Homosexuality
The word homosexual is a Greek and Latin hybrid, with the first element derived from Greek homo meaning same. The second part comes from Latin sexualis relating to sex or gender. This combination created a new term in 1868 when Austrian-born novelist Karl-Maria Kertbeny used it in a letter to Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. They argued against Prussian anti-sodomy laws at that time. Richard von Krafft-Ebing later popularized both homosexual and heterosexual terms in his 1886 book Sexual Psychopathology. His work became widely accepted among doctors and laymen alike. Modern style guides often recommend avoiding homosexual as a noun due to its clinical history. Gay and lesbian remain the most common alternatives today. Lesbian derives from Lesbos where poet Sappho wrote about emotional relationships with young women. Her name gave rise to adjectives like sapphic and lesbian applied to female homosexuality starting in the nineteenth century. Some pejorative terms such as queer have been reclaimed since the nineteen-nineties for positive use. Others like faggot or poof still carry offensive connotations depending on context.
Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum lived around two thousand four hundred BCE in ancient Egypt. They are portrayed nose-kissing which represents the most intimate pose in Egyptian art. Anthropologists Stephen Murray and Will Roscoe documented long-term erotic relationships called motsoalle among women in Lesotho. Male Azande warriors between twelve and twenty took younger male lovers who helped with household tasks. These arrangements were temporary preparations for full manhood rather than permanent sexual orientation. Indigenous cultures across Latin America practiced homoerotic acts before European conquest. The Spanish conquerors executed berdaches publicly using burning or tearing by dogs to crush these practices. Two-Spirit individuals existed within North American tribes prior to colonization. Parents chose early whether children would follow this path if accepted they learned customs of chosen gender. Shamans held powers beyond ordinary members while engaging sexually with same-sex tribe members. In China records date back to six hundred BCE mentioning passions of cut peach. Ming dynasty stories described homosexual relationships as more harmonious than heterosexual ones. Ancient Hindu texts from India document homosexual acts neutrally yet also condemn them through moral codes. Sumerian priests known as gala performed elegies in goddess temples taking female names and speaking eme-sal dialect reserved for women. They appear to have engaged in homosexual intercourse according to proverbs about wiping off their ass.
Scientists favor biological causes over social explanations especially regarding males. Prenatal hormones play a central role shaping sexual orientation during critical brain development periods. Elevated prenatal androgens correlate with increased attraction to females while reduced signaling links to male attraction. Twin studies indicate genes likely contribute some influence though environmental factors remain weak hypotheses. Maternal immune response may explain fraternal birth order effect where likelihood increases with older brothers. Each successive male pregnancy strengthens antibodies crossing placenta affecting fetal brain differentiation. Epigenetic epi-marks control how strongly androgen signals influence tissues across generations occasionally causing gonad-trait discordance. No evidence supports parenting or early childhood experiences playing any significant role. Research consistently shows lesbian and gay parents raise psychologically healthy children equal to heterosexual families. Eighty percent of children raised by same-sex couples are biological offspring according to two thousand eleven data. Social environments facilitate open expression but do not determine orientation itself. Sexual antagonism suggests genes predisposing homosexuality confer advantages elsewhere maintaining population frequency despite lower reproductive success.
The American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from DSM-II recognizing scientific evidence in seventeen hundred seventy-three. World Health Organization deleted it from ICD-10 endorsed May seventeenth nineteen ninety at Forty-third Assembly. Chinese Society of Psychiatry followed suit removing it from classification after five years study ending two thousand one. Mental health organizations overwhelmingly reject conversion therapy as ineffective potentially harmful scientifically unsupported. Gay and lesbian youth face increased suicide substance abuse school problems isolation due to hostile condemning environments. Risk factors include discrimination invisibility rejection leading behaviors like running away home or multiple partners. Trevor Project helpline established following nineteen ninety-eight HBO short film winning Academy Award helps prevent suicides. Liberalization attitudes decreases mental health risks among younger sexual minority people over time. Same-sex attractions feelings behaviors normal positive variations human sexuality compatible with mental health social adjustment. People lead fulfilling lives forming stable loving relationships regardless orientation type. Anti-gay bias exists psychotherapy creating high risk for marginalized groups seeking help. Acceptance fosters psychological well-being while stigma perpetuates negative consequences affecting entire communities globally.
