Реферат: Psychology Of Sexuality Essay Research Paper This

psychologically well adjusted. There is no evidence that homosexual parents are

less capable of parenting than heterosexual parents. Because therapy cannot

change sexual orientation, it is important for society to become better educated

about homosexuality, thus diminishing anti-gay prejudice. Accurate information

for young people struggling with their own sexual identity is especially

important. The belief that such information–when given to young people–will

affect one’s sexual orientation is not valid. The people who have the most

positive attitudes toward gay men and lesbians are those who say they know one

or more gay persons well. For this reason, psychiatrists believe that

discrimination against homosexuality is based on his or her lack of knowledge

concerning gay people. Therefore, educating all people about sexual orientation

and homosexuality is likely to diminish anti-gay prejudice. CRITIQUE

Homosexuality was once believed to be a mental illness, due to the unfortunate

fact that mental health professionals furnished society with incorrect

information. Most studies about homosexuals only involved gay men and lesbians

who were in therapy. They were seeking help for their problems, just as straight

men and women do. These studies, and the misunderstanding of homosexuality,

seriously damaged the acceptance of gay men and lesbians. The theories of

homosexuals by psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health

professionals, painted an untrue portrait of gay men and lesbians. This unfair

portrayal directly attributed to the unacceptance of homosexuals. In 1973, the

American Psychiatric Association confirmed that homosexuals were not mentally

ill, and it was not until two years later in 1975, that the American

Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting this confirmation. Both

associations urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of

mental illness that had been associated with homosexual orientation. Since this

original declassification of homosexuality as a mental disorder, this decision

has been reaffirmed by additional research findings and by both associations.

However, when one is reared to believe a certain way, it is not easy to change