Asexual..Bisexual..Heterosexual..Homosexual!! What else
exists, we have no clue! Well, for some of you, talking about this might make
you go Ewww while for some, it might
be interesting. Before you let your imagination run wild, hit the brakes.
Think! Have you mocked at a homosexual? Have you turned your face to one? Have
you been scared by one? Why are you indifferent to them? Have you ever pondered
over how or why there is a sexual orientation as homosexuals? Bewildered huh?
We read homosexuality in novels. We have our favourite celebrities who are
homosexuals. But why this indifference when there is homosexuality right outside
your doorstep! Let us dig into the homosexuality enigma and maybe have a reforged
outlook on Homosexuality.
Like most of the English words, the word “homosexual” is
also derived from a Greek word that implies same sex. Needs no further
explanation! Does it? It is the physical or romantic attraction that develops
between people of same sex. Homosexuality is one of the three major types of
heterosexual-homosexual continumm. Heterosexual-homosexual continumm is a
psychological cycle for understanding the transformation in human sexuality on
a continuous spectrum from exclusive attraction to the opposite sex to the
exclusive attraction to the same sex. Often referred to as gays (male or male and
female) or lesbians (female), the homosexuals do not come out of their closets because
of homophobia i.e. all negative reactions to homosexuals and heterosexist
discrimination. And hence, there is no substantial data on the number of
homosexuals in the world.
When we turn the pages of history, the first sign of homosexuality
is presumed to have been identified in a male couple namely Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum, who lived around 2400 BC in Egypt. On the flip side, anthropologists Stephen
Murray and Will
Roscoe reported that women in Lesotho
(which is one of the members of the Common wealth nations sandwiched by South Africa
on all its sides) engaged in socially sanctioned
long term, erotic relationships called motsoalle.
Certain reports also say that the warriors of Congo were involved sexually with
men as young as twelve or thirteen years who looked after their household
chores. While America was not far behind! Homosexuality existed in America
under a different name called “Two-Spirit individuals”. The Spanish conquerors
were however horrified by homosexuals and resorted to extreme punishments for
homosexual behavior. Confucianism,
being primarily a social and political philosophy, focused little on sexuality,
whether homosexual or heterosexual. To our shock, Ming Dynasty literature (Bian
Er Chai) depict homosexual relationships between men as far more enjoyable
and more harmonious than heterosexual relationships. Cretans considered
homosexuality as a means of population control. Most of the Roman emperors took
to male lovers. A controversial pair was the Duke of Buckingham and King James
I. An anonymous pamphlet about them which
read “The world has changd I not know how, for men kiss men, not women now”
spread like wild fire. Be it the Middle East or Germany or anywhere in the
world, homosexuality was wide spread and is even predicted to have existed
since the evolution of mankind. While Indian mythology is concerned, the Kama
Sutra does mention about attraction between same sex.
Sexual orientation is integrally linked to the intimate
personal relationships that human beings form with others to meet their deeply
felt needs for love, attachment, and intimacy. In addition to sexual behavior,
these bonds encompass nonsexual physical affection between partners.
Psychologists were the first to identify homosexuality in the modern world.
They categorized it as a disease till the 19th century. In
retaliation to this curt remark, over the years, some psychologists took to
this issue and declared homosexuals as normal people with normal brain activity
and health conditions. What is homosexuality then? How does it arise?? There is
always a big fight on the reason for homosexuality. Is it nature or nuture? Parents of homosexual children tend to bear
this burden that their early parenting blunders may have caused homosexuality
in their children. However research proves that, hormonal and genetic activity
that occurs during the foetal growth which influences brain structure are the
reasons behind homosexuality. The structural differences in brain with regard
to symmetry and nerve connections may decide the sexual orientation. To sum it
up, there is no consensus on the reason for homosexuality. However it can be
considered as a combination of genetic, hormonal and social-environmental
influences that result in homosexuality.
Till the break of the 20th century there was a
wide spread belief that in a homosexual relationship, one of the members would
have the physical or emotional characteristics of the opposite sex. An
individual homosexual maybe be masculine or feminine or androgynous. Some
studies report that the seeds of homosexuality begin to surface with childhood
gender non-conformity which is a phenomenon where pre-pubescent children do not
conform to expected gender related sociological and psychological patterns. Did
you know there is a scale to measure your sexuality?? Oh yes! The Kinsey scale
measures your sexuality from sexual behavior surveys. 0 denotes exclusively
heterosexual while 6 refers to exclusively homosexual. A big question arose in
2008 as to how homosexuality, which tends to lower reproductive success,
is maintained in the population at a relatively high frequency. The answer to
the question is still hypothetical! The research on homosexuality hit a rock bottom
when a revelation came across. Homosexuals are classified into three
categories. The first type are biological. The second type are those who do it
socially as a fad or because of weak character or insecurity as in prisoners as
depicted in most novels. The third type are
bisexuals who try to fornicate with both sexes.
The religious take on homosexuality is no mystery! It is
a widespread notion. Be it Christianity or Judaism or Islam, homosexuality is
considered a haram. The Catholics are now forcing Pope Francis to speak out against the LGBT (Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) rights. Hindiusm is diverse and
doesn’t supposedly have any evidence against homosexuality. However, some eminent religious leaders have voted
against same sex relationships and hence are the followers. Buddhism condemns
any form of sexual activity itself as a practice of controlling one’s cravings.
It all boils down to one religion which supports homosexuality. And we call it
HUMANISM!
Whether you are a cisgender or a transgender or a hetero
sexual or a homo sexual or even a celibate it doesn’t matter! You could be
Ricky Martin or Dolce and Gabbana or Neil Patrick or our very own Vikram
Seth. Sexual orientation may define what
you are literally on the inside. However, there is something more to inside
than just hormones or genes and that cannot be defined by a sexual status. Like
Pope Francis said Who am I to judge? Live
your life the way you want it! Nobody but you can take that right away!
So..Be the change you
want to see in the world!
-N&N
-N&N
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