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Fadi Zaghmout

American Psychological Association: Homosexuality

Some people refuse to see the sun even when its rays hurts their faces.

I know that many refuse to hear science when it conflicts with their own set of beliefs. Like in religion, people take a selective approach in believing what they want to belive.

I will do what I have to do and end the homosexuality series posts with scientific point of you. Hope that all, who beleive in science, and those who dont, go and read the article.

I picked the American Psychological Association (APA):

About APA
Based in Washington, DC, the American Psychological Association (APA) is a scientific and professional organization that represents psychology in the United States. With 150,000 members, APA is the largest association of psychologists worldwide.

Here is their stand on homosexuality:
http://www.apa.org/topics/orientation.html

I quote:

Is Sexual Orientation a Choice?

No, human beings can not choose to be either gay or straight. Sexual orientation emerges for most people in early adolescence without any prior sexual experience. Although we can choose whether to act on our feelings, psychologists do not consider sexual orientation to be a conscious choice that can be voluntarily changed.

Can Therapy Change Sexual Orientation?

No. Even though most homosexuals live successful, happy lives, some homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy, sometimes pressured by the influence of family members or religious groups to try and do so. The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable.

However, not all gay, lesbian, and bisexual people who seek assistance from a mental health professional want to change their sexual orientation. Gay, lesbian, and bisexual people may seek psychological help with the coming out process or for strategies to deal with prejudice, but most go into therapy for the same reasons and life issues that bring straight people to mental health professionals

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Responses

  1. Qwaider Ω‚ΩˆΩŠΨ―Ψ± Avatar
    Qwaider Ω‚ΩˆΩŠΨ―Ψ±

    I see you’re committing the same sin!Few hundred years ago ALL scientists said the Earth was flat πŸ™‚

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  2. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    No man, it was religious leaders who said so πŸ˜‰

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  3. average moh Avatar
    average moh

    This is exactly what I was trying to say β€œhomosexuality isn’t an illness” , people are either born straight or gay , people don’t have a choice about this . who are we to judge them and call them β€œsinners” .

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  4. M Kilany Avatar
    M Kilany

    Observer,It was not only religious leaders… read some history… most scientists said that it was flat as well…It doesn’t matter if they choose it or not, many don’t choose to be phsycopaths but they are… what should we do, accept them!?As for Phsycology in most of its aspects rely on theories… By the way if you can and I quote your article get therapy to be normal again, “some homosexual or bisexual people may seek to change their sexual orientation through therapy” then doesn’t that simply state the obvious fact that there is a choice… It’s all in their minds by the way… They did call the process of coming back to being normal “Therapy” and if you are normal you are called “straight” interesting…

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  5. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    M Kilani, man you are a selective reader. You read that some homosexuals may seek therapy, but you didnt read that it DOESNT work? You didnt read the sexual orientation ISNOT an illness?If you go back in history, you will find that religious leaders were holding the key of science as well. When galilio came and told them that the Earth is round, the burnt him. They didn’t want to believe science because they read in the bible otherwise. Now when it got a dispute proof, Church decided to re-interpret those versus in the old Testemony.It is happening again with homosexuality. Church would eventually accept it because science has proved it wrong again.

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  6. Anonymous Avatar
    Anonymous

    “As for Phsycology in most of its aspects rely on theories…”DING DING DING, you win the “redundant statement award!”. All science is based on theory, all of it is “probably” why things happen, not “definately”. That’s why new findings change existing theories all the time in every scientific discipline.Which brings me to my next point- while I agree with what you’re saying, observer- be careful with saying what science has “proved”. Remember, the DSM less than 30 years ago labelled homosexuality a psychological disorder, just like paedophilia for example which many theorists believe is the result of disruptive factors both neurologically and in early childhood- that doesn’t sound like a choice to me.I’m not saying that paedophilia is acceptable, and I’m not saying homosexuality is wrong- I’m just suggesting that we all become a little less adamant about “proof”.

