...Homosexuality: A Case of Nature versus Nurture By Robert L Smith Instructor: Mr. Simbarashe Chiduma A RESEARCH PAPER Submitted to Baker College in partial fulfillment of requirements For class: Soc 201 Winter 2012 Homosexual is defined as: “of, relating to, or characterized by a tendency to direct sexual desire toward another of the same sex” (Webster’s Dictionary, 4th ed., 2003) The nature approach is based on a chance that humans are born with a specific gene that determines if they will be homosexual. "In other words, some people are born gay." (Johnson, 2003) The nurture approach tells that people are influenced by their surroundings. In this approach, "A nurtured gay person is one that is 'made' gay." (Johnson, 2003) Originally the American Psychological Association (APA) had deemed homosexuality a mental disease. The debate now- a-days revolve around if sexuality is based on nature, a person’s environment, or based on nurture, a person’s upbringing. Alfred Kinsey pioneered one of the earliest experiments in the 1930s. Kinsey’s research resulted in little besides putting the word homosexual into the common language. Karen Hooker completed the first psychological test in 1957. The research was put together to investigate the relationship between homosexuality, psychological development, and illness. The subjects were given three tests, the Rorschach, TAT, and MAPS. She determined that there was no link between social determinism of sexuality...
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...Brandon LeGore LeGore 1 Samm Erickson English 101 October 25th, 2013 Is Homosexual Adoption Acceptable? Homosexuality is a topic that has gained much interest in the past few decades. It seems as each year passes, more and more acceptance of this lifestyle come into light. However, when it comes to homosexuals wanting to create a family, a problem is created. In some states homosexuality is accepted and embraced, which enables this group to adopt a child as if they were heterosexual. There are many levels of argument to this topic to be addressed. Some believe that gay adoption should be legalized nation-wide, while others believe it should be banned everywhere. There are some strong opinions as to why this group of individuals should be able to adopt, but these reasons should not be enough to give this option to the gay community. The main issue raised is “What is best for the child”? Should the love of two parents outweigh the gender of the parents? The clear answer is no. Homosexual couples should not be allowed to adopt because of the importance of gender roles, protecting the traditional family outline and harm done to children in homosexual families. Gender roles are a very important part of a child's development process. Those who have same sex parents will have a hard time distinguishing appropriate gender roles in the absence of male and female role-models. Two parents that are different genders have shown to be more beneficial to the growth...
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...Gay marriage: Catholic Church tells priests 'time to act is now' The Roman Catholic Church has launched a final push against the Government’s plans for gay marriage with just 10 days before MPs vote on the issue. The Roman Catholic Church has launched a final push against the Government’s plans for gay marriage Photo: ALAMY By John Bingham, Religious Affairs Editor 3:30PM GMT 27 Jan 2013 3047 Comments The Archbishop of Southwark, the Most Rev Peter Smith, spoke of a desire to “mobilise” opposition in the Church. He urged them to capitalize on the decision by all three main party leaders to allow free votes on the matter and increase pressure on their local MPs to halt such a “fundamental change in the law”. A million postcards, designed for Catholics to complete and send to their MP asking them to vote against the Government’s plan, were distributed at masses over the weekend. The issue to due to come up for a vote in the Commons as early as February 5. It would open the way for the first same-sex weddings to take place as early as the beginning of next year. Related Articles * Gay marriage bill 'opens door to abolition of adultery' 26 Jan 2013 * Catholic church warns 'non-chaste' school heads could be sacked 26 Jan 2013 * Government 'powerless to protect teachers from sack over gay marriage' 25 Jan 2013 * Alice Arnold: ex BBC newsreader attacks 'horrible' anti-gay marriage MPs 21 Jan 2013 In a letter on behalf of bishops, Archbishop Smith...
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...Running Head: Health issues Health Issues HPED 1800 July 13, 2009 Shorter College To be a human in American and not believe that someone should be entitled to marry whom ever they feel is insane and crazy. The dictionary defines “marriage” in several different ways. The primary definition is the state of being united to a person of the opposite sex as a husband or wife in a consensual and contractual relationship recognized by law. Marriage is also defined as the state of being united to a person of the same sex in a relationship like that of a traditional marriage. The debates on whatever gay marriages should be legal or not has gone on for years and will continue to be a debate in the years to come. The answer to this question will always be two-sided depending on which definition of marriage you relate to. The institution of marriage is found in all societies but the features, roles and rules vary with different cultures. A person’s beliefs, religion or upbringing have an influence on how they view gay as well as straight marriage. Most people will debate that marriage is supposed to be solely between a man and a woman. Not letting homosexuals marry is unequal and judgmental by the government and the community. It is ok to run the money issues and political views but to try and tell people who they can and can’t marry is not right. Why is it alright to allow heterosexuals to marry and not let homosexuals...
