Accepting Sexual Orientation

Accepting Sexual Orientation

Homosexuality plays a major role in American culture today. In society, there are quite a few people and organizations who frown upon same sex relationships. Most places assume the norm is male and female interactions. Although heterosexuality may be the norm, homosexuality is becoming more common in cultures. Homosexuality is when the same sex (male/male or female/female) is attracted to one another. Homosexuals prefer to be in same sex relationships. Gay (male and male relationships), lesbian (female and female relationships), and bisexual (has relationships with both sexes) are terms referring to homosexuals. People are free to be who they are, but conflicts do arise. Unfortunately, there are many antigay activists who believe homosexuals are doing ungodly actions and should only interact on an intimate level with the opposite sex. On the positive side, there are heterosexuals who strongly support same sex relationships. People have quite a few perspectives (like historical and biological) on homosexuality as well as society affecting choices made by gays and lesbians.

Historical perspectives on homosexuality are quite interesting to research. Western, ancient Greek, and Roman cultures did practice same sex interactions. Romans were the first to have negative thoughts about homosexuality. During the fifteenth century, Romans practiced Christianity, and they thought same sex relationships were sinful and disturbing (Rathus, Nevid, & Fichner-Rathus, 2011). Same sex relationships were considered sodomy (Florence was where quite a few sodomites were living). Rathus (2011) stated, "Jews and Christians have traditionally referred to male-male sexual activity as the sin of Sodom, which generally alludes to anal intercourse, and sometimes to oral-genital contact" (p. 287). The Bible (book of Genesis) states God destroyed the city of Sodom, and why God did such a thing is still undecided. e