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Throughout history, there have been accounts of people being persecuted for many reasons; race, religion, political affiliations, and sexual orientation. In the United States, and many other nations across the globe, there have been hundreds of thousands of people victimized for being homosexual. Due to differing standpoints, homosexuality is seen as “immoral” or “sinful” or even “disgusting”. Up until 1973, homosexuality was also referred to as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association. People could be openly criticized, mocked, and often killed for simply being gay. Because of these social and religious criticisms, many people have been forced to partake in “conversion” or “reparative” therapies in order to become

It was not until the twelfth century that homosexuality started to be condemned. This condemnation proved to live through then until now. Due to the fact that America incorporated these early views into its early laws, even the most bland of today's sex acts were seen as unlawful (“Homosexuality and Mental Health”). Since then, these laws have changed, however, there is still a primarily negative connotation on homosexuals when coming from a church or legal standpoint concerning the masses of America.

It is interesting to note that according to the American Psychiatric Association, up until 1974 homosexuality was considered a mental illness. There was no scientific breakthrough or any new information that would allow for this change of status. Simply, “The APA claimed that they made the change because new research showed that most homosexual people were content with their sexual orientation, and that as a group, they appeared to be as well-adjusted as heterosexual people”. The decision to remove homosexually as a mental illness was done by trustee, and the decision was confirmed by a vote. I do not believe that homosexually is a mental illness, however, homosexually was never validated or invalidated by science, so I am surprised to learn that it was even considered a mental

First, we have to take a quick step into the history of LGBT and we as a society have to recognize that we use to consider people to have a mental disorder if they were homosexual. It wasn’t until American Psychologist Evelyn Hooker and her series that showed that there was no evidence to support the statement that homosexuality is a mental illness. Although she started her test all on her own, in 1954, she would apply for a grant from the NIHM (National Institute of Mental

In the 1960s, the American Psychiatric Association described homosexuality as a mental disorder, such as illness, other than it was morally condemned by all world religions. Homosexual relationships, even made in the privacy of the home, were punishable

During the 1900’s, homosexuals were sent to mental institutions to “cure” them of what was thought to be a disease. There they underwent shock therapy, one of the many methods used in conversion therapy. In 1920 Sigmund Freud began the practice of changing a person 's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. In the beginning homosexuality was also deemed as “ a negative human characteristic caused by immaturity, pathology and family dynamic” (Scoolaid.net). Soon its popularity had scientists such as Eugen Steinach, Sandor Ferenczi as well as his daughter Anna Freud partake in the practice. If they were not sent to mental

Gay discrimination has been present for many years in the United States history. In colonial America homosexuality was regulated with harsh penalties but was rarely enforced (Chauncey 1). Between the 1930’s and 1960’s, Discrimination of homosexuality peeked (Chauncy 1). Homosexual men and

Starting in the mid 1900s, many homosexuals were forced to go into jail or lose their jobs or even custody over their own children simply for being a homosexuals since gays were considered being sick, or a criminal (“Gay”). A few people considered homosexuality to be a sickness that could be treated with a special type of therapy. This therapy was called reparative therapy, a therapy designed to alter homosexual individuals to become heterosexuals. The therapy was based off the concept that homosexuality is a behavioral issue or illness that needs to be cured (Morris). In the 1960s, many gays faced the possibility of psychiatric lockup where they would be put through horrible circumstances to cure the “illness” that they were facing (“Gay”). Although for a majority of the 1900s homosexuality was seen as an illness that needed to be cured, it was also seen as a mental issue that caused those diagnosed to perform preposterous activities. For example, not only was the idea that homosexuals were prostitutes and child molesters introduced, but also even the idea that homosexuals were murdered because of their mental illness (Newman). Also, in the earlier 1900s, some Americans began to see that those who participated in homosexual behavior as illegal drug users (Newman). Since homosexuality was seen as a illness and mental problem, the early LGBT rights movement had difficulty

In the 20th Century there is a visible pattern of criminalizing homosexuality and a misunderstanding of homosexuality. This impact of this error is still prominent today, with society’s continuous delusion that homosexuality and pedophilia overlap or are the same thing. In 1948 with the implementation of the Miller Act, which was created as a tool to protect children from sexual violence; like molestation, and indecent exposure (Eskridge). Creating the Miller Act allowed for harsher charges against offenders, but it also escalated the charges for crimes that were homosexuality motivated (Eskridge). The special interest in crimes against children that are homosexual in nature is motivated from a place of fear of the spread of homosexuality-

The word “homosexual” did not come around until 1869 when a “German pamphlet advocating the repeal of an anti-sodomy law” was circulated in Prussia. Those who fell under that category did their best to appear as masculine or feminine as possible as to avoid suspicion and

Less than a century ago, homosexuality was thought to be a curable mental illness and was not spoken of. Many consider it to be “unnatural” or a “lifestyle choice” while others believe sexuality is a part of each individuals nature. Homosexual individuals have been around since at least the beginning of recorded history and have been found to exist in essentially every culture throughout time. Treatment of these individuals varied in each culture. Some viewed sexual orientation as another aspect human sexuality. Some cultures treated it as a right of passage, others saw it as a direct act against God and punished it severely. Whether by nature or by choice, homosexuals are still humans and should be treated as such. Although protections and

is abnormal and hence undesirable - not because it is immoral or sinful, or because it

Ellis was also known as one of the founding individuals of the American sexual revolution and atheism. Earlier in his career he was also known as a sexologist. One of his most famous publications was “Sex Without Guilt”. His books led to many heated debates between religious therapist and peers (“Albert Ellis (1913-2007),” 2015). During this time Ellis stated his own personal beliefs about homosexuality. He “emphasized his that it was neither good nor bad and that homosexual feelings and behaviors are resistant to change, even through therapy” (“Albert Ellis (1913-2007),” 2015).

Homosexuality is not a 20th century situation but has been in history from the age of ancient Rome, Greece, Egypt, and even China. The attitude toward homosexuality always has been a variable, depending on the social, cultural and morality, or even the political development (Barnecka et al., 2005). Back in Greek history the concept of relations between two men was seen as the highest form of love, whereas the Judaic view always was against and frowned upon these relations considering it immoral and illegal. However, when the Roman rule was destroyed and the Christians took over Europe, homosexuality was seen as perverse (Woodward, 1997).

In its recorded antiquity, records to suggest Society X also had male pairs and female pairs. A repeated location of such behavior is a “Greece”, apparent source of scientific and societal inspiration. Not presently clear how this same gender pairing was tabooed, but the “progressive” sentiment that overcame Society X removed the taboo. Young Xers demanded and enacted acceptance in a series of revolutionary acts—denouncing the mental stigma, allowing the pairs “adopt” offspring in unstable male-female homes, and legally permitting the same gender pairing through an institution ” marriage ”.