation?

A: How a particular sexual orientation develops in any individual
   is not well understood by scientists.  Various theories have
   proposed differing sources for sexual orientation, including
   genetic or inborn hormonal factors and life experiences during
   early childhood.  However, many scientists share the view that
   sexual orientation is shaped for most people at an early age
   through complex interactions of biological, psychological and
   social factors.

Q: Is sexual orientation a choice?

A: No.  Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early
   adolescence without any prior sexual experience.  And some
   people report trying very hard over many years to change
   their sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual with
   no success.  For these reasons, psychologists do not consider
   sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be
   voluntarily changed.

Q: Is homosexuality a mental illness or emotional problem?

A: No.  Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health
   professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness,
   mental disorder or emotional problem.  Much objective
   scientific research over the past 35 years shows us that
   homosexual orientation, in and of itself, is not associated
   with emotional or social problems.

   Homosexuality was thought to be a mental illness in the past
   because mental health professionals and society had biased
   information about homosexuality since most studies only
   involved lesbians and gay men in therapy.  When researchers
   examined data about gay people who were not in therapy, the
   idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was found to be
   untrue.

   In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the
   importance of the new research by removing the term
   "homosexuality" from the official manual that lists all
   mental and emotional disorders.  In 1975 the American
   Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting
   this action.  Both associations urge all mental health
   professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness
   that some people still associate with homosexual orientation.
   Since the original declassification of homosexuality as a
   mental disorder, this decision has subsequently been
   reaffirmed by additional research findings and both
   associations.

Q: Can lesbians and gay men be good parents?

A: Yes.  Studies comparing groups of children raised by
   homosexual and by heterosexual parents find no developmental
   differences between the two groups of children in their
   intelligence, psychological adjustment, social adjustment,
   popularity with friends, developmment of social sex role
   identity or development of sexual orientation.

   Another stereotype about homosexuality is the mistaken
   belief that gay men have more of a tendency than heterosexual
   men to sexually molest children.  There is no evidence
   indicating that homosexuals are more likely than heterosexuals
   to molest children.

Sidebar:
   The APA encourages all mental health professionals to work to
   help persons of all sexual orientations to accept and
   integrate their inner feelings and to overcome their
   prejudices and false beliefs about one another.

Q: Why do some gay men and lesbians tell people about their
   sexual orientation?

A: Because sharing that aspect of themselves with others is
   important to their mental health.  In fact, the process of
   identity development for lesbians and gay men, usually called
   "coming out", has been found to be strongly related to
   psychological adjustment -- the more positive the gay male or
   lesbian identity, the better one's mental health and the
   higher one's self esteem.

Q: Why is the "coming out" process difficult for some gays and
   lesbians?

A: Because of false stereotypes and unwarranted prejudice towards
   them, the process of "coming out" for lesbians and gay men can
   be a very challenging process which may cause emotional pain.
   Lesbian and gay people often feel "different" and "alone" when
   they first become aware of same-sex attractions.  They may
   also fear being rejected by family, friends, co-workers and
   religious institutions if they do "come out".

   In addition, homosexuals are frequently the targets of
   discrimination and violence.  This threat of violence and
   discrimination is an obstacle to lesbian and gay people's
   development.  In a 1989 national survey, 5% of the gay men and
   10% of the lesbians reported physical abuse or assault related
   to being lesbian or gay in the last year; 47% reported some
   form of discrimination over their lifetime.  Other research
   has shown similarly high rates of discrimination and violence.

Q: What can be done to help lesbians and gay men overcome
   prejudice and discrimination against them?

A: The people who have the most positive attitudes toward gay men
   and lesbians are those who say they know one or more gay
   person well.  For this reason, psychologists believe negative
   attitudes toward gays as a group are prejudices that are not
   grounded in actual experience with lesbians or gay men but
   on stereotypes and prejudice.

   Furthermore, protection against violence and discrimination
   are very important, just as they are for other minority
   groups.  Some states include violence against an individual on
   the basis of her or his sexual orientation as a "hate crime"
   and eight US states have laws against discrimination on the
   basis of sexual orientation.

