Homosexuality: Family and Friends
Homosexuality is a part of our society and has been for a long time. Plato spoke of homosexuality in The Symposium:Those who are halves of a male whole pursue males, and being slices, so to speak of the male, love men throughout their boyhood, and take pleasure in physical contact with men. Such boys and lads are the best of their generation, because they are the most manly (Isay 11).Once family or friends discover the meaning of homosexuality, they can be successful in meeting the challenge of integrating a gay family member or friend by using positive thinking and therapy.The most used definition of homosexuality is: "sexual orientation toward people of the same sex." Homosexual men have a prevalent erotic attraction to other men. Their sexual fantasies are mostly directed toward other men, and have been so since childhood. A man doesn't have to engage in sexual activity to be a homosexual. Sometimes pressure from society or inner conflict may inhibit sexual behavior. Men who have homosexual contacts but, because of pressure from society or inner conflict, or both, can't accept that they are gay, are also homosexual. Some men may not even have conscious access to their homoerotic fan
When psychotherapy or analysis is used to try to change a homosexual to a heterosexual, it can prove very harmful to that person. Research suggests that the homosexual orientation is in place very early in the life cycle, possibly even before birth. "The American Psychological Association states that 'scientific evidence does not show that conversion therapy works and that it can do more harm than good" (Shepherd). The homosexual patient will develop low self-esteem, apathy for work, and become very depressed, even suicidal (Isay). However, psychotherapy for homosexuals doesn't have to be negative. First, it brings discourse on sexuality into the family. tasies because they repress, suppress, or deny them. Homosexuals discover their sexual orientation. Accurate information can help individuals understand how they can successfully meet the challenge presented by learning that they have a homosexual family member or friend. Faced with the unknown, some families seek professional help to "cure" homosexual family members. "According to the American Psychological Association homosexuality 'is simply the way a minority of our population expresses human love and sexuality" (Shepherd). "Corning out"--disclosing one's same-sex sexual orientation to others--is considered to be a crucial task in establishing a homosexual identity. They are not recruited or brainwashed into homosexuality. It would also require restructuring one's self-concept and social identity (Shepherd). And seeking help with the "coming out" process can be a giant step in what can be a creative and positive experience.
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Acceptance Essays