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  7. AniTriniTy Avatar
    AniTriniTy

    i wont relay on Physiology nor science … even religion maybe on day thy will prove science wrong .. in science there is nothing static .. so i will depend on logic only .. and let’s say my logic .. my logic tells me … can i be the mistake of God ? well .. i suppose that God created me this way … no matter if i have the choice or not .. i don’t think God is that selective and he create a feeling inside of me and then he tells me ” hey .. just ignore what I create inside of u .. hey u .. it’s easy .. just deny yr feelings ” … i believe that I’m not the mistake of God .. God creates us all perfect .. but if not so .. then God make mistakes .. and that leads us to another point where we will deny God him self … I don’t deny God .. i don’t blame him either … I just reach to make peace with him bcoz I know he created me this way .. and he loves me the way I am .. and he wants me to be the way he created me … where is the mistake then ? .. it’s all on out understanding of religious scripts .. we just reflecting our fears to these scripts . it’s very deep inside out history as human beings … the Alfa males always dominates the societies .. and thy has that fear of the homosexuality bcoz its destroying the image of the dominate male … so thy reflect that on the religious scripts hoping thy gonna defend … and I believe that’s the roots of that evil which called homophobia . at the end … I don’t define my self depending on my sexuality ..being gay for me is not an important topic … i believe being gay is nothing morethan the color of my eyes .. at the same way … I’m not with the gay scene .. it’s just a msg to gay ppl .. plz .. earn the respect on yr societies by developing yr personalities not depending on yr sexuality but try to present yr selves in more efficient way which is as persons .sorry for the long comment … and thx for reading πŸ™‚

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  8. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    Anonymous, I guess that we have to rely on what is more credible at this point of time. Science is more advanced that ever. It is giving us many answers about this world. Sure things can change, but even religion interpretation change, everying changes in this life. When science change and find a *cure* for homosexuality, then this debate would turn into a freedom of choice one.Anitrinity, welcome to my blog. You said that you don’t want to rely on religion then you did when you based your argument on God πŸ™‚I guess that if we want to put it in a logical matter, I would say that if you are not hurting another human being or yourself, then anything is acceptable.

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  9. wedz Avatar
    wedz

    observer again no one born gay !!!even the research about same object didnt reach for same conclusion!!!therapy, it DOESNT work!!! beleive me if they beleive so and they want to change what is wrong, they will be a new person πŸ™‚

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  10. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    Wedz, have you heard about the research where a scientist changed a gene in a fly and turned it into a homo? Gays are most probably born as they are. But what does it matter if they are born as they are, or aquired it in early adolescence without them making a rational choice about it?Millions of gays around the world tried to change their sexual orientations. Many psychiatrist tried to change them. But no one succeeded. I tell you. There is a real choice when you decide not to act on those inner feelings. As of a gay guy holding his inner urges and not making sex with another man. But why deprive him with his sexuality? There is no way to make him attracted to women. Why altering his nature that he has acquired by natural means? And why not acting on it while in Christianity a thought sin is not less of a sin than an action one?

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  11. Husams Avatar
    Husams

    You can consider Homosexual as a choice, as much as heterosexual is a choice and both are simply based on what satisfies you, means if you get more satisfaction by being homosexual, then you will chose to be homosexual by basic logic, and if you get more satisfaction by being heterosexual then you will chose to be heterosexual, while as the state of satisfaction it self is an instinct not a choice you can make, leading to the fact that heterosexual and homosexual are based on an instinct not on your choice. now you can deny what satisfies you and not doing it, and this is your choice but changing what satisfies you is never your choice. if you dont agree on this, it means you can be satisfied by being an atheist while you are a religious person, can you do this? its never about you, its just about who you born to be.

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  12. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    Wow, husam, you said it all! Very direct and clear.

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  13. Devil's Mind Avatar
    Devil's Mind

    I second Husams as well… Well said!

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  14. Husams Avatar
    Husams

    Thanks guys, finally i may be bad sometimes, but i cant imagine my self being that evil, attacking others freedom of deciding their own lives! but when i remember from history how many people were against the freedom of slaves, i realize that such people do exist everywhere and at anytime.

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  15. and another thing Avatar
    and another thing

    i live in the land of the free when it comes to homosexuality. I have gay and lesbian friends and i am not fussed if that is how they want to live their lives. however, with very few exceptions nearly every one of them comes from either a broken family or had distrubed relations with either their parents or was abused in one way or another. I am yet to come across someone who came from a loving family…..

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  16. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    husams, well said again! Dont you have a blog man? I would like to read more from you πŸ™‚And another thing, I guess that you are generalizing. How many straight people come from broken families? Isnt it the same?

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  17. Husams Avatar
    Husams

    The observer, what I said is just nothing compared to all what you wrote in defending freedom of speech and choice. I would love to have a blog, will think about it. but too bad I’m afraid even as an old friend Qwaider won’t add me as he is famous for his oppressive actions against diversity and freedom of speech. Just kidding πŸ˜‰

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  18. The Observer Avatar
    The Observer

    husams, try :), and good luck with Qwaider! lol

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