Sexual Orientation Essay - 1486 Words

Sexual Orientation Sexual orientation refers to ones degree of emotional and erotic attraction to members of the same sex, opposite sex or both sexes. Heterosexual persons are romantically and erotically attracted to members of the opposite sex, whereas homosexual persons are attracted to those whose sex match their own. A person who is bisexual is attracted to both men and women. According to a recent national survey, about 7 percent of all adults regard themselves as homosexual or bisexual. That means that roughly 7 people out of every hundred are bisexual or homosexual; 50 million people in the U.S. alone are gay, lesbian, or have a family member who is homosexual. The question is, however, do they choose to be gay or is†¦show more content†¦Hamer located a region near the end of the long arm of the X chromosome in DNA that likely contains a gene influencing sexual orientation. Hamer announced, We have now produced evidence that one form of male homosexuality is preferentially transmitted through the maternal side and is genetically linked to chromosome region Xq28. 2 A study released by the National Institute of Health (NIH) also indicated a correlation between a specific chromosomal region in human males and homosexuality. The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) called for an end to discrimination based on sexual orientation and issued a statement regarding this study. The NIH study is an important addition to the growing body of evidence indicating a genetic basis for homosexuality, said Peri Jude Radecic, NGLTF Deputy Director of Public Policy. And it shows that homosexuality is a naturally occurring and common variation among humans -- a fact that gay and lesbian people have known all along. 3 So with growing evidence of predetermined sexual orientation, should laws be changed and society forced to accept homosexuality as natural? Time magazine projected an ethical and political forecast: If homosexuals are deemed to have a foreordained nature, many of the arguments now used to block equal rights would lose force. Time also cited a gay attorney who said, I cant imagine rational people,Show MoreRelatedSexual Orientation, Sexual, And Transgender Orientation957 Words   |  4 Pagesobjects. First, Sexual orientation, sexual identity and gender identity are not the same things. (Carrington, 2015) Sexual Orientation refers to the choice that you like man, woman or both. When we talk about sexual identity, it refers to the biological sex of a person. It is how you see yourself physically. Gender identity is another way referring to the sex role and appearance socially. Secondly, People who have issue with one of these three things may become part of the sexual and gender mino rityRead Moresexual orientation1753 Words   |  8 PagesThis essay will look into sexual orientation. This essay will identify and define sexual orientation focusing on homosexuality. It will further provide an overview of homosexuality and a summary. I will discuss my initial opinions, attitudes, biases and assumptions about sexual orientation and demonstrate how my awareness of this element of diversity increased throughout the module. I will further address how this awareness will impact my ability to counsel more competently, followed by a conclusionRead MoreSexual Orientation3686 Words   |  15 Pagescategories of sexual orientation, alongside bisexual and heterosexual. The longstanding consensus of the behavioral and social sciences and the health and mental health professions is that homosexuality is an example of normal and positive variation in human sexual orientation. Currently the most common adjectives in use are lesbian for women and gay for men, though gay can ref er to either men or women. The American Psychology Association defines sexual orientation in the following way: â€Å"Sexual orientationRead MoreGender Orientation And Sexual Orientation1613 Words   |  7 Pagesand lesbians do not choose their sexual orientation, but rather are born with it? There has been extensive research proving that sexual orientation is caused by many biological factors, whereas there is no solid proof that social factors after birth affect sexual orientation (Swaab, 2007, p. 442). Sexual orientation is already programmed into the brain, with the influence of sex hormones and genes, before a child is even born. The development of sexual orientation is caused by sex hormones, genesRead MoreSexual Orientation1220 Words   |  5 PagesOver the years sexual orientation has been an issue in our society. Many people are against homosexuality and bisexuality. Sexual orientation is generally one of three main categories, heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual. Hete rosexual is someone who is attracted to members of the opposite sex. A homosexual is someone that is attracted to members of the same sex. And, a bisexual person is one that is attracted to members of both sexes. There are other categories of sexual orientation. Some peopleRead MoreSexual Orientation And Gender Orientation Essay903 Words   |  4 Pagese Henry Paper 4 Sexual orientation The theme that we have been focusing on in class for the past two weeks is sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is more complex than just the gender a person is attracted to. Instead sexual orientation is on more of a spectrum. On one end of the spectrum a person can be solely heterosexual and on the opposite side a person can be completely homosexual. This also means that a person can be bisexual if they identify more in the middle of the spectrum. TheRead MoreThe Sexual Orientation Of Parents993 Words   |  4 Pages The sexual orientation of parents, once having a child, does not negatively affect the development of their children. In order to first be a parent, one must obtain a child. However, in Florida, gay foster parents were not allowed to adopt the children they fostered due to the Gay Adoption Ban (Goldberg). Homosexuals were not legally able to adopt a child at all until the forty year old ban was lifted July, 2015 by Governor Rick Scott (Associated Press). â€Å"Prior to the lifting of the gay adoptionRead MoreThe Psychology Of Sexual Orientations934 Words   |  4 PagesThe Psychology of Sexual Orientations Throughout the history of humans, people have been having sex. It’s obviously necessary for the continuation of humans as a species. But it definitely hasn’t been for just reproductive purposes. People have been engaging in same-gender sex for probably as long as humans have been around. However, the terms we think of today when we think of different sexual orientations didn’t get coined until the 19th and 20th centuries. And with these terms came huge stigmaRead MoreThe Biological Of Sexual Orientation2473 Words   |  10 PagesBiological Correlates of Sexual Orientation Prof. Brett Beston PSY354 University of Toronto at Mississauga Adla Begeta 998184539 Date submitted: Sunday, August 10, 2014 The topic of sexual orientation is both sensitive and controversial. This is evident in events, such as the Pride Parade, and also in media, where authoritative figures preach against it and speak of its â€Å"sinful nature† (Emmanuele, Blanchard, Camperio-Ciani, Bancroft, 2010). Sexual orientation exists in variousRead MoreSexual Orientation Is The Dominant, Or Normal, Sexual, And Gender Orientation Essay2260 Words   |  10 PagesIntroduction Sexual orientationism is best described as discrimination or prejudice against homosexuals on the assumption that heterosexuality is the dominant, or normal, sexual orientation. Within society there are many barriers, assumptions, and stigmas placed upon the queer community, numerous of which steam from this heterosexist stance that has become the dominant ideology. This stance has historical significance in trauma, and oppression of those within the sexual minority, and how this can