Q: Can therapy change sexual orientation?

A: No.  Even though homosexual orientation is not a mental
   illness and there is no scientific reason to attempt
   conversion of lesbians or gays to heterosexual orientation,
   some individuals may seek to change their own sexual
   orientation or that of another individual (for example,
   parents seeking therapy for their child).  Some therapists
   who undertake this kind of therapy report that they have
   changed their clients' sexual orientation (from homosexual to
   heterosexual) in treatment.  Close scrutiny of their reports
   indicates several factors that cast doubt: many of the claims
   come from organisations with an ideological perspective on
   sexual orientation, rather than from mental health
   researchers; the treatments and their outcomes are poorly
   documented; and the length of time that clients are followed
   up after the treatment is too short.

   In 1990 the American Psychological Association stated that
   scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy
   works and that it can do more harm than good.  Changing one's
   sexual orientation is not simply a matter of changing one's
   sexual behaviour.  It would require altering one's emotional,
   romantic and sexual feelings and restructuring one's
   self-concept and social identity.  Although some mental health
   providers do attempt sexual orientation conversion, others 
   question the ethics of trying to alter through therapy a trait
   that is not a disorder and that is extremely important to an
   individual's identity.

   Not all gays and lesbians who seek therapy want to change
   their sexual orientation.  Gays and lesbians may seek
   counselling for any of the same reasons as anyone else.  In
   addition, they may seek psychological help to "come out" or
   to deal with prejudice, discrimination and violence.

Q: Why is it important for society to be better educated about
   homosexuality?

A: Educating all people about sexual orientation and
   homosexuality is likely to diminish anti-gay prejudice.
   Accurate information about homosexuality is especially
   important to young people struggling with their own sexual
   identity.  Fears that access to such information will affect
   one's sexual orientation are not valid.

Q: Where can I find more information about homosexuality?

A: The publications and organisations listed below can all
   provide you with further information:

          References:
          
          Garnets, L.D., et al, "Issues in Psychotherapy
             With Lesbians and Gay Men", _American_
             _Psychologist_, Vol 46 #9, pp 964-972.
          
          Goodchilds, J.D., _Psychological_Perspectives_
             _on_Human_Diversity_In_America_, American
             Psychological Association, Washington DC, 1993.
          
          Garnets, L.D., and Kimmel, D.C., _Psychological_
             _Perspectives_on_Lesbian_&_Gay_Male_Experiences_,
             Columbia University Press, New York, 1993.
          
          Gonsiorek, J.C., and Weinrich, J.D., _Homosexuality:_
             _Research_Implications_For_Public_Policy_, Sage
             Publications, California, 1991.
          
          Herek, G.M., and Berrill, K.T., _Journal_of_
             _Interpersonal_Violence_, Vol 5 #3.

          Organisations:
          
          National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
             1734 14th Street NW
             Washington  DC  20009
             Telephone: 1-202-332-6483
          
          National Institute of Mental Health
             5600 Fishers Lane, Room 7C02
             Rockville  MD  20857
             Telephone: 1-301-443-4513
          
          Parents and Friends of Lesbian and Gays
             1012 14th Street NW Suite 700
             Washington  DC  20005
             Telephone: 1-202-638-4200
          
          Sex Information and Education Council of the United States
             130 West 42nd Street, Suite 2500
             New York  NY  10036
             Telephone: 1-212-819-9770

Special Thanks:
   Special thanks to the following APA members and staff whose
   assistance made this brochure possible:

     Gregory M. Herek, Ph.D., University of California at Davis.

     Oliva M. Espin, Ph.D., San Diego State University, president
        of APA division 44.

     APA Committee on Lesbian and Gay Concerns.

     Clinton W. Anderson, M.A., APA Office on Lesbian and Gay
        Concerns.

Brochure written by Stephen J. Blommer.
Produced by the APA Office of Public Affairs.

[end brochure]

Rod
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