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...Jessica Stokes Engl 1302-22 Prof. Gale September 22, 2011 Same Sex Marriage in the US. Gay marriage is an issue in America because gay and lesbian couples are wanting to be able to get married but a lot of people believe that it is wrong. Some people believe that marriage should only be between a man and a woman. Others think that anyone should be able to marry whoever they want regardless of what gender they are. This issue is important to me because it is relevant to my life. I am a lesbian and I have a girlfriend that I would like to marry someday. Not only me, but other gay Americans, such as Ellen DeGeneres, may want to marry their partners one day as well, but cannot because the government will not allow it. I think that gay marriage is a good topic for me to research for the entire semester, because I know that it is a major issue in the U.S and people are fighting for or against it constantly. This topic is very dear to me and relevant to my life, so I definitely have the passion to write about it for an entire semester. Even before I was with a girl I was interested in this issue. I have had gay friends all throughout my life and always thought that it was unfair that them and their partners could not legally get married even though they had been together for years. I have always been a supporter of the gay community and a supporter of same-sex marriage. What I already know about the topic is that some religious groups, such as the Westboro Baptist Church, and political...
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...Abstract Homosexuality has been an ongoing debate for many centuries in the United States. Majority of Americans fear homosexuality, because they do not understand it. What society needs to come to realize, is that same sex marriage is not a threat to the institution of marriage or society itself. Homosexuality has been around long enough that society should accept the homosexuals and not discriminate against them. We as human beings should look passed color, religion, or sexual preference, and see each other as the humans we are. Every human being should have the right of choice. The establishment of marriage is usually recognized as a union between a man and a woman, is this essentially accurate? What is a marriage? Several would say that it is a union between two intimate partners, typically between opposite genders. Why should marriage be restricted to that? There is no reason for marriage to be confined to a man and a woman. Will it cause grief or stress if John and Jim get married? Would Lisa and Kelly obtaining married be some kind of reason behind imminent doom? Marriage may be a legally binding union between two intimate partners; why will it matter what gender they are? Support for the previous argument comes from faith. The Bible, for instance, states that gay marriage is wrong and immoral. God apparently defines faith as a union between a man and a woman. Individuals in the U.S. believe many alternative religions and a few do not even have...
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...Applying Ethics in Practice Ieesha Dixson BSHS335 05/20/2013 Teresa Levesque Applying Ethics in Practice A situation that I might find myself, as a human service professional, where my personal values could become an ethical issue would be if someone began to bash the LGBT community or saying anything negative regarding the “lifestyle”. As a person that is a part of this community I would be offended. I would try to defend my community to the best of my ability because it is hard enough being a part of this lifestyle and to have people keep criticizing our lives is not fair. Not to mention the whole marriage issue that is happening around us. Another personal value that could become an ethical issue is homelessness, as a person that has been homeless I know how it feels to not know where you would sleep at night and if I sleep in my car would I be safe. There are a number of young people that are becoming homeless and something needs to be done to figure out why the youth of today are becoming homeless. As of April of 2013 I have been able to obtain my low income apartment for a year and I am proud of myself because I put my all into getting a place to stay that I feel comfortable in and not have to worry. This is one of those situations where a person would have to start with the base problems to obtain their major goal. It is hard and it takes a lot of work to stay motivated. This could become an issue because if I was to hear someone down grade another person...
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...While conservative Christians have led historic crusades against a number of "evils" in America — witchcraft, alcohol, communism, feminism and abortion, among others — homosexuality was never more than a minor concern until 1969, when protests in New York City launched the contemporary gay rights movement. The first stirrings of anti-gay organizing came the following year when, according to historian Susan Fort Wiltshire, ambitious small-town preachers in the Northwest Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church began to exploit anti-gay sentiment. These preachers realized that virulent anti-gay rhetoric could "fill football stadiums for revivals in such tiny Panhandle towns as Tulia and Clarendon and Higgins and Perryton," Wiltshire says. The crusade went national in 1977, courtesy of Anita Bryant. Best known as a spokeswoman for Florida orange juice, Bryant had converted a runner-up finish in the 1959 Miss America pageant into a lucrative career singing "wholesome family music." Bryant later said she knew next to nothing about gay people when she attended a 1977 revival at Miami's Northside Baptist Church. The preacher there railed against a new Dade County ordinance that protected gay people from discrimination, saying he would "burn down [his] church before [he] would let homosexuals teach in its school." Bryant was so impressed by the dangers of this new "homosexual agenda" that she launched an initiative to overturn the anti-discrimination ordinance, winning...
