--- "Fr. Ivo Da C. Souza" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >Let us not proclaim homosexuality, lest the number of
>homosexuals increase and become a further nuisance >in today's society, which has already enough problems, >as far as sexual deviations and aberrations are >concerned... > The above notions are not grounded in fact. There is no evidence that proclaiming homosexuality produces an increase of homosexuals. Sociological and psychological research has shown that the percentage of homosexuals is roughly equal in all cultures and societies, despite widely varying levels of acceptance in different cultures, although precise numbers cannot be ascertained because of stigma and prejudice associated with homosexuality due to religious and other reasons. The claim that homosexuals are a nuisance in today's society is also untrue. Actually, those who are biased against homosexuality are more of a nuisance from a humanitarian standpoint. They are responsible for prejudice, discimination and violence against homosexuals. Please see the following public statement of the American Psychiatric Association on these issues, developed based on the conclusions of more than 50 years of painstaking research: AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION (APA) STATEMENT In December 1973, the American Psychiatric Association's Board of Trustees deleted homosexuality from its official nomenclature of mental disorders, the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Second Edition (DSMII). The action was taken following a review of the scientific literature and consultation with experts in the field. For a mental condition to be considered a psychiatric disorder, it should either regularly cause emotional distress or regularly be associated with clinically significant impairment of social functioning. These experts found that homosexuality does not meet these criteria. The Board recognized that a significant portion of gay and lesbian people were clearly satisfied with their sexual orientation and showed no signs of psychopathology. It was also found that homosexuals were able to function effectively in society, and those who sought treatment most often did so for reasons other than their homosexuality. APA POSITION STATEMENT ON HOMOSEXUALITY The American Psychiatric Association is officially on record with the following position statements: HOMOSEXUALITY Whereas homosexuality per se implies no impairment in judgement, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities, the American Psychiatric Association calls on all international health organizations, and individual psychiatrists in other countries, to urge the repeal in their own country of legislation that penalizes homosexual acts by consenting adults in private. And further, the APA calls on these organizations and individuals to do all that is possible to decrease the stigma related to homosexuality wherever and whenever it may occur. (December 1992) BIAS-RELATED INCIDENTS Bias-related incidents, arising from racism, sexism, intolerance based on religion, ethnicity, and national/tribal origin, and anti-gay and lesbian prejudice are widespread in society and continue to be a source of social disruption, individual suffering and trauma. These incidents are ubiquitous and occur in both urban and rural areas. Such hate-based incidents consist of acts of violence or harassment. These incidents result in emotional and physical trauma for individuals, as well as stigmatization of affected groups. Ethnic and cultural biases, vividly manifest in bias-related incidents, serve to frustrate the basic human need for dignity, resulting in despair and hopelessness among the victims that ultimately affect the whole nation. The APA deplores such bias-related incidents. Moreover, the APA encourages its own members and components to take appropriate actions in helping to prevent such events, as well as to respond actively in the aftermath when such bias-related incidents occur locally. Cheers, Santosh
