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Chapter 1- Introduction
1.1Background of the research
Homosexuality
The term homosexuality was created by 19th century theorists to describe a sexual and emotional interest in members of one's own sex. Homosexuality dates back to ancient pagan religious practices and until the thirteenth century the Christian tradition was ambiguous in its attitude toward homosexuality. But with the recodification of English canon law new attitudes set in and thereafter homosexual behavior was condemned as a heinous sin. The English brought these beliefs to North America and the power of religion in early America defined colonial attitudes. By making homosexuals the object of scorn, the hostility kept much homosexual behavior hidden (Brittannica.com).
Since then, homosexuality has always been a target for many forms of social and political condemnation and many psychiatric theories have attempted to explain the biology of homosexuality. Biomedical researchers, health care professionals, activists, advocacy groups, people with AIDS or HIV infection, health educators, social scientists, politicians and public health officials, government agencies and advisory committees, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, writers, journalists, and institutions of mainstream and alternative media have had their hand in the pot of struggle for credibility claims.
There exist several Christian, Jewish and Muslim programs to help Homosexuals recover. Such programs would not exist and would have no attendees if there were no people who wanted to reclaim a normal sexuality. 85% of these "lesbians" and 54% of these "homosexuals" reported sexual relations with someone of the opposite sex in adulthood, 67% of lesbians and 54% of homosexuals reported current sexual attraction to the opposite sex, and 82% of lesbians and 66% of homosexuals reported having been in love with a member of the opposite sex [1]
Steven Epstein, an Associate Professor in...