Homosexuality

From the Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia that anyone can change

Homosexuality is the sexual orientation for a person who is sexually and romantically attracted to people of their own gender. Men who are attracted to other men are called "gay" in slang. Women who are attracted to other women are also homosexual, so they are sometimes called gay, but are usually called "lesbians". People who are attracted to men and women are called bisexual. Together lesbian, homosexual, bisexual, and transgender people make up the "LGBT community."

Contents 1 Other titles for homosexuality 2 Homosexual "Pride" 3 Causes 4 Relationships 5 Sex 6 Problems homosexuals face 7 Slang terms 8 See also 9 References 10 Other websites

[change] Other titles for homosexuality

There are many different words to describe homosexual people. Some of these are used to insult homosexual people. However, the LGBT community sometimes uses these words to describe themselves. This is done to make the words less hurtful. Some words to describe homosexual men are: gay, queer, fag, poof, faggot, fruit, and fairy. The first two are words many homosexual men say about themselves. The last four are more hurtful. Some words to describe homosexual women are lesbian, sappho, and dyke. Lesbian is used most often. Dyke is used less often and is sometimes used to describe lesbians who are more masculine (act or dress more like men.)

[change] Homosexual "Pride"

When homosexual people do not tell people their sexual orientation, they are said to be "in the closet". "Out" or "out of the closet" is a slang term that means a homosexual person is open about his or her sexual orientation. This means he or she does not hide the fact that he or she is homosexual. Some gay and lesbian people stay in the closet because of fear of what would happen or because they live in a place that is not safe for homosexuals.

Sometimes people who are 'out' also say they are 'proud'. "Out" means they are not hiding their sexual orientation. "Proud" means that they are not ashamed of it. "Proud" or "Pride" has a special meaning in the LGBT community. It means they are celebrating and being happy that they are homosexual. It is not 'pride' meaning that they have done something to be proud of, but 'pride' meaning the opposite of shame. Many cities have "Pride Parades". These used to be protest marches. Today, they are usually celebrations of the LGBT community. They usually occur in June, in memory of the 'Stonewall Riots' that happened in New York City in 1969. These riots happened because police harassed and arrested people for being homosexual. 'Stonewall' or the 'Stonewall Riots' are sometimes called the start of the LGBT rights movement.

[change] Causes

The causes of homosexuality and bisexuality are controversial (people do not agree on them). Many religions see homosexual or bisexual behaviour as sin. Some religions also see homosexuality and bisexuality as a choice that a person makes. They believe gay people choose to sin when they have sex with people of the same sex.

However, many modern scientists believe that homosexuality is not a choice. The causes of homosexuality are not all understood, but genetics and the effects of prenatal hormones (when a baby is growing in its mother) are sometimes thought to be causes. Scientists also claim to show that homosexuality happens not only in humans. Many other types of animals (like penguins, chimpanzees, and dolphins) often show homosexuality.

Many scientists and doctors also believe that sexual orientation cannot change. Doctors used to treat gay people as if they had mental illnesses. However, homosexuality is no longer called a disease by doctors in many countries. There are some religious groups who still try to 'cure' homosexuality. This is called 'reparative therapy.' However, this is based on faith, not on science. Reparative Therapy is condemned by many medical and psychiatry groups like the American Psychological Association, American Psychiatric Association, Royal College of Psychiatrists, National Association of Social Workers, Royal College of Nursing, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. These groups believe sexual orientation cannot change. They also believe that gay people can be badly hurt by reparative therapy.

Many people believe that it is unfortunate to discuss causes of homosexuality and bisexuality without discussing causes of heterosexuality, too. Although it is easy to understand why heterosexuality exists (heterosexual sex produces babies), that does not directly explain how the brain develops to produce heterosexual people. Heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality all have causes, and some people believe that to discuss only the causes of homosexuality and bisexuality suggests that there is something wrong with people who have those orientations.

[change] Relationships

Like all people, gay people can fall in love and have life-long relationships. In most countries, they cannot legally marry their partners. However, they still have relationships in the same way as heterosexual people^{[needs proving]}. They often call each other 'partners' or 'life-partners' instead of 'spouse', 'husband', or 'wife.' Instead of having a marriage ceremony, they may have a 'commitment ceremony.'

