Homosexuality:
Pride and Prejudice
JOE HENSLEY
features editor
One out of every ten people in the
United States is a lesbian, a gay male or a
bisexual. Theoretically at NCSSM there
should be close to sixty people who are
not heterosexual.
Issues about homosexuality and
bisexuality are often brushed over or
completely ignored because heterosexuals
are uncomfortable dealing with them.
This discomfort often originates from
misinformation. The purpose of this
article is to educate and encourage our
community to look closer at these topics
which are so important to one-tenth of our
population.
First is the issue of “coming out.”
This is when someone who thinks that
they are homosexual or bisexual admits to
themselves and to their friends and
families that they are gay. This is very
difficult because not everyone is ready to
accept this part of them. Sometimes the
person who is questioning their sexuality
has trouble admitting to themselves that
they are gay because they have been told
that it is wrong. This period of coming
out, which can happen any time in a
person’s life, is fustrating because they
are opening themselves up to some
attacks by friends and families. People
they thought they could trust turn away. If
the person does not know anyone else
who is gay, it can be a very lonely time.
Coming out, however, is also a very
exciting time. A person is saying that
they feel okay about this part of them.
They are not ashamed. Their gayness is
special to them.
An issue that is related to coming out
is “outing.” Outing is when a person
comes out to someone, and that someone
tells other people about it. People who are
coming out treat it as a very personal
matter and want it to remain a personal
matter. Many people do not realize that
when they “out” someone, they are
betraying that trust. Because there are so
many prejudiced people, someone who is
gay may only want a few people to know
they are gay. Employers, schools, and
other institutions will often discriminate
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against homosexuals. Therefore, it is
impwrtant if someone comes out to let
them do the coming out. It is their
business.
A lot of people say that being a
homosexual or bisexual is wrong. They
have many reasons. Some straight people
are turned off by the sexual part of it. But
many homosexuals stress that sexuality is
only as much a part of a gay person’s life
as it is a part of a straight person’s life.
Other people have religious reserva
tions about homosexuality. The Old
Testament of the Bible says that “If a
male lies with a male as with a woman,
both of them shall have committed an
abomination.” (Leviticus 20:13). How
ever, the New Testament of the Bible
emphasizes love for everyone. Ironically,
no where in the Bible does it mention that
sex between women is wrong.
A lot of gay men and women feel that
they lead similar lifestyles to those of
straight people. The difference is in who
they decide to be intimate with. A gay
student here at NCSSM gave me some
insight into her view of her sexuality.
“Ideally it shouldn’t matter. Recognize
that it is a part of me. It’s not like it
makes me different. It’s something that
needs to be recognized, but it’s not really
that big of a deal.” When I asked her
about coming out and the prejudices that
she faces, she said, “It makes it [coming
out] hard because you have to tell
somebody something they’re not expect
ing. I can’t take them [people who
condemn homosexuals] seriously or else
I’d hate myself. I don’t want to hate
myself.”
The question of the origin of homo
sexuality is one that is constantly asked.
Many psychologists believe that homo
sexuality is a product of environment,
especially family environment. But there
are also theories that homosexuals are
bom homosexual. In the homosexual
community, many knew they were gay at
a young age. Some did not discover this
part of them until much later. There have
even been people to come out in their
sixties or seventies.
Recently, Dr. Simon LeVay Ph.D., a
neurologist at the Salk Institute in
California, discovered some evidence that
suggests that the cause of male homo
sexuality could be genetic. He dissected
the brains of several known homosexual
males who had died of AIDS and of
several straight AIDS victims and found
that the hypothalmus in the brains of the
homosexuals was much larger than in the
other brains. Although this is only one
study and does not produce any evidence
as to the origin of female homosexuality,
it does open the door for further genetic
research. Many heterosexuals feel
threatened by this research, because if
homosexuality is genetic, it would mean
that being gay is just as natural as being
straight. (To learn more, read the Feb. 24,
1992 issue of Newsweek)
So what if you are questioning your
sexuality? Do you sometimes feel
attracted to members of the same sex?
Unfortunately, there is no test of homo
sexuality or bisexuality. As the student
whom I talked to put it, “It’s not some
thing anyone else can tell you. It’s
something you have to work out for
yourself.”
You may not be all gay or all
straight. There are people who are
bisexual. There are some who are straight
in practice, but do not mind thinking
about having sex with someone of the
same sex. Some homosexuals think about
heterosexual sex. There is not a clear cut
definition.
It is important to talk about these
issues, especially if someone thinks that
they might be gay or bisexual. It’s not
always easy to find someone willing to
talk openly. However, NCSSM’s guid
ance counselors are open and willing to
talk with students about any questions or
concerns they may have about homosexu
ality. A lot of R.A.’s have expressed their
willingness to talk. There is also a local
group for teenagers who are questioning
their sexuality. It is called Outright. The
meetings consist of a male and female
facilitator, both gay, and any young
people, straight or gay, who want to come
and talk. It is a very open, accepting
atmosphere and an opportunity to be with
others who are questioning their sexual
ity. Information can be found in the
guidance office.
Authors note: / took the risk of
writing this article because I feel that the
issues surrounding homosexuality are
important and need to be talked about. I
encourage all students to further educate
themselves. I based this article upon what
/ have observed and read about these
issues. This is my perspective. / rruxy have
stepped on a lot of toes, both gay and
straight, it’s a sensitive issue. However, I
am open to your comments.