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...in the Military Homosexuality within the military is a controversial subject. Sexual segregation in the military became relevant in the early 1940’s. Homosexuality is viewed differently among soldiers, veterans and the general public. As a soldier in The United States Army, I have encountered first-hand how this impacts both the military and workplace environment. Central to this issue is the question of whether or not homosexuality is detrimental to a soldier’s duty. George Washington, the nation's first Commander-in-Chief, held a strong opinion on this subject and gave a clear statement of his views on it in a court Marshall for a soldier who stood accused of sodomy. (Fitzpatrick, 1934) “At a General Court Martial Lieutenant Enslin [was] tried for attempting to commit sodomy with John Monhort, a fellow soldier. He was found guilty of the charges levied against him and was sentenced to be dismissed from the service. George Washington approved the sentence due to the abhorrence and detestation with which he viewed such infamous crimes.” (Fitzpatrick, 1934) The sexual orientation of military personnel was first recognized by The Military Code of Conduct in 1942. This stated that “homosexuals” were different than “normal” people or heterosexuals. This was revised in the military literature of army mobilization regulations 1943. (Cannistra, Downs, Rivero, 2010) Further revisions in the military code of conduct solidified the ban against homosexuality. Homosexuals were discharged...
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...Human Rights Are for All Humans “America the brave still fears what we don’t know.” A loud and clear lyric from the song “Same Love,” produced by Ryan Lewis and performed by song artists: Macklemore and Mary Lambert. “Same Love” brings me to tears almost every time I hear it. This song has strong emotional pull and logical appeal in favor of gay and lesbian rights and equality. This is the fourth single released by rapper Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis and one of many to hit a platinum status for the popularity and amount of sales in multiple countries, making it obvious that this single had caught the attention of the world. Singer and songwriter Mary Lambert is featured on the song in celebration of gay and lesbian rights based upon her personal struggle with her sexual orientation. On the cover of the single are two older white men, Maklemore’s uncle, John Haggarty and his partner Sean. The song itself is a strongly opinionated slue of verses rapped by Macklemore in a spoken word type of performance and sung by Mary Lambert, supporting gay and lesbian rights on principle of equality. Macklemore is the first voice to be heard, rapping eloquently about him thinking he was gay as a child in third grade. He explains that the reasoning behind him thinking he was gay was based off of his ability to draw, the association of his uncle being gay and his desire to keep his room straight. Reasoning that undoubtedly comes solely from social influence. At eight and nine years of...
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...Research Study #1: Victim experiences in hate crimes based on sexual orientation By: Herek, Gregory M., Cogan, Jeanine C., Gillis, J. Roy2 Universities Affiliated: University of California, Davis., University of Toronto Abstract: Using interview data from a convenience sample of 450 lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults, the varieties of victim experiences in hate crimes based on sexual orientation are described. Most crimes were perpetrated in public settings by one or more strangers, but victimization also occurred in other locales, and perpetrators included neighbors, coworkers, and relatives. In deciding whether a crime was based on their sexual orientation, victims tended to rely primarily on contextual cues and perpetrators’ explicit statements. Victims’ concerns about police bias and public disclosure of their sexual orientation were important factors in deciding whether to report antigay crimes, as were beliefs about the crime’s severity and the likelihood that perpetrators would be punished. Reflection: The method used in this research study is the interview method. They collected a sample size of 450 willing volunteers (224 men: 204 gay, 20 bisexual and 226 women: 202 lesbian, 24 bisexual). They all were asked to describe their experiences with hate crimes and there was a split between people who knew for sure they were attacked by biased views and those who knew their attacker did not have any biased views against them. Many volunteers felt they were most likely...
