Jim Andris, Facebook

Commentary

Getting straight on homosexuality

By Jim Andris, For The Alestle

Let's start with some straight information from SIECUS—The Sex Information and Education Council of the U.S. This organization is dedicated to dignify human sexuality by, among other things, an open approach, study, and scientific research designed to lead towards its understanding and freedom from exploitation.

The facts—there are large percentages of persons (1 in 3) who are aroused by both sexes. Homosexuality is a matter of degree—25 percent of males and 10 per cent of females have had as much homosexual as heterosexual experience, according to Kinsey. Humans do not possess an instinctive desire at birth to achieve either homosexuality or heterosexuality. Four per cent of males and two per cent of females are exclusively homosexual. Homosexuality has occurred in every society, and a majority of societies find a legitimate place for homosexuality.

Experiments show that most homosexuals cannot be identified on the basis of behavior or appearance. Only a small· proportion of homosexual population is effeminate or mannish. SIECUS's studies tend to confirm that homosexuality is not the result of emotional disturbance. QQ Magazine surveyed its readers and found that 70 per cent of them did not adopt a stereotyped "male" or "female" role or position in sex, but rather preferred a variety of experiences. Homosexuality is not the arrestment of development at immature stages, Maturity for homosexuals is simply different than for heterosexuals. According to Love and Abbott, part of the lesbian's maturation is that sht recognizes that society's definitions do not include her.

According to SIECUS, the causes of homosexuality are extremely complicated, and not well understood. Some of the factors listed are inappropriate identification with the opposite-sexed parent; fear of, or hostility toward, either parent, reversal of masculine and feminine roles in parent; cultural overempliasis in the stereotype of 'masculinity' which produces feelings of inadequacy in males not able to fulfill this expectation; rigid dichotomy of male and female social roles with failure to allow for those individuals who do not fit into either easily; and easier access to sexual gratification with members of the same sex in adolescence, resulting in habit patterns which persist. Many children have not become homosexual, however, and had one or more of these conditions. This list of causes does not support the stereotypical belief that children will have their sexual orientation influenced by exposure to gay teachers.

SIECUS prefers to speak of changing, rather than curing, homosexuality. The "success" rate is not high—it is lower than 25 per cent, and this with homosexuals who want to change. Some of the aversion theraputic techniques amount to torture, and psychotherapy can cost $15,000. Quoting Hooker on prevention, they conclude: the focus should be on creating a climate of opinion that will allow homosexuality to be openly and reasonably discussed and objectively handled, providing for adequate sex education of both parents and children,

Reduced homosexual rate would require
major social changes

so that the homosexual can understand himself better and the community can free itself of its punitive attitudes towards all sexuality, and providing for counseling and guidance for parents with children showing early developmental difficulties. According to Schur, "It seems likely that major alterations of social structure and culture would be necessary in order to reduce the incidence of homosexuality .

According to a booklet published by GAA, 2; Questions about Homosexuality, homo- : sexuality is not "against nature." It is true that humans alter nature in many cases—cut hair, dam rivers, and transplant kidneys. A cross species and cross cultural study reveals that bisexuality is the natural event.

Homosexuality becomes a frequent form of activity among highly developed species. If what is meant by unnatural is that the sex does not result in procreation, then the same argument against homosexuality could be used against contraception in hete- rosexual relationships.

According to Peter Fisher in The Gay Mistique the homosexual is not a child molester. An American Human Society study found that there were 10 to 12 times as many heterosexual as homosexual child molesters. No one, however, (except perhaps some gay liberationists) has advanced this fact as an argument against heterosexuality. Homosexual molestation by coersion occurred so infrequently that the Indiana Institute for Sex Research removed the category "homosexual aggression" but retained the category "heterosexual aggression." Women, including lesbians, do not molest children. It is true that there is a small proportion of homosexuals who prefer sex with teenage boys, but then there is also a small proportion of heterosexuals who prefer sex with teenagers. Another consideration is that some teenage boys engage in prostitution. If the law were consistent with what is done in the case of women heterosexual prostitutes, the prostitutes would be prosecuted and the clients not prosecuted.

Another problem is' job stereotyping. According to Humphreys in Out of the Closet there are "safe" occupations for the American homosexual—hairdresser, fashion designer, interior decorator, just as there are non-threatening positions for the American black—janitor, domestic, and prize fighter. No studies confirm, however, that other occupations lack their share of homosexuals. There are gay truck drivers, housewives, engineers, secretaries, doctors, teachers, plumbers, profesors, and—university presidents. A recent Advocate article carried an interview with a gay fireman and a gay policeman. Richard Hongiste, San Francisco County Sheriff, is quoted as saying "there are instances in which people (in law enforcement) were employed that were gay.They have done as good or a better job than those around them … there is no justificatior for discrimination."