Education

Click on the questions, and see the answers below:

About Sexual Orientation
What is sexual orientation? What causes it? Is it a choice? Can therapy change it? What about "conversion therapy"? And "reparative therapy"? How can a therapist help?
About Homosexuality in General
Is it a mental illness? Can homosexuals be good parents? Why do they tell others? why is it difficult for GLBT? How do I overcome prejudice? Why is education important? Do all gay men have AIDS? Where can I learn more?

Is Homosexuality a Mental Illness or Emotional Problem?

No. Psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals agree that homosexuality is not an illness, mental disorder or an emotional problem. Over 35 years of objective, well-designed scientific research has shown that homosexuality, in and itself, is not associated with mental disorders or emotional or social problems. Homosexuality was once thought to be a mental illness because mental health professionals and society had biased information.

In the past the studies of gay, lesbian and bisexual people involved only those in therapy, thus biasing the resulting conclusions. When researchers examined data about these people who were not in therapy, the idea that homosexuality was a mental illness was quickly found to be untrue.

In 1973 the American Psychiatric Association confirmed the importance of the new, better designed research and removed homosexuality from the official manual that lists mental and emotional disorders. Two years later, the American Psychological Association passed a resolution supporting the removal.

For more than 25 years, both associations have urged all mental health professionals to help dispel the stigma of mental illness that some people still associate with homosexual orientation. End of Page