Across the globe, public opinion on homosexuality remains highly fragmented. This is a function of country, region and economic development, as well as religious and political attitudes.
In many countries, those who are on the ideological left are more likely to say that homosexuality should be accepted than those on the right. This is especially true in South Korea.
Definition
A gay person is someone whose sexual orientation is to persons of the same sex. The term is commonly used to describe lesbians and bisexuals, but it can also refer to gay men.
An intersex person has a mixture of gonads, chromosomes, external gender organs, secondary sex characteristics and hormonal balances that are not typical for either male or female bodies. This is usually a result of genetics, but it can be inherited or acquired.
Generally, people who identify as gay are socially and emotionally attracted to other same-sex individuals. However, a person can choose not to self-identify as gay. Alternatively, they may not have ever had sex with a same-sex partner or choose to be a closet gay. Regardless of their choice, they are not alone in their experience and should feel included.
Origins
Many cultures around the world have recorded evidence of homosexual activity and same-sex love. Whether accepted or persecuted, these relationships and their participants have drawn attention from travelers’ diaries and church records; diplomats’ journals; medical reports; and eyewitness accounts from the pulpit.
Homosexuality has been viewed as a variant of human sexual behavior on one hand and as a psychologically deviant behaviour on the other. This ambivalence has continued into the 21st century and continues to be debated.
Psychologists such as Richard von Krafft-Ebing and Sigmund Freud, writing in the 19th and 20th centuries, classified homosexuality as a mental illness. They believed that homosexuality originated in heredity, though others have posited a variety of possible origins including social influences and physiological events in fetal development.
Attitudes
Across the world, there has been an overall trend toward increasing acceptance of gays. This is largely attributed to the rise of acceptance among younger adults in many countries.
In the United States, for example, nearly nine in 10 adult adults say that gay people should be allowed to live openly without discrimination. This figure has increased 13 points since 2000.
Having personal contacts with gay people is also a major predictor of positive attitudes. Those who know gays in their families, at work, or in their neighborhoods have much more positive views of them than those who don’t.
Relationships
There are a variety of relationships among gays, including romantic ones, social ones, and work-related ones. They may be single, living together, or married.
In general, the same-sex relationships of gays tend to be more intimate than those of straights. They may also have a stronger emotional bond with their partners, especially if they have had many sexual experiences with them.
Research shows that same-sex couples experience similar levels of relationship satisfaction and longevity to heterosexual couples. However, same-sex partners face more challenges than their heterosexual counterparts in terms of discrimination and lack of support from family and friends.
Sexuality
Sexuality is the way we express our feelings, thoughts, desires and behaviours around sex. It can be influenced by biology, psychology, social settings and economic factors.
It also reflects how we see ourselves and our relationships with others. It includes our sex, gender identity and roles, sexual orientation, pleasure, intimacy and reproduction.
Depending on where you live, your sexuality may be seen as taboo by some people or a positive aspect of your lifestyle. It is important to seek support from psychologists, psychiatrists and family doctors if you are concerned about your sexuality.
Despite a history of prejudice and discrimination, the majority of mainstream medical and mental health organizations in this country have long ago abandoned classifications of gay or lesbian behavior as a mental disorder. Homosexuality is a normal part of human sexuality that has been documented in many cultures and historical eras.