The Human Rights Campaign Defines Sexual Orientation

Many scientists have a difficult time understanding homosexuality on the evolutionary aspect. They believe a human beings’ main purpose is reproduction, which makes the sexual relationship between two males a confusing concept for most evolutionary thinkers (McKnight 1). Evolutionary thinkers believe that the less desirable genes are removed from the system when they are not breed as often, but this cannot be said for homosexual males who have been a continuing presence in most societies over numerous generations (McKnight 1). These evolutionary thinkers, like most humans, have a need to place others into

He contradicted the argument that homosexual behaviour is related to genetic, hormonal or biological disorder. To abolish these views, the author mentions that ‘no school of medicine, medical journal or professional organization has ever recognized such claims (p. 2) - at least at the time he wrote the article in 1994.

Despite his belief that the human race is born with innate bisexual tendencies, Freud was assured in his belief that homosexuality was likely the cause of arrested psychosexual development, or in other words, a sexual immaturity. Freud once wrote “homosexuality… is nothing to be ashamed of, no vice, no degradation”, a theory that led him to believe efforts to reverse homosexuality would ultimately be unsuccessful (Drescher, J). Like Freud, Alfred Kinsey was yet another psychiatrist who began to challenge the negative perception of homosexuality. Sexual Behavior, released in 1948, offered up a nonpartisan and blunt analysis of human sexual behaviors to a staggering degree. Their prominence and magnanimous understanding of sexuality was nevertheless pushed aside, with the new generation of psychoanalysts to look at homosexuality from a pathological position. Unsurprisingly, no psychoanalytic cure was to be found yet this new generation vouched for the idea that heterosexuality was the only biological norm. Even with the lack of any sound evidence, claims of curing homosexuality, through various physical and psychological techniques, was vastly accepted by the scientific community. The idea that homosexuality was a disorder that could be cured was toxic to 20th-century American psychiatry. Paranoia already incited by the post-World War II social conditions in the

Invention is the greatest idea of our time. Whether it is medical, scientific, social, or mechanical, a new invention of the day seems to be part of our everyday lives. Homosexuality is really no different. It may not be your everyday invention, but it clearly is and people throughout time to try and identify the first “known homosexual” in time. Some people wanted this new idea of homosexuality to just go away, but as time has gone on, it will not be going away anytime soon. It is getting to be more prominent in society and this paper takes the stand that in Canada especially, homosexuality is not seen by society overall as something different. Of course it is still not

The research article suggests a structure within the human brain and a genetic link indicate the biological factor for male homosexuality. The journal investigates an experiment about the role of male genetics in sexual orientation by analysing the hypothalamus in autopsy specimens from homosexual and heterosexual men. Increased possibilities of same-sex orientation were discovered in the maternal male cousins and uncles of the participants, instead of their father or parental relatives. Also, the researchers discovered a brain cell group ‘INAH’ had a potentiality of being the sex-orientated DNA, indicating that the reason of homosexuality may be related to genetics.

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

Homosexuality is defined or characterized as attraction towards the same gender either male or female. It came from the Greek language, where “homo” means the same or similar, hence referring to the attraction between two beings of the same sex. Homosexuality is also referred as a clinical term. Most male homosexuals generally prefer to be called "gay men" and most homosexual women generally prefer to be called "lesbians." Homosexuality is one of the three main categories of sexual orientation, alongside bisexual and heterosexual. The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality is an example of normal and positive variation in human sexual

Scientists and researchers are continuously revealing data about genetic homosexuality; the question is, are these studies reliable and conclusive? Copious studies have been conducted and have continued to be indecisive as to discovering a gene that develops homosexuality. Little bits of information have sprung up here and there, but there is no way to prove that being homosexual, bisexual, or even heterosexual for that matter is genetic. “Simon LeVay, who self-identifies as gay, said: ‘It's important to stress what I didn't find. I did not prove that homosexuality is genetic, or find a genetic cause for being gay. I didn't show that gay men are born that way, the most common mistake people make in interpreting my work’” (Price). Homosexual individuals themselves even give in to the fact that their homosexuality is an adaptation, not an inheritance. A scientific study that is valid and repeatable is what is considered acceptable in the science community, and tests taken over genetic homosexuality have been neither valid nor repeatable. It only makes sense that there is not a “gay gene,” as some individuals specify