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...Have you experienced being near two gays who were talking in quite a different language altogether? And were you not surprised that you could understand some of the words they were saying? Yes. It is gayspeak, that wonderful lingo, argot, or jargon, which Filipino gays in general seamlessly switch into when they are gathered together or most immediately when they are around other people in order perhaps to “cloak” their intimate conversations, the better to protect the “virgin” ears of those around them. Historically though, it is known as swardspeak, a word coinage in the 1970s attributed by Jose Javier Reyes to columnist and movie critic Nestor Torre. Reyes himself devoted a book on the subject titled Swardspeak: A Preliminary Study. No other term has replaced swardspeak in local usage since the 70s but Ronald Baytan (in his essay “Language, Sex, and Insults: Notes on Garcia and Remoto’s The Gay Dict”) opines that the term sward these days has become anachronistic, making it improper to call the language of the gay people as “swardspeak” preferring instead to term it gayspeak. Consciously or unconsciously, even straights or heterosexuals have peppered their vocabulary with words traceable to gayspeak. Mention the word anech (from “ano” or “what” in English with anesh, anik, anikla as varieties) to anyone in the metropolitan area and in all likelihood, the person being spoken to will reply as casually. There are also the familiar words chika, chuva, and lafang. Thanks or no...
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...Transilvania University of Brașov Faculty of Letters MA Study Programme Anglo – American literature by woman MA student: Șerban Agurița Dorinela 1 st year – R.F. 2012 – 2013 Feminism is political label indicating support for the aims of the new woman’s movement which emerged in the late 1960s. This includes seeking to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. A feminist is an advocate or supporter of the rights and equality of women. Feminist theory, which emerged from these feminist movements, aims to understand the nature of gender inequality by examining women's social roles and lived experience; it has developed theories in a variety of disciplines in order to respond to issues such as the social construction of sex and gender. Some of the earlier forms of feminism have been criticized for taking into account only white, middle-class, educated perspectives. This led to the creation of ethnically specific or multiculturalism forms of feminism. The feminist movement produced both feminist fiction and non-fiction, and created new interest in women's writing. Nights at the Circus is a novel by Angela Carter, first published in 1984 and that year's winner of the James Tait Black Memorial Prize for fiction. The novel focuses on...
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..."In the Philippines, the term gay has been used loosely to include homosexuals, bisexuals, transsexuals, crossdressers, and effeminate men. Filipino gays are mostly stereotyped as effeminate, crossdressers, hairdressers, camp and ridiculed. Bakla or Bading, a derogatory Filipino word for gay, is commonly used. Tibo or tomboy has a similar function, and refers to lesbians, usually of the butch and masculine type. A more benign slang word for gay men is billy boy. For Filipino gays, the Tagalog phrase "paglaladlad ng kapa" (literally means "unfurling of the cape") refers to the coming-out process. Although gays and lesbians are generally tolerated within Philippine society, there are still widespread cases of discrimination. Swardspeak is a vernacular language derived from Englog (English-Tagalog) and is used by a number of gay Filipinos. It uses elements from Tagalog, English, and Spanish, and some are from Nippongo, as well as celebrities' names and signature brands, giving them new meanings in the context of this unique language. A unique trait of swardspeak is that it immediately identifies the speaker as homosexual, making it easy for people of that orientation to signal to each other in a place where such tendencies are not easy to display (ie in the Philippines). This creates an exclusive world among its speakers and helps them to resist cultural assimilation. By using swardspeak, Filipino gay men are able to resist the dominant culture of their area and create...
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...and prejudices against them are still observed around the world. It is impossible for many, especially those with more traditional mindset and strong religious beliefs, to even contemplate the idea of homosexuality. The choice of leading a homosexual or heterosexual lifestyle lies with the individual and no one else has to right to discriminate their decision. We should however, respect one another regardless of one's sexual orientation and differences just like how we have come to be accepting of people who are of a different race. Hence, homosexuals should not be treated any differently from heterosexuals either. For years, homosexuals have been fighting for equal rights. Discriminations against homosexuals are often openly expressed and unfair treatments between homosexuals and heterosexuals are observed in many countries. In a gay community, it also consists of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgendered (LGBT). LGBT people often have to face social ostracism as most people have strong religious beliefs that disapprove of homosexuality and they usually have little or no social contact with them. Discrimination and prejudice against homosexuals are seen in places even schools. Most of the time, people, especially the younger generations, use words related to homosexuality as an insult. This way, it creates an inaccurate idea that it is wrong and undesirable to be gay. Boys are often stereotyped to be sporty and less expressive and thus, any boy who is more emotional or...
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