CH. 9

Queer

− Used to be a derogatory term

− Has been reclaimed by many in the LGBTQ community

Same-gender loving

− A term often used in communities of color, especially the Black community,

to refer to attraction to the same sex or gender

Mostly straight and mostly gay/lesbian

Used to describe individuals who identify as primarily heterosexual or

gay/lesbian and have some degree of sexual interest in and/or experience

with both sexes

Pansexual

Sexual attraction, romantic love, or emotional attraction toward people of

any sex or gender identity

Sexual Fluidity

-Variability in same-sex and other-sex attraction and involvement at different times and different situations throughout the lifespan

− Significantly more women have experimented sexually with the same sex

− Sexual fluidity is also common among adolescents and young adults

− Sexual fluidity is less common among men unless they identify themselves

as bisexual

Asexuality

Someone who does not experience sexual attraction

− Most asexual people have been that way their whole lives and do not feel

distressed about their lack of sexual interest

− Asexual individuals vary in friendships, affection, romance, and partnerships

Bisexuality

-People who have emotional, romantic, and/or physical attraction to more than one sex

-More women identify as bisexual than men

Homosexuality

A sexual orientation that describes people with sexual, emotional, and/or

romantic attraction to people of the same sex/gender

− Also called gay or lesbian

− Public estimates 23% of the population is gay/lesbian

▪ Actual prevalence is much lower

▪ Between 1-2% of women and 1-3% of men identify themselves as lesbian or gay

What Determines Sexual Orientation?

Psychological and social theories

− Focus on the role of life incidences, parenting patterns, or psychological

attributes

− Not strong scientific support for these theories

Biological theories

− Strong evidence that biology influences sexual orientation

− Adult homosexuality is strongly related to childhood gender nonconformity

▪ A lack of conformity to stereotypical masculine and feminine behaviors

Societal Attitudes Regarding Homosexuality

• Judeo-Christian attitudes toward homosexuality

− Conflicting positions

Shift from sin to sickness: early 1900s

1973

American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from the list

of mental disorders

Affirmative therapy:

therapy to help homosexual clients cope with negative

societal attitudes and internalized homophobia

Conversion therapy

therapy to help homosexual men and women change

their sexual orientation

▪ Strongly opposed by the American Psychological Association and the American Psychiatric Association

▪ Banned in many states

Homophobia

− Negative attitudes (e.g., fear, intolerance, resentment, and discomfort)

toward homosexual people

Heterosexism

The belief that heterosexuality is better than LGBTQ+

identities

Causes of homophobia and hate crimes

− A poor understanding and a lack of acceptance of differences among people