Same sex relations have fluctuated throughout history between being something frowned upon or even forbidden to something that is socially acceptable. The term homosexuality was created in the late 19th century by a German psychologist, Karoly Maria Benkert (Plato). Although it has yet to be accurately identified when exactly the first signs of homosexuality appeared in history it the can be dated as far back as to the 24th-25th century B.C.E. (Northeastern). Homosexuality is not something new or unheard of by any means. In 529 we begin seeing the first punishments of homosexuals (Borngay). Roman emperor Justinian ordered “persons who engaged in homosexual sex to be executed, although those who were repent could be spared,” (Borngay). Following

Magnus Hirschfeld, who was a leading advocate for homosexual rights during the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s made the statement that "from the viewpoint of race hygiene, the marriage of a homosexual is a risky undertaking.” As we can see here, even in its embryonic stages, there was already a negative undertone to the possibility of homosexuality being a genetic possibility, as opposed to being a lifestyle choice, or on the bad end, a mental disease. Of course, Magnus didn’t mean to express that in this way, but we didn’t know any better; just yet.

This is an exploration that will summarize and investigate the researched biology and science background comparing the neurological anatomy and science of a heterosexual and homosexual man through the studies; Simon LeVay, Roselli, Hamers, Sanders, Hansen. The perception of whether homosexuality conforms to the course of nature vs. nurture can influence the amount of scrutiny judged upon affected individuals. So, the purpose of this extended essay is to answer the research question of to what extent is there a biological basis with neurological structurally, genetically, hormonally, and prenatally behind male homosexuality and how an individual’s perception of this fact influences their behavior towards homosexuals. Furthermore, draw

Richard von Drafft-Ebing first challenged the heterosexual assumption “that all people were born heterosexual and that being attracted to opposite-sex partners was the natural conditions of human beings” (Koppelman, p. 264) with the term coining and the 1886 publication of his book titled “Homosexuality,” in which he chose not to describe homosexuality as a “sexual inversion” but as “someone sexually attracted to members of the same sex.” (Koppelman, p. 264) Later his term “homosexuality” was used again to challenge the “general assumption that all human beings possessed a heterosexual orientation” in the Kinsey Report.

The nature and nature of homosexuality is heavily debated. Some people believe that homosexuality is biologically determined and others believe it’s base on ones environment. This topic can be argue to be base on both nature and nurture. Studies conducted in the past decades support both the biological and environmental aspect of homosexuality.

Science is uncovered origins a lot of things over the centuries and the human created much great inventions and even explored the surface of the moon; however, one question still on everyone’s mind and science may have solved one of greatest mysteries yet which is: how did homosexuality and heterosexuality evolve? Many psychologist, biologist and scientist may agree with sexual orientation is output from a combination of biological, hormonal, environmental and emotional factors and those many factors that influence to a development of human sexual orientation. However, being homosexual or bisexual is not mentally ill or abnormal in certain ways, although sexual minority is part of social problems that makes output from misinformation or prejudicial attitude. Diversity in sexual orientation has been a subject that has been seen in different perspectives by the different people (LeVay, 2010). Today there are the homosexuals, heterosexuals and bisexuals orientated people are forming a part of our society. This paper conduct an overall study of important and strong factors and provides accurate information and explanation for those who want to better understand development of sexual orientation.

This paper is aimed to address the question of whether homosexuality is biologically based. This topic is quite relevant today because homosexuality is a huge civil rights issue which is also conflicting with the church 's moral standards. While many religious bodies claim that homosexuality is a choice and a "sin", many in the homosexual community have strongly refuted that claim, instead saying they were born this way and their sexual identity is not a choice for them. Currently one of the biggest debates regarding the rights of homosexuals is same sex marriage . If scientist are indeed able to show evidence that homosexuality is result of biologic or genetic