Some homosexual people have marriage ceremonies even though governments do not recognize or accept them. They may call their partner a spouse, wife, or husband despite the law.

But to them, the important part about marriage is not just the name. Married people get many benefits from being married. Depending on the country, these benefits can include paying less taxes, getting their spouse's insurance, inheriting property, social security benefits, having or adopting children together, emigrating to a spouse's country, being able to make choices for a sick spouse, or even being allowed to visit a sick spouse who is in a hospital.

Today there are five countries that allow homosexual people to marry: the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, South Africa and Canada. The Netherlands was first in 2001. Canada and Spain were the most recent in 2005. Sometimes these are called 'Same-Sex Marriage' or 'Gay-Marriage'.

Instead of marriage, some countries or states offer homosexuals 'civil unions' or 'domestic partnerships.' This offers some of the protections and benefits of marriage, but not all. Civil unions and domestic partnerships are sometimes seen by the LGBT community as being 'second class' (not as good as 'first class'). They do offer some benefits for gay and lesbian couples, but they also suggest that these couples are not as important or valid as heterosexual couples. Some people even say this is like the "separate but equal" rules that were used to segregate people by race in the United States. They believe that separate is never equal and homosexuals should not accept being second class citizens.

[change] Sex

Homosexual sex, or gay sex is when people of the same gender have sexual relations with each other, whether they are two or more males, or two or more females.

Many religions say homosexual sex is a sin, including Islam, Christianity and Judaism. However, some denominations (different parts) of these religions, especially Christianity and Judaism now accept homosexuality.

[change] Problems homosexuals face

In modern times, homosexuality is more accepted in "western" countries. Most western countries have laws that protect homosexuals from violence and discrimination.

In many other countries, however, homosexuals are not safe from discrimination. A homosexual person can be fired from a job because he is gay - even if he is a good worker. Homosexuals also can be denied renting a home or even being able to eat in a restaurant because of their sexual orientation. In these countries, homosexuals can experience discrimination and violence. For example, Islamic law^[1] is used in some places to imprison (put in jail) and even execute (kill) homosexuals. In Iran, since 1979, some groups believe over 4,000 homosexuals have been executed because of their sexual orientation.^[2] In 2005, after fourteen months of prison and torture, two teenage boys were hanged in Iran ^[3].

In the United Kingdom, homosexuality used to be a crime. Oscar Wilde, the famous Irish writer was imprisoned for it, and as a result, it destroyed his reputation and career as a wit and playwright. Alan Turing, the man who helped the Allies in World War II by breaking the Enigma Code used by the Germans, was convicted of this crime and ultimately killed himself over the effects.

Today in the United Kingdom, homosexuals are safer. Homosexual sex between adults is not a crime. Gay and lesbian couples cannot marry, but they can have "civil partnerships" that have some of the rights and benefits of marriage. Gay people can be in the military. So although the United Kingdom has changed many things, homosexuals still do not have full equal rights there.

In most of the world, homosexuals still do not have the same rights and freedoms that heterosexuals have.

[change] Slang terms

(Note: Some people may find these terms offensive)

Male:

• Butt Pirate
• Faggot (Fag)
• Fairy
• Fudge Packer
• Homo
• Poofter (Poof)
• Ring Raider
• Queer
• Gandalf
• Rider of Rohan
• Wormtongue

Female:

• Dyke
• Homo
• Lesbo
• Muff Diver
• Rug Muncher
• Scissor Sister

Some slang terms are different in the US and UK.

[change] See also

• Gay
• Bisexuality
• Pansexuality
• Asexuality
• Antisexuality
• Technosexuality

[change] References

[change] Other websites

There are national and international groups or organizations for the LGBT community. These organizations are often political. They fight for the rights and safety of homosexuals.

Some of the more important political organizations are:

• The International Lesbian and Gay Association
• The Human Rights Campaign
• GLAAD, The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation
• Stonewall UK
• Outrage
• The International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
• Egale Canada