Poland decriminalized homosexual acts first Western nation doing so year thirteen thirty-two Denmark followed next year Sweden later four hundred forty-four England Wales finally six hundred sixty-seven. Quebec became state-level jurisdiction prohibiting discrimination based on sexual orientation starting seventeen seventy-seven. United States Supreme Court ruled Lawrence v Texas legalizing activity nationwide twenty-three though Bowers v Hardwick allowed criminalization earlier eight-six. Canada enacted Civil Marriage Act legalizing same-sex marriage across country five thousand five courts ruling violated Charter equality clause beginning three thousand three. India overturned Section 377 Indian Penal Code legalizing activity eighteen despite upholding previous ruling thirteen. Ten countries impose death penalty including Afghanistan Iran Brunei Mauritania Saudi Arabia Nigeria regions Jubaland governed sharia law. Matthew Shepard James Byrd Jr Hate Crimes Prevention Act signed October two thousand nine federal crime making bias-motivated violence prosecutable Justice Department powers expanded significantly. European Union Charter Fundamental Rights prohibits discrimination any type sexual orientation gender identity legally binding member states. Employment housing discrimination laws vary widely United States lacking federal statute yet thirteen states major cities enacted protections. Military service policies differ NATO members over twenty permit openly gay lesbian bisexual personnel serving alongside heterosexual counterparts. China bans outright Russia excludes peacetime allowing wartime exceptions Israel only Middle East region permitting open LGB service.
Three point five percent approximately nine million adult population identify lesbian gay bisexual transgender according Williams Institute report April eleven. One point six percent self-identifying lesbians gay men plus seven-tenths percent bisexuals found CDC study interviewing thirty-four thousand Americans year thirteen. Gallup poll started annual surveys October twelve determining three point four percent adults identified LGBT nation largest poll issue time. Percentage rose estimated four point five percent adults seventeen driven largely millennials willingness reveal identity greater. Lifetime prevalence sex between men ranges three to five percent East Asia six to twelve percent South Southeast Asia six to fifteen percent Eastern Europe six to twenty percent Latin America. International HIV/AIDS Alliance estimates worldwide three to sixteen percent men had some form sex another man lifetime. Two to eleven percent people experienced same-sex contact within lifetime rising sixteen to twenty-one percent reporting attraction behavior combined. One point two million same-sex couple households counted United States Census two thousand twenty-one. Measuring prevalence presents difficulties criteria cutoff points time spans define orientation differently. Number desires exceeds acting which exceeds self-identification gay lesbian bisexual populations reliably. Reliable data inform public policy calculating costs benefits domestic partnership impacts legalizing adoption military Don't Ask Tell policies. Knowledge size gay lesbian population helps understand labor market choices human capital accumulation household specialization discrimination geographic location decisions.
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Common questions
Who coined the word homosexual and when was it first used?
Austrian-born novelist Karl-Maria Kertbeny created the term homosexual in 1868 during a letter to Karl Heinrich Ulrichs. This combination of Greek homo meaning same and Latin sexualis relating to sex or gender emerged as a new term that year.
What historical evidence exists for homosexuality in ancient Egypt and China?
Khnumhotep and Niankhkhnum lived around two thousand four hundred BCE in ancient Egypt and are portrayed nose-kissing which represents the most intimate pose in Egyptian art. Records from six hundred BCE mention passions of cut peach while Ming dynasty stories described homosexual relationships as more harmonious than heterosexual ones.
When did major health organizations remove homosexuality from mental illness classifications?
The American Psychological Association removed homosexuality from DSM-II recognizing scientific evidence in seventeen hundred seventy-three. The World Health Organization deleted it from ICD-10 endorsed May seventeenth nineteen ninety at Forty-third Assembly.
Which countries were the first to decriminalize homosexual acts and legalize same-sex marriage?
Poland decriminalized homosexual acts first Western nation doing so year thirteen thirty-two Denmark followed next year Sweden later four hundred forty-four England Wales finally six hundred sixty-seven. Canada enacted Civil Marriage Act legalizing same-sex marriage across country five thousand five courts ruling violated Charter equality clause beginning three thousand three.
How many people identify as lesbian gay bisexual or transgender according to recent studies?
Three point five percent approximately nine million adult population identify lesbian gay bisexual transgender according Williams Institute report April eleven. One point six percent self-identifying lesbians gay men plus seven-tenths percent bisexuals found CDC study interviewing thirty-four thousand Americans year thirteen.