The high court in India today struck down a 19th century law put into place by Britain which outlawed homosexuality. Gays believe it is important because it removes a legal barrier for them even if societal attitudes are often still hostile. Striking down the law will also make it easier to increase the effectiveness of campaigns to reduce AIDS, since gays will not be vulnerable to prosecution if they openly declare their sexual orientation.
So much for the news. I was reflecting on my own changed attitude toward homosexuality. As a Catholic, I was taught that homosexuality was a sin because it was unnatural. Not being homosexual myself, I didn’t get greatly exercised by this teaching until I became a psychologist.
By then, I had long abandoned the idea that to be gay was to be a sin, but the profession still believed that homosexuality was psychologically deviant and included it as a category of mental illness. I worked and lived in New York City and gays were often among my friends and colleagues. Their homosexuality didn’t impress me as pathological.
But I, like many of them, especially among my students, wondered why they were gay rather than straight. Gradually research has changed attitudes:
- there is almost certainly a genetic component that influences our sexual orientation
- same-sex activity occurs not only among humans but in many other animals, including primates
- in all primate groups, including us, homosexuality often seems to promote bonding. Ancient Greeks encourage homosexuality among its elite to strengthen their commitment to each other and to raise their chance of survival in war
- lesbianism in species as diverse as primates and birds often mean that that both participate in parenting, giving offspring greater protection and learning opportunities
By and large then, homosexuality doesn’t lead directly to the production of offspring, but it does make a significant contribution to the good of the whole group.
Which impresses me as an outcome to be supported.
